Hiking trails

The City of Peoria’s public works department is taking the next steps toward a long-planned extension of the Rock Island Greenway.

After completing a $2.2 million expansion of the Rock Island Greenway from Harvard Avenue to Park Avenue, city officials and advocates are setting their sights on the next steps for trail expansion in Peoria.

An ongoing effort to extend the Illinois River Bluff Trail is taking the next step, with the Peoria Park District seeking state funding to buy a piece of land that would help fill one of the gaps in the pathway.

Officials say Starved Rock State Park closures and limited parking are possibilities because of Illinois River flooding. The Illinois Department of…