G2K Trail & Forest Preserve Update
The long-awaited Genoa-to-Kingston Trail — named the "G2K Trail" by students at Genoa-Kingston High School — is officially taking shape. Of the planned 3.2-mile route, 1.7 miles have already been surfaced with limestone, designed to accommodate biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing. The trail will ultimately connect Russell Woods to the Grove, reducing foot and bike traffic along the busy Route 72 corridor.
The project took years to complete due to land acquisition challenges, but cooperation from Carter Nelson Nurseries, additional private landowners, and partners including the City of Genoa, Village of Kingston, and DeKalb County Highway Department made it possible. All trail parcels were secured by the end of 2024.
The Forest Preserve by the Numbers
DeKalb County Forest Preserve currently stewards just over 2,000 acres, backed by roughly $6 million in grant funding plus donated land — all leveraged from a modest 0.7% share of county property taxes approved by voters in 2006. The long-term goal is to reach approximately 3,000 acres, with a growing emphasis on connecting preserves rather than acquiring isolated parcels.
Looking Ahead
A new trail bridge is planned for this fall, linking the current trail terminus near Union/Pleasant to Old Mill and the Mill School trail. Additional land acquisitions are also in the works, though details are not yet public.