VILLA PARK : Committee Reins In Bridle Path Plan

Faced with stiff opposition to a planned bridle path, an advisory committee charged with evaluating recreational trails in Villa Park has withdrawn the proposal.

“I was surprised, happily surprised. No one expected it from our side,” said resident Pam Dunn, a leader of the more than 200 people who opposed the path.

Residents were concerned about the liability related to possible accidents on the paved trail and a future expansion of the trail into yards.

The proposed path, along the south side of Santiago Boulevard between Sycamore and Lemon streets, would have connected the city’s horse trails with more than 250 miles of county trails, according to committee co-chairman Jim Brodsky.

The committee recommended several changes to the trail system, but the bridle path was the only one that drew opposition. Any changes approved by the City Council will be included in Villa Park’s general plan--a blueprint for the city’s commercial and residential development--which is now being revised.

“We hope the controversy will now end and the council can get on with the process” of completing the general plan revisions, committee representative Bob Patchin told the council this week.

During public comments, several residents spoke on both sides of the issue.

“I’m against the horses completely. . . . Horse trails are ugly, dirty, full of flies and have all kinds of horse droppings,” said Ed Loritz.

The council unanimously endorsed the committee’s decision and also precluded discussion of a path there in the future--a possibility that concerned many of those who opposed the path.