Mission
We are environmental stewards of the Green Bay Trail. Our mission is to promote a healthy natural corridor for the well being of individuals andsurrounding communities
Why We Do It
The answer is as clear as a sunny afternoon on the trail. See the dozens of joggers, bikers, and children walking with parents – all surrounded in natural beauty. You’ll understand.
The Green Bay Trail is a pedestrian and biking path running parallel to the Metra Union Pacific North commuter railway. It was created in 1965 on the abandoned right-of-way of the former North Shore Electric Railway.
For decades, the native areas on the sides of the path were allowed to become a dark tunnel of buckthorn and other non-native plants. This neglect crowded out the native prairie plants, insects and animals that thrive in healthy habitats.
In 2010, a few neighbors started to improve a portion of the trail. That small group expanded and became Friends of the Green Bay Trail. It is a volunteer-managed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has raised funding and volunteer support to restore the area along the trail. In Glencoe, a mature restoration has been created by removing invasive plants and restoring the trail with native plants and wildflowers.
Where once the trail was used irregularly as a path between towns, it is now used each summer by hundreds of families — biking, walking and enjoying the flowers, butterflies, and native plants.
Now, in cooperation with the villages and park districts, Friends of the Green Bay Trail is expanding its restoration initiatives through the Winnetka portion and the Glencoe portion, north of Maple Hill. That is a lot of new, tough terrain to be rehabilitated. But thanks to the supporters who volunteer their labor or who donate funds to purchase materials and hire contractors, it’s a realistic goal. When completed, a corridor of native plants will stretch from Winnetka Ave to Lake-Cook Rd.
Our commitment to you:
We are environmental stewards of the Green Bay Trail. Our mission is to promote a healthy natural corridor for the well-being of individuals and surrounding communities.
We believe:
- In creating, restoring and protecting the health of the natural habitat to mitigate threats of climate change;
- In the importance of connecting individuals and communities with nature and its beauty to enrich their mental and physical well-being; and
- Excellence will come from developing public and private partnerships which value green space and fresh air.
Our goal is to make the Green Bay Trail become a national example of the healthy intersection of nature and culture that inspires community and individual well-being.
Restoring Nature, Reviving the Trail
Since 2010, Friends of the Green Bay Trail has transformed areas once dominated by invasive plants into thriving native prairie and woodland by clearing buckthorn and garlic mustard and planting hundreds of thousands of native species—restoring biodiversity and creating vibrant habitat for wildlife and the community.
Stewardship and Sustainability
Through year-round restoration—clearing invasives, planting natives, collecting seeds, and sustaining habitat in winter—Friends of the Green Bay Trail turns mission into impact, creating a biodiverse, resilient landscape sustained by community stewardship.
Connecting Community with Nature
Green Bay Trail Day is a free annual July celebration showcasing the Trail at the peak of the growing season. With native plant giveaways, expert resources, activities for all ages, it’s a festive way to explore restored habitats and connect with the community.
Living Trail
Friends of the Green Bay Trail maintains a restored prairie habitat that supports butterflies, native bees, birds, and other wildlife. A family-friendly monarch hatchery near Mary Street in Glencoe lets visitors observe the butterfly life cycle up close.