Mount Prospect Approves Funds for Kensington Road Bike Path

Village Board narrowly votes to move forward with $371,412 engineering contract despite concerns from some trustees

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:58pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated bicycle icon in a grid pattern, capturing the celebratory spirit of new bike infrastructure in the local community.The new Kensington Road bike path aims to improve connectivity and promote cycling in the Mount Prospect community.Mount Prospect Today

The Mount Prospect Village Board has approved $371,412 in funding for the first phase of engineering work on a new shared-use bike path along Kensington Road, from Forest Avenue to the Canadian National Railroad crossing. The project aims to create a continuous 2.8-mile bike path by connecting to work already done in Arlington Heights. However, the vote was divided, with some trustees expressing concerns about the 'last-minute' decision and wanting more public input.

Why it matters

The new bike path is seen as a high priority for improving bike infrastructure and connectivity in the area, with Prospect High School and Randhurst Village as major destinations. But the rushed decision-making process has raised concerns from some village leaders about transparency and public engagement.

The details

The $371,412 contract was awarded to Chicago-based engineering firm Epstein, which the village says has strong expertise in bike path design and development. The initial phase will take about two years to complete, with construction costs currently estimated at $4 million. A separate shared-use path on Kensington from Burning Bush Lane to the CN tracks is also planned, using Safe Routes to Schools grant funds. Some trustees argued the village should focus on improving Busse Road instead, but staff raised concerns about the long-term maintenance costs.

  • The Kensington Road shared-use path project was identified as a high priority in the village's Arterial Bike Network Study.
  • The first phase of engineering work is expected to take about two years to complete.
  • Construction on the new bike path is currently estimated to cost $4 million.

The players

Sean Dorsey

Director of Public Works for the Village of Mount Prospect.

Beth DiPrima

Mount Prospect Village Trustee who voted against the funding approval.

William Grossi

Mount Prospect Village Trustee who voted against the funding approval.

Vincent Dante

Mount Prospect Village Trustee who voted against the funding approval.

Paul Hoefert

Mayor of Mount Prospect who supported the funding approval.

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What they’re saying

“Particularly, they have great insights on the development of bike paths, and they have a strong appreciation for how they're being used.”

— Sean Dorsey, Director of Public Works

“I would like more time to at least look at this and understand why staff picked this first. Why have they decided to go ahead with an RFP without even letting us know we were doing this.”

— William Grossi, Mount Prospect Village Trustee

“The choice has come to us through, what I would call, an intelligent, logical thought process by the village staff. This happens every day, all day, and we have very capable staff. So, this is their recommendation. This isn't like this has been forced upon us.”

— Paul Hoefert, Mayor of Mount Prospect

What’s next

The first phase of engineering work on the Kensington Road shared-use path is expected to take about two years to complete. Construction costs are currently estimated at $4 million, with funding to come from the village's Capital Improvement Fund.

The takeaway

The divided vote on the Kensington Road bike path project highlights ongoing tensions in Mount Prospect over transparency and public engagement in the village's infrastructure planning process. While the new bike path is seen as an important connectivity improvement, some trustees feel the rushed decision-making undermines trust in local government.