The Champaign County Forest Preserve District unveiled the Salt Fork River Crossing signage along the Kickapoo Rail Trail on Nov. 18.
The signage onto the bridge heading east consists of black, steel casing with engraved rustic-looking wood. Jimmy John and Leslie Liautaud, who made an initial donation of $150,000 and a second contribution of $50,000 a year later to the KRT, received naming rights to the bridge with signage to the south because of their donation.
The Liataud’s initial donation kicked off Phase I of the Kickapoo Rail Trail, a 6.7-mile segment of the 24.5 mile recreational trail between Urbana and Kickapoo State Park.
Liautaud, the original owner of the nationally recognized chain of Jimmy John’s, happened upon the CCFPD fundraising efforts early in 2016, and knowing that the district needed additional help to make the path reality, reached out and made the sizable donation.
He and his wife were not able to be at the unveiling Wednesday, but staff and board members from CCFPD met at the bridge for a small ceremony.
