Amenia Trailhead Concept Design
In Spring 2025, six students in the first year Master of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Illinois partnered with Trails of the Grand Prairie to reimagine the use of the Amenia site for a trailhead along the Kickapoo Rail Trail. The site, located in rural Piatt County and just north of Allerton Park, holds layers of Central Illinois history: once a vast tallgrass prairie, then part of the region’s interurban rail network, later shaped by agriculture, and today a proposed destination for bicyclists, runners, bird enthusiasts, nature lovers, and more.
Students were challenged to create designs that honor this history while looking toward the future. Their work asked: how can a trailhead become more than just a parking lot or entry point? How can it serve as a place to pause, learn, and connect with the surrounding prairie landscape?
Drawing inspiration from landscape architecture projects, environmental artists, and the cycles of nature, the class explored strategies that explored seasonal change, water features that adapt and respond to precipitation, and spaces that could host gatherings or art installations. Students thought about time and change – how landscapes grow, shift, and evolve – and how a design today can guide the future character of the site.
Throughout the semester, students visited the site, studied its ecological and cultural history, while incorporating the vision and priorities shared by the Trails of the Grand Prairie. They developed proposals that included phased interventions from reintroducing native prairie plants to creating welcoming spaces for visitors and thoughtful wayfinding to guide them along the trail.
The result was a collection of innovative, community-minded ideas that highlight the proposed Amenia trailhead as both a destination and a gateway to the Kickapoo Rail Trail. This partnership gave students hands-on experience with real-world design while providing Trails of the Grand Prairie with fresh perspectives and possibilities for the future of this beloved trail network.
