Warrenville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Welcome to the Founders Memorial

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025

1. Welcome to the Founders Memorial Marker

Inscription. "We are human beings. We are able to walk upright on two feet. We need a footpath. Right now there is a chance for Chicago and its suburbs to have a footpath, a long one."

Exerpt from the May Watts letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune that started the movement that built the Illinois Prairie Path; published on September 25, 1963

Many volunteers donated their time and talents to secure a public path, especially the 14 founders: Mrs. Watts, Helen Turner, Lillian Lasch, Elizabeth and Samuel Holmes, Phoebe and George Ryerson, Jane and August Sindt, Dr. Warren Keck, Bill and Betty Nemec, John Heddens and advisor Gunnar Peterson of Openlands. They organized a board, formed an organization, developed communications, recruited members and volunteers, conducted an intensive grass roots campaign to rally public support for a public path, and met with local, county, state and national government officials. In just 953 days or 2.6 years, they secured a 12-year lease from the largest owner of the right-of-way land — DuPage County — to develop 27 miles into a public path. The founders didn't have the money, materials, or government

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assistance to build a path. They signed the lease, determined to proceed.

Erected by Illinois Prairie Path.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1963.

Location. 41° 49.443′ N, 88° 10.874′ W. Marker is in Warrenville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Butterfield Road (Illinois Route 56) west of Batavia Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Warrenville IL 60555, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Warrenville Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Veteran's Memorial

Welcome to the Founders Memorial in downtown Warrenville image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025

2. Welcome to the Founders Memorial in downtown Warrenville

(within shouting distance of this marker); Warrenville World War I Memorial Rock (within shouting distance of this marker); Seraph Warren Holmes (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); It Kame From the North (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Julius M. Warren’s Saw Mill and Warrenville’s Grist Mill (approx. half a mile away); Gathering at the Gristmill (approx. half a mile away); Recipe for a River (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Warrenville.

Regarding Welcome to the Founders Memorial. May Watts's letter to the editor is credited with spurring the rails-to-trails movement in the United States. In Chicago's western suburbs, she and the other founders memorialized on this marker pushed to convert the abandoned Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad into a pathway. The Illinois Prairie Path today is a 61-mile network of trails through Cook, DuPage and Will counties.

Also see . . .
1. History of the Illinois Prairie Path.

Excerpt: "The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) began on Monday, September 30, 1963 when the Chicago Tribune published a letter to the editor from May Theilgaard Watts
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025

3. Welcome to the Founders Memorial Marker
advocating for a public path on the abandoned route of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Electric (CA&E) rail line. Public response to her letter was immediate and enthusiastic. However, the complexities and challenges involved in developing a public path on the CA&E land were monumental."

(Submitted on November 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. May Theilgaard Watts (Wikipedia). (Submitted on November 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

The Founders Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025

4. The Founders Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 45 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.