SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci advanced an initiative that would honor the legacy and lasting impact of the late State Senator Scott Bennett by renaming the railroad trestle bridge on Kickapoo Rail Trail.
“Scott Bennett was not only a mentor to me, he was also a dear friend whose dedication to his communities has inspired much of my work in the Senate to date,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Renaming the bridge on Kickapoo Rail Trail in honor of his life and work is common sense. He made tangible, necessary and valuable change for our communities with our residents’ best interest always at the forefront, and nothing deserves recognition more than that.”
Faraci’s proposal would honor Bennett’s memory in Vermilion County by designating the railroad trestle bridge on Kickapoo Rail Trail as the Senator Scott Bennett Memorial Bridge. The measure would also allow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to erect plaques in recognition of the designation, pending the agency’s funding availability.
In his time as the state senator for the 52nd District, serving communities in East Central Illinois from 2015 until his death in 2022, Bennett was a tireless champion of environmental stewardship. As a Central Illinois native, he was also a longtime advocate for Kickapoo Rail Trail, fighting for critical funding to expand regional connectivity through the trail and advocating for proper maintenance of the Kickapoo State Recreation Area.
“Scott left a lasting impact on our district and on our state that will never go unnoticed,” said Faraci. “This is just a small, yet permanent, symbol of our respect for his legacy – both civic and environmental.”
Senate Bill 2859 passed the Senate Thursday and heads to the House for further consideration.
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