COUNTRY Financial Trail Opens

When the Heartland Community College main campus took shape in the early 2000s, a pond was constructed, creating a space for wildlife to thrive between the classroom buildings and the site of the Corn Crib baseball stadium.

In 2003, Birky Pond was dedicated to Ron Birky, who provided invaluable advice to the College on the pond’s construction. It was bordered by grassland, which served as the perfect place to take a natural sciences class field trip, as long as one was aware of the perils of mud.

Flash-forward to 2019, when the College completed a Facilities Master Plan that envisioned making the grounds around Birky Pond a bit more accessible and functional. Like many wish-list projects, the prospect of enhancing this underdeveloped space was a bit dormant until the right partners were identified. But in 2025, with the help of a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this trail project saw a pathway to completion.

COUNTRY Financial had previously worked with the Heartland Community College Foundation to create a program to provide scholarship assistance, mentorship, and technology support to high school students in McLean County looking to earn college credit in the Heartland College NOW program.

Students in the COUNTRY Financial Scholars program (now in its fifth year) at Heartland have gained over 500 college credit hours, all tuition-free.

When approached with the Birky Pond trail project, leadership at COUNTRY Financial also saw a good fit. The proposed addition of running, biking, and walking space would serve the community that the company calls home. But just as valuable were other elements of the project, including the restoration of 13 acres of native prairie.

Opening with an October 2025 ribbon cutting, the mile-long COUNTRY Financial Trail includes access from the Constitution Trail at Raab Road, the Heartland campus at Vermillion Way, and the Corn Crib parking lot. The new trail circles Birky Pond and borders a large area of plants and grasses. Along the trail are bird watching stations, fishing ramps, an outdoor classroom, and a gazebo, which provides a viewpoint of the acreage that will support a diverse array of wildlife.

“This commitment from COUNTRY to help us create this community space, alongside a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is an example of a public/private partnership that serves a mutual goal to enrich lives in the communities we serve,” said Heartland President Keith Cornille.

“This new trail will benefit Heartland students, community members, and visitors. We look forward to stepping onto the trail for many years to come.”

- Keith Cornille

President, Heartland Community College

As the spring and summer of 2026 bring warmer weather to campus, plants and grasses will grow, and community members will truly be able to enjoy the COUNTRY Financial Trail for the first time.

“We expect to see a lot of activity along this trail,” said President Cornille. “It is the perfect place to hold a 5K run or walk. I know our natural sciences faculty are looking forward to utilizing the outdoor classroom, and our Continuing Education staff have a new site for birdwatching workshops. But it is especially exciting to offer a new way to welcome the community to join from the Constitution Trail and come right to our front door.”