By ilbob in April, 2012
The NW terminus of the Mel Anderson path is in Searls Park. Across the street to the NW is Lockwood park. Adjacent to Lockwood Park continuing NW is Anna Page Park. According to the Rockford Park District website there are 15 miles of trails in Lockwood and Anna Page Parks. Wilma and I walked on about 5.5 miles of these trails on 3-31-12. I posted pictures, a trail map, video and commentary at http://ilbob.blogspot.com/2012/04/lockwood-and-anna-page-parks-3-31-12.html.
The trails in these two parks are billed as horse trails, and while we saw plenty of evidence of horses having been on them, we saw no horses on the trails, just 5 people and one dog.
There are no signs that I saw prohibiting the use of the horse trails by bicyclists, but the surface conditions and grade changes would make it a difficult ride. But just because I saw no such signs, does not mean there are none. Based on signing that we did see, it appears that many of the trails are also used as snowmobile trails when snow conditions allow for it.
The trails we were on in these two parks were never far from the North Fork of Kent Creek. It meanders around in both parks and then continues to the SE into Searls Park, and then along the Mel Anderson Path down to Page Talcott Park. There is a mile or so where it is not in a park or other public space along the way.
There is a nice underpass to get under Springfield Road that separates the two parks, so there is never a need to try and cross in traffic.
By ilbob in February, 2012
Wilma and I walked this path once from Searls Park to Page-Talcot Park and back. It is a nice, and mostly well maintained blacktop path. A few places where it could use some work, but nothing real bad.
Pics and video at http://ilbob.blogspot.com/2011/12/mel-anderson-path-12-27-11.html.
The path goes along the edge of Searls Park until it gets to the NW Community center where it turns and follows Kent Creek the rest of the way. It is a pretty nice hike most of the way. Lots of greenery and creek scenes. The tail end of it (east of Auburn) is a commercial/retail area, and not real scenic. You could just skip that part and not really miss anything.
I would be inclined to park at the Searls end as the Page-Talcott end of the path is not in the nicest of areas.
We saw ducks in the creek at several different points. Plenty of benches along the way. Fast food is available along the eastern end of the path. Plenty of parking at both ends.