Geneva park improvement in first week

Construction is progressing at Geneva's Island Park with help from a grant by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The massive undertaking of replacing the north bridge to the island began Friday, and city engineer John Zeman reported on the progress at Monday's park district board meeting.

The Fox River Trail, which passes through the island via the bridge, was closed last week, and a detour has been set up to the west, along State Street and South River Lane. Besides rerouting the trail, the pavilion, playground and restrooms are closed.

The original bridge was built in 1931, deteriorating over a period of 80 years.

Park district board President Susan Vander Veen said the project is “moving quickly and efficiently. The weather obviously is holding for us.”

As a stipulation of the grant from IDOT, construction couldn't begin until June 15 to avoid interruption of fish spawning season in the Fox River.

Workers have built a temporary bridge to the area in order to facilitate subsequent phases of the project, which includes new playground equipment and removing unhealthy ash trees. Additionally, the pavilion and overlook area, the annual site for summer concerts, will be improved. The entire project is slated for completion in late fall.

The summer concert series on July 11, 18 and 25 will be held at Sunset Park. Island Park is expected to reopen for a limited time Sept. 2 and 3 for the Fox Valley Folk Festival.