Naperville updates Riverwalk improvement priorities
Stewards of Naperville's downtown Riverwalk have updated their guidelines for future development to reflect priorities for improvements along the 1.75-mile path.
Jeff Havel, Riverwalk Commission chairman, said the revised guidelines emphasize path connections or extensions at three locations: the future Water Street District between Main and Webster streets; a property owned by North Central College north of the Burger King on Washington Street; and from the Riverwalk's southern edge at Hillside Road to Martin Avenue.
At the Water Street District, developer Marquette Companies is responsible for building a new segment of Riverwalk south of the DuPage River in the 2.4-acre area where it also is constructing a hotel, restaurants, shops, offices and parking. Developers recently said they also will extend the Riverwalk across the property of Naperville Township at the northwest corner of Water and Webster streets.
"We just think it's a fantastic idea, completing the upper- and lower-level walkways," Water Street developer Jeff Prosapio said during a meeting in September.
While Marquette will build the new path across its property, Havel said the Riverwalk Commission is reviewing plans for the new segment to ensure it will be consistent with the rest of the walkway.
"We look at the main elements of the (new) Riverwalk to make sure they're consistent with what's already there," Havel said.
Another priority in the Riverwalk development guidelines is construction of a path extension and plaza at 430 S. Washington St., a property North Central College bought north of the Burger King.
College and Riverwalk officials are awaiting the outcome of a grant application to help pay for environmental cleanup on the site, which used to house several businesses, including a dry cleaners, a gas station and a car repair shop. Havel said designs also are in progress for an electronic sign advertising North Central College, a sloped open space leading down to the river and a sculpture to highlight the college's tradition of strong cross country teams.
Further south, the possibility of extending the Riverwalk from Hillside Road south to Martin Avenue also is listed as a priority in the updated development guidelines.
"With the development of the property at Hillside and Washington, the Dunkin' Donuts, we have an easement to accommodate" a future Riverwalk extension, Havel said.
The city council in January approved the idea of the southern extension, but didn't set a time frame for the work because of its projected cost of about $3 million.
Including these three, the updated guidelines list 25 potential projects and require all future Riverwalk construction to be set back from the river far enough to meet flooding regulations and zoning requirements.
Riverwalk work
Naperville's Riverwalk Commission has updated the development guidelines for future projects. Here are five improvements that could begin by 2020.
• Construction of a new segment at the Water Street District between Main and Webster streets
• Construction of a new segment on property owned by North Central College at 430 S. Washington St.
• Reconstruction of the parking lot near the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion and Jaycee Playground
• Replacement of the asphalt fire lane at the Millennium Carillon with reinforced turf or permeable pavers
• Rehabilitation of the Riverwalk between Eagle Street and the Smykal Free Speech Pavilion at Webster Street