Itasca officially unveils Riverwalk during festival

Residents already are using it, they've had a say in naming it, and now they're invited to see Itasca's Riverwalk at its very best.

As part of the village's inaugural Fine Art and Wine Fest, leaders will officially unveil the Itasca Riverwalk at 6:30 p.m. today near Walnut Avenue and Irving Park Road.

The concrete trail, which began as the brainchild of former Village President Claudia "Gigi" Gruber, is just more than a mile long and runs adjacent Spring Brook Creek from southeast of Irving Park Road and I-355 to Walnut Street.

Village officials approved construction of the $1.5 million project in mid-2008 and Hitchcock Design Group of Naperville began work on it last fall. After some delays due to securing permits from DuPage County, cold weather and flooding, the Riverwalk unofficially opened this spring.

Residents were asked for input in naming the trail earlier this year and they ultimately chose to call it, simply, the Itasca Riverwalk.

Trustee Jeff Aiani, chairman of the Riverwalk committee, said he is thrilled to see residents already making it a destination in Itasca - and proud the project came in $50,000 under budget.

"We see a lot of activity there and we're very excited," Aiani said. "I think it's great for the community."

The path features lighting, signs, landscaping and two decorative disk-shaped brick-paver areas. Other features include stone outcrops, efforts to stabilize the stream banks, and grading and restoration along the south side of Spring Brook Creek between Maple Street and Walnut Avenue.

Village President Jeff Pruyn said the goal is to connect downtown Itasca, the municipal complex, nature center, water park and library. Both he and Aiani said cooperation among all those entities was key in making the Riverwalk a reality, and Itasca has gained from their efforts.

"It's a leisurely and safe route," Pruyn said. "If kids are down here and want to get to the pool, they don't need to use Irving Park Road."

He said Spring Brook Nature Center also is seeing increased traffic due to the Riverwalk, which snakes past its birds of prey exhibit, so residents can't miss the wildlife.

"It is increasing the amount of people using that beautiful part of our town," Pruyn said.

But just because the Riverwalk is officially open doesn't mean work is over. Next month the village board will find out whether it has secured a $75,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources, which would help pay for the second phase of construction that is budgeted at $250,000.

In addition to extending the Riverwalk farther west beyond village hall - bringing it to about 2.5 miles - Village Administrator Dave Williams said future phases could include adding features like a children's exploration garden.