Mundelein gets a little help with Centennial Plaza

Chicago-area businesses are helping make Mundelein's proposed Centennial Plaza a reality.

The firms - from Mundelein, Indian Creek, Northbrook and other suburbs - have pledged to contribute services or construction materials for the project, which is planned for Kracklauer Park on Seymour Avenue at Courtland Street.

It's designed to be a lasting reminder of the village's centennial, which it celebrated this year with a variety of events and promotions.

The corporate contributions are necessary to see the project through, village officials said. Neither the village nor the Mundelein Park and Recreation District, which owns and maintains Kracklauer Park, are financially supporting the effort, which is expected to cost about $277,000, officials have said.

"The fundraising is going to be the biggest challenge," village Trustee Ray Semple said. "These days, raising funds is not an easy task."

Plans call for a brick plaza in the northwest corner of the park, which is the site of many of the village's Community Days events each summer. It will feature benches, public artwork and lighting.

So far, six suburban companies have pledged to assist the plaza project, including:

• Smith Engineering Consultants of McHenry, which has donated a site survey.

• Blanford Design, Landscape Architects and Contractors of Bolingbrook, which has donated a site plan and construction drawings.

• Northfield Block of Mundelein, which has pledged to provide brick pavers.

• Kristan Funeral Home of Mundelein, which will supply a time capsule.

• Architerra of Indian Creek, which will provide landscape consulting.

• Bruno Construction of Northbrook, which will oversee construction.

"There's a lot of good participation," Semple said.

Park District Director Margaret Resnick praised architect Gary Blanford for donating his design services.

"I think it's wonderful," Resnick said of the corporate contributions.

Officials hope to collect enough money to fully fund the project by August 2010, village documents indicate. If that's successful, construction could begin in September 2010.

Funding must be in place before construction begins, officials insist.

The village's centennial committee is developing a corporate sponsorship plan. Brick and tree sales also are likely, officials said.