St. Charles looks to green up downtown

With the completion of a new downtown firehouse, St. Charles officials hope to take another step to create more of a unified municipal campus, but another budget crunch in 2010 might derail the plan for at least another year.

The city's engineers are tinkering with conceptual drawings that plot out green space in what is now the parking lot between city hall at 2 E. Main St., the police station and the new fire station.

Current plans envision a type of walkway leading to a water fountain or sculpture along the Fox River. The new greenery also would serve to break up what is mostly a bland parking lot.

Public Works Engineering Manager Jim Bernahl said residents shouldn't think of the area as a new park because it will be too small to serve as a major gathering space. Rather, the new area will add more green to the scenery for bikers, pedestrians and guests at the Hotel Baker across the river to enjoy while they are in the area.

"We're looking to try to green it up as much as possible," Bernahl said. "This way it doesn't actually look like a parking lot. The plan will create enhanced, pedestrian-safe routes and unify the campus."

But all greenery will require the city forking out some green to get it accomplished. City staff are currently waiting on feedback from the city council about how to handle an anticipated $3 million budget deficit for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

That means plans to begin construction on the new enhanced green space by the river may have to wait.

"We recognize it's not a necessity at this point," Bernahl said. "It could potentially get postponed another year or so. But the long-term goal is definitely to green it up."