Naperville gears up for city’s 200th birthday celebration

During the Great Depression, a group of prominent Naperville figures and citizens raised the funds to acquire the land that developed into Centennial Beach in honor of the town’s 100th birthday.

Volunteers and donors would later build the original section of the Naperville Riverwalk — literally brick by brick — to mark the city’s 150th anniversary.

The next milestone is approaching in 2031, and it’s actually a trifecta: the 200th anniversary of the city’s founding, the 100th anniversary of Centennial Beach and the 50th anniversary of the Riverwalk.

Like their forerunners, Naperville leaders are gearing up to celebrate in a big way.

The city’s 2031 Bicentennial Framework — last year, it came to nearly 50 pages — offers recommendations on fundraising, possible projects, special events and other activities for the birthday bash. Tucked in the report is a copy of a prescient letter written by Judge Win Knoch in 1931 — the city’s 100th year — to the future chairman of the city’s second centennial celebration.

“All of our people, without exception, have typified the true Naperville Spirit and we know that posterity will carry on where we leave off,” Knoch wrote.

To keep that spirit going, the city is now taking applications for two key volunteer positions: co-chairs of the official 2031 Bicentennial Committee. The pair selected will be tasked with shepherding the development of community celebrations and projects from 2026 until the bicentennial in 2031.

Mayor Scott Wehrli suggested having bicentennial committee co-chairs, “considering it's a five-year-long commitment.”

Naperville traces its origins to the founding family of Joseph and Almeda Naper. The bronze likeness of the town patriarch — he mapped, surveyed and named the streets of his namesake settlement, a plaque notes — stands at Jefferson Avenue and Mill Street, the site of the Naper homestead.

“Joseph and Almeda Naper established a presence here in 1831, but it was not until 1842 that the laws of America granted title,” Mary Lou Wehrli said ahead of the presentation of the bicentennial report to the city council.

Her grandfather, Knoch, headed the celebration committee for Naperville’s first 100 years.

“Our people have gone to great expense to bring about the acquisition of Centennial Park,” the judge wrote in his letter.

“I think a lot of people don't realize that's a New Deal-era project,” City Councilman Ian Holzhauer said. “But when you look at the architecture of the beach house and the grounds there, it's really a beautiful encapsulation of American history right in that one spot.”

Stone quarried from the area was used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire, he said.

“These milestones, I think, are more than just a party. It's more than just a celebration,” Holzhauer said. “Hopefully, we can make a mark that will be remembered 100 years from now.”

The Naperville Riverwalk Commission is also looking ahead to a momentous 2031. A newly released update to the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan now suggests potential improvements to the south bank west of Eagle Street — facing the newly constructed gateway and separating the paddleboat quarry from the West Branch of the DuPage River.

Planned for this year is a project at 430 S. Washington St., a triangular-shaped property next to the retro Burger King. It’s envisioned as a “stunning new Riverwalk attraction” that will serve as a gateway to both downtown and North Central College.