Naperville seeks ideas for maintaining vibrant downtown

Naperville prides itself on having a vibrant downtown and is making plans to keep it that way for at least the next 20 years.

The city is updating its 2000 Downtown Plan that serves as a guide for issues such as building design, land use and infrastructure.

"It's time for us to take a fresh look at the downtown and see with all the changes in the past decade, what else out there do we need to anticipate as we look ahead to 2030?" community planner Amy Emery said.

The plan from 2000 included more than 30 action items, most of which are now complete or at least under way, such as the Main Street Promenade, Van Buren parking garage and Fredenhagen Park.

Planners would like to incorporate ideas such as sustainability and walkability into the plan, provide updates on downtown projects and add more action items for the next two decades.

"As we get new developments ... this will be a go-to document of how to facilitate that and offers an action plan to make sure downtown Naperville is as successful as it has been," planner Jason Zawila said.

The city will hold an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today in the meeting rooms of the municipal center, 400 S. Eagle St., to give residents a chance to share their own visions.

There will not be a formal presentation, but residents will be able to visit several stations with exhibits and exercises in which they can give input about the downtown's strengths and weaknesses, their vision for 2030 and ideas for future development.

In the spring, city planners received input from area teenagers who expressed concerns about parking, traffic and shopping options for people their age. They also would like to see improved bicycle access and more teen entertainment options such as dancing and interactive gaming.

The city's Downtown Advisory Commission will serve as the steering committee for the project. Recommendations likely will go to the city council next summer.

For more information about the Downtown Plan visit naperville.il.us/napervilledowntown2030.aspx. Residents can sign up for e-mail updates.