North Aurora officials like boardwalk plan

Plans for a boardwalk and related developments along the Fox River in North Aurora have moved a step closer.

The plan could take about 10 years to finish and cost up to $30 million if all parts of it are accepted.

The proposal, which was developed over eight months by Tod Stanton and the rest of the team at Design Perspectives Inc., would include a boardwalk, several gardens and a lookout tower nestled along the Fox River next to the State Street bridge.

The plan was well-received by the village board recently, winning over at least one trustee who had doubts about the boardwalk concept.

"I always hesitated about the boardwalk," Trustee Bob Strusz said. "But looking at the plan; it's amazing. It's a great looking thing and I would love to see it down there (on the river)."

Trustee Mark Gaffino said, "With the river, we have a great asset that not every town has. I'm looking forward to seeing (this plan come through)."

Trustee Dale Berman said he liked the plan, but would have wanted it to include Route 31 redevelopment as well.

Also unveiled recently was a tentative timeline and budget. However, village officials were quick to say the timetable is only a projection and not binding to the village.

Design Perspectives projected $400,000 would be needed in budget year 2008 to get the ball rolling. Included in that figure is money for design, construction managers, intergovernmental agreements and permits. The agreements are important because most of the land the project would sit on is owned by the Kane County Forest Preserve District and Fox Valley Park District, Stanton said.

In 2009, the timeline calls for spending $3.75 million. About $1 million apiece would be allocated for a start on the boardwalk and a children's garden. Another $715,000 would go toward a riverfront garden and $475,000 would be for a promenade.

The project would continue with about $400,000 needed in 2010 for more permits, construction managers and engineering design, with another $4 million to bring the designs to reality in 2011, Stanton said.

In 2016, the project would be putting on the finishing touches with a lookout tower and new community center on the west side of the river.

Trustee Mike Herlihy said the number should not scare people because the village does not have to implement every part of the plan. The new community center alone would cost about $12 million, and if the village left that out or postponed it, the price of the project would be considerably reduced Stanton said.

"This project is another opportunity to do more than just pay the bills," Herlihy said.

The next step will be raising money and working with the other government bodies to see how this plan fits with their plans, Management Analyst Wes Kornowski said.

But the fundraising ball might already be set in motion. The village has landed a $110,000 matching grant from the forest preserve district, Kornowski said.

For more details, go to www.vil.north-aurora.il.us.