Riverfront plans take shape

New details emerged Wednesday as North Aurora hones plans to revamp its riverfront.

Tod Stanton of Design Perspectives, which prepared the plan, said the village should consider phasing in construction over many years. A logical starting point would be improving the bicycle trails and starting a grand boardwalk, which is a cornerstone of the project.

The first phase could cost about $3 million, Stanton said. He envisions the project taking more than 10 years to complete at a total cost of about $12 million. That price would go up if the village decided to remove and replace the activity center on the corner of State and Route 31.

Design Perspectives started researching the idea of a riverfront development earlier this year and found through surveys and workshops that the residents support the idea. Eventually, the public improvements could help commercial redevelopment around State Street between routes 25 and 31. The development area runs south from the dam along the Fox River for a little over a mile, he said.

The first phase could also include a children's garden near village hall.

The grand boardwalk is proposed for the east side of the river and would be the only one of its kind in Illinois.

"We're not being a copy-cat. The elements of this plan are unique to North Aurora," Stanton said.

The village is trying to set aside a portion of the startup costs in next year's budget, Stanton said. Money could also be coming from grants, he said.

However, before the village has any hopes of the grant money, the village board needs to approve the concept of a riverfront area. The plan unveiled Wednesday was a hybrid of two plans presented in September. The new plan will go before the board for input soon.

Other phases would expand the boardwalk, add a lookout tower, an X-shaped pedestrian bridge, a nature trail, benches and several other amenities, he said.

Residents can find more information on the village's Web site, www.vil.north-aurora.il.us.