Huntley to build veterans monument, improve downtown square

Huntley has allocated $45,000 for a veterans memorial to be built this year and set aside funds for the final phase of downtown improvements.

The donation will be made to the volunteer group spearheading the memorial project and work will be completed along with improvements to Huntley's Town Square by summer, Village Manager Dave Johnson said.

The nonprofit Huntley Area Veterans Foundation has raised $90,000 toward its $125,000 goal for the memorial project, according to the group's website.

The 25-foot-long, curved black granite monument will be 6 feet, 6 inches tall and be built in the downtown square, where the village has donated land for the project east of the gazebo. The memorial will include seven connected monuments representing branches of the military and the National Guard, with flags for each service and an American flag. Two granite benches will be dedicated to prisoners of war, those missing in action and Purple Heart honorees. There also will be a monument for those killed in action.

"Our intent is to coordinate the activity (with) the veterans group for them to get their project done along with modifications that we will be making to the square," Johnson said.

Looking ahead

The village portion of the memorial donation is part of its $23.7 million 2016 budget for operating and capital expenditures.

That includes completion of a downtown revitalization, which began last year and involved spending nearly $4 million on improvements, including upgrading infrastructure, relocating overhead and underground utilities, renovating stormwater and sewer lines, and improving landscaping and sidewalks near the downtown square.

The revitalization plan involved widening sidewalks along Main Street, reconstructing streets, and adding signage, carriage walks with raised planters, benches, bike racks, trash receptacles and trees along the parkway. Main Street also has been raised to reduce curb heights and make the street closer to level with sidewalks. Parking has been reconfigured along Main Street and within the municipal parking lot, creating additional spaces throughout downtown and in a new parking lot south of Main Street businesses.

"The first phase is completed," Johnson said. "The major part of the downtown revitalization is done. It was a productive year for the village. The square itself, ultimately, it will be up to the (village) board what they would like to be done there."

Among the major capital expenses planned this year are $1 million set aside for road resurfacing in the Heritage of Huntley subdivision, and $200,000 allocated for downtown square improvements, which will include removal of trees and new plantings.

Officials also are looking to the south of downtown for redevelopment opportunities, Johnson said.

"There will be more visible construction on the Route 47 corridor (this year)," he added.