Naperville reconsiders Central Park seating

Proposed seating improvements at Central Park in Naperville aren't sitting well with everyone.

Faced with fresh opposition, the city council has agreed to take a step back from plans for a terrace seating arrangement at the downtown park the Naperville Municipal Band calls home.

"Concrete seating ... with no backs does nothing to enhance audience enjoyment of performances on the stage and, in fact, may cause some of our loyal fans from retirement and nursing homes to cease coming to the concerts," said Richard Pugliese, special projects officer for the band.

Seating is one of a handful of planned improvements at the park at 104 E. Benton, including reconfigured traffic flow, a better sound system, handicapped accessibility and, eventually, permanent restrooms.

Councilmen and park district commissioners approved the plan last year after extensive public discussion.

Councilmen were asked this week to approve a bid of $503,279 for the seating portion of the project scheduled to start in August. The city received a $300,000 grant from the state for the work.

Terrace seating would consist of concrete on the edges with 20 feet of grass between levels, according to Marcie Schatz, director of transportation, engineering and development. People would have the option of bringing a stadium-style seat back and sitting on the concrete or bringing blankets and chairs to sit on the grass.

Schatz said the design is handicapped-accessible and has a capacity of about 600.

However, longtime band Director Ron Keller said concerts draw 1,500 to 6,000 people and the plan "doesn't serve the people that come into the park."

The city looked at permanent seating but Schatz said it would cost more than $1 million, reduce capacity to about 400 and render parts of the park unusable when concerts are not taking place.

"This was deemed to be the best solution and I'm amazed we're coming up at the eleventh hour with all the public debate that's occurred and that you guys have been involved in," Councilman Jim Boyajian told band members.

Councilman Bob Fieseler, however, said the council's approval of the plan last year came with the condition it was subject to future review and he does not want to rush into a decision just because there is grant money on the line.

"If we go forward with a plan that is just lacking we're going to regret it for a long time," Fieseler said. "We're going to disappoint a lot of people who attended those concerts and those people who put a lot of time and love into making music and they've made it in this town for 150-plus years."

Councilman Kenn Miller said the city can't accommodate all concertgoers but he is not comfortable moving forward with a plan the band does not like.

Grant Wehrli encouraged the band to come up with alternatives and fellow councilmen to attend a concert.

"You see members of the greatest generation and you think somewhere over in a corner Norman Rockwell should be painting this," he said. "This is Central Park. If we're going to do it, let's do it right."

Councilman Richard Furstenau said he is "flabbergasted" by the cost of the seating. He is willing to take another look at seating options but not to spend more money.

Councilmen tabled the issue and will discuss it again July 20.