Mount Prospect's 'pocket park' plan moves forward
Mount Prospect's new downtown pocket park will cost more than pocket change, with officials allocating $650,000 for the project.
As much as $76,000 of that funding will go to Altamanu Inc., which village trustees hired last week for public engagement and architectural services related to the planned Edwin and Elsie Meyn Busse Park across from the village hall.
Earlier this year, the village purchased and leveled two homes owned by the Busse family at 19 and 21 S. Emerson St. to make way for the park. The site will serve as a public gathering space, enhance downtown festivals, and memorialize members of the Busse family.
"This sort of completes our downtown square and honors one of our founding families," Mayor Arlene Juracek said. "Coming on the tail end of our centennial celebration, this is icing on the centennial cake."
The village expects to go out for bid on construction next spring. Before they do, Altamanu plans to gather public input on the park, starting at this weekend's Mount Prospect Downtown Block Party.
Speaking before the village board last week, Senior Landscape Architect and Mount Prospect resident Nilay Mistry stressed the importance of a public space in the context of the other development taking place downtown.
According to village documents, officials want mature trees left on the site saved and suggest a number of potential uses, including a splash pad, decorative holiday displays and a community garden. A bench or plaque in honor of Wallace E. Busse and Marion Busse, the former owners of the homes, would be part of the space.