advertisement

Groundbreaking on south Naperville community plaza planned for May

With the creation of a new community plaza near the 95th Street Library expected to begin this spring, Naperville Park District officials are preparing to consider the first round of construction bids.

The roughly $3.6 million project calls for transforming a 2.2-acre parcel, currently overtaken by weeds, into a public gathering space at the Frontier Sports Complex. A ceremonial groundbreaking has been scheduled for 4:30 p.m. May 22 at the south Naperville site, followed by a reception at the library.

The park district opened bids last week for infrastructure and site work, said Eric Shutes, director of planning. A proposed contract will be presented to park board commissioners for consideration at a meeting this month, he said.

The next step will be going out to bid for the plaza's parking lot and planned amenities, which include playgrounds, a band shell, shelters, a fitness lawn and a large splash pad — the park district's first. Shutes said those contracts are expected to be considered by the park board next month.

The idea of developing a community space south of the 95th Street Library stemmed from library manager Karen Dunford, who wanted to bridge the gap between the facility and the nearby park, shops and Neuqua Valley High School. She also hoped the concept would offer more outdoor space for library patrons, students and other residents.

Plans presented over the past year by the Hitchcock Design Group call for creating a landscaped plaza conducive to walking, socializing and holding outdoor classroom activities, events and performances. The band shell, for example, will allow community members to sit on the lawn, listen to live music and “enjoy an evening under the stars,” said Ray McGury, park district executive director.

The project is being funded through developers' in-lieu fees, park district officials said, as well as a donation from the recently approved 312-house Wagner Farms subdivision.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.