Glen Ellyn creating 'pocket parks' for outdoor dining
Glen Ellyn will create an outdoor dining space downtown as part of efforts to support restaurants trying to recover from pandemic shutdowns.
The village will close a section of Duane Street to traffic in early June to make way for al fresco dining in front of the Glen Ellyn Civic Center. The "Dine on Duane" area will encourage patrons to pick up restaurant orders and have their meals under a 120-foot tent, while practicing social distancing.
Officials say they chose the site because it's still close enough to restaurants, but it won't interfere with their curbside deliveries.
"What we're really trying to focus on is their carryout business, which has been fairly robust in Glen Ellyn," Village Manager Mark Franz said.
The tent will block one lane of Duane between Main Street and the Civic Center drive, with picnic tables, lighting and turf grass. Ideally, Reserve 22 employees will staff the space with assistance from restaurants.
"I consider this almost like a public park," Franz said.
The village plans to create other "pocket parks" downtown. Officials have identified possible outdoor dining spots near the flower clock on Main; a portion of Hillside Avenue near Blackberry Market; east of the French Market and behind Marinella Italian Restaurant; in front of the Glen Art Theatre; and Shock's Square.
Restaurants and bars can reopen with outdoor dining Friday when the state is set to loosen coronavirus restrictions and advance to the third phase of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan.
Trustees this week also passed a resolution temporarily authorizing the community development department to administratively approve plans for outdoor restaurant seating, tents and outdoor displays of retail merchandise in order to expedite those requests.
The village board still wants to review all the public outdoor dining plans next month to be able to provide feedback and oversight.
Village President Diane McGinley, in her role as liquor commissioner, also can grant any licenses needed for businesses with existing liquor licenses to provide outdoor seating, service and sales of alcohol.