River Forest officials are moving forward with a plan to turn a parking lot across from Village Hall into a park called Heritage Square by this summer.
The project, budgeted at $100,000, was approved 5-0 by the village board at the May 11 meeting. Katie Brennan did not attend. Costs for equipment rental, construction debris disposal, topsoil, concrete, landscaping, benches, electrical work, a drinking fountain and fencing are estimated at $70,000.
In a memo to officials, Matt Walsh, village administrator, and Jack Bielak, director of public works and engineering, said the name of the park at the corner of Park Avenue and Lake Street pays homage to the village motto of “Proud Heritage, Bright Future.”
The village owns two properties at that location, a parking lot at the southeast corner of the intersection and a vacant grass lot at 419 Park. Previous efforts to market the properties for economic development, along with the privately-owned 7777 Lake Street property that bisects the village properties, have been unsuccessful.
Converting the property into a park was first suggested in July and the concept was incorporated into the village’s Capital Improvement Plan.
“The initial phase of construction is intentionally simple, enabling the space to be opened for public use this summer,” Walsh and Bielak said in the memo. “Additional amenities may be considered in future phases based on resident use and feedback.”
Potential improvements include public art installations, flagpoles, play elements and expanded paved areas.
As proposed, public works staff will serve as the general contractor for the project. Staff members will perform certain aspects of the work and other features may be assigned to subcontractors. Walsh said staff members have performed the design work internally, saving an estimated $30,000 in professional design costs. The scope of work includes asphalt and concrete removal; topsoil installation; and sidewalk construction.
A landscaping company will be engaged to install and maintain both native plantings and ornamental plantings onsite. All existing mature trees will remain in place. The concept also includes installation of benches and receptacles for trash and recycling, partially funded by a $7,500 grant from the Illinois Realtors Association. The ornamental fencing currently onsite will be retained and extended along Park Avenue.
Trustee Erika Bachner suggested incorporating a means to refill water bottles to the drinking fountain, which Walsh supported, adding the possible capability of filling dog bowls. In response to a question from Trustee Lisa Gillis, Bielak said staff members will handle routine maintenance of the grounds but anticipates using an outside contractor for annual landscaping “tuneups.”
Walsh suggested extending power to the site to support future enhancements, such as lighting or audiovisual features, but noted such enhancements are not included in the current plans. The park will close at dusk.
A portion of the concrete apron along Park Avenue will be kept to allow for parking of food trucks or service vehicles for potential future events. Walsh said staff members are investigating signage options to incorporate a map of River Forest, highlighting historical homes.