DeKalb Times

City of Naperville Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee met Aug. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

A. CALL TO ORDER:

Chair Shields called the August 5, 2025 Naperville Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction (PDC) Committee meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. The meeting was held in the Naperville Employee University (NEU) at the Municipal Center, located at 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL.

B. ROLL CALL:

Present: Hannah Brauer; Grant Cowen; John Cuff; Jan Erickson; Andy Hynes; Seth Michael; Tiffani Picco; Leslie Ruffing; Greg Sagen; Johnna Shields, Chair; Mike Sullivan and Carl Wohlt

Absent: Ian Holzhauer

Also Present: Tim Ball, Gary R. Weber and Associates, Inc. (GRWA); Rebecca DeLarme, City staff; Mike DiCristina, Naperville Park District; Brian Dusak, Engineering Resource Associates (ERA); Rick Hitchcock, former Riverwalk Commission Chairman; Jeff Martin, Naperville Riverwalk Foundation; Peggy Motta, Naperville Park District; Stephanie Penick, Naperville Riverwalk Foundation; and Carl Peterson, GRWA Shields welcomed Greg Sagen as the newly appointed Riverwalk Commissioner and a brief introduction was provided by each member at this time.

A change in the agenda order was suggested to discuss the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan after the discussion on the Shepherd’s Crook Lights.

A motion was made to change the agenda order to discuss New Business, Shepherd’s Crook Lights, as item F. 1. by Erickson and seconded by Sullivan. MOTION CARRIED UANIMOUSLY by voice vote.

C. PUBLIC FORUM:

There were no public comments.

D. PROJECT UPDATES:

1. Riverwalk Project Updates - Andy Hynes

Receive the update on various Riverwalk projects currently in progress

Hynes provided an update on the following three projects on or adjacent to the Riverwalk.

Eagle Street Gateway: Construction continues on the Eagle Street Gateway project. The low flow walk is substantially complete and various retaining walls and foundations have been installed. The cofferdam in the river has also been removed. Completion is expected in October.

Fredenhagen Park Fountain Repairs: At the July 15th City Council meeting, a change order to authorize additional work to replace the electric cable and conduit that powers the fountain lights as well as install a drain valve on the chlorinator system was denied. The conduit for the lighting system can be installed within the project contingency.

This will allow the potential to add fountain lighting later without disturbing the new waterproof liner. The project is expected to be completed in September.

Fredenhagen Park Miscellaneous Repairs: The Naperville Park District received three quotes to paint and clean various components within

Fredenhagen Park. The low bidder was Allied Painting with a low bid of $17,400. The award of this contract is in progress. Picco advised of the plan to stain the Ipe wood to its original color this year. She will request a recommendation from the contractor on the ongoing maintenance to include costs.

E. OLD BUSINESS:

1. Approval of Minutes - Johnna Shields

Approve minutes from the July 1, 2025 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting

A motion to approve the July 1, 2025 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting minutes was made by Erickson and seconded by Picco. MOTION CARRIED with Brauer, Ruffing and Sagen abstaining

2. Park District Report - Tiffani Picco

Picco announced that the Naperville Riverwalk was voted best park district facility in DuPage County by Glancer magazine’s 2025 Best of the Best.

There was minor storm damage a few weeks ago that resulted in the loss of half of one of the giant cottonwoods in Sindt Woods.

Park District staff repaired landscape in areas inside the fenced construction in Fredenhagen Park due to the Washington Street Bridge project. More will be completed in the fall.

Nearly all the Riverwalk benches have been stained. Erickson expressed appreciation on behalf of the Riverwalk Commission to the Park District staff for all their work and ownership they take while maintaining the Riverwalk.

F. NEW BUSINESS:

1. Shepherd's Crook Lights - Tiffani Picco

Review current inventory and approve recommendation of conversion to LED bulbs for the shepherd’s crook lights on the Riverwalk

Picco reviewed the information included in the agenda packet and discussed the coordinated efforts to salvage shepherd’s crook lights in good condition for future use on the Riverwalk. As of July, the Park District has ninety-five extra shepherd’s crook light fixtures in storage, with twenty expected for use in the South Extension, nine for use in the 430 South Washington Street project, leaving sixty-six extra units to be used as replacements as needed. She added that the stored fixtures are painted and powder-coated to look brand new prior to being installed and they don’t cycle them out very frequently. She doesn’t feel there is a need to purchase any additional lights in the foreseeable future.

High-pressure sodium bulbs are currently being used along the Riverwalk and each bulb lasts approximately three years. Four shepherd’s crook fixtures were converted to LED bulbs several years ago and other smaller Riverwalk fixtures near the paddleboat quarry rental building were converted to LED and have lasted over five years.

The high-pressure sodium bulbs also tend to flicker rapidly which may have negative effects on some, while the LED bulbs do not. The warm white LED will be used, and an illustrated comparison of the bulbs was included in the report. Picco’s recommendation is to begin converting the shepherd’s crook lights to warm white LED bulbs in a phased approach, beginning in Fredenhagen Park and the east extension, with the goal of matching new lights that will be used in the south extension and 430 South Washington Street project.

Picco will provide a summary of this discussion at next week’s Riverwalk Commission meeting.

2. Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan Update - Johnna Shields

Review potential edits and updates to the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan Shields reviewed the goals for the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan update to include refreshing the Commission on the plan details, reviewing the projects at a high level, and determining necessary edits such as cost estimates, timing and graphics. For the best use of time, she requested that anyone with grammatical or copy edits to please forward the information to her via email so that she may compile for the group for later discussion.

The document was last updated on November 8, 2023 and is managed by GRWA with Peterson and team making the edits. The PDC Committee will initiate the refresh with the aim of continuing discussions at future meetings, ultimately providing the final recommended version for the Riverwalk Commission’s approval.

Erickson provided the historical context of the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan and noted the need to review every three years. She and Hitchcock spoke of the importance of each of the project’s goals as listed on page 4 to 1) maintain or improve river ecology and habitat; 2) complete connectivity gaps within the Riverwalk boundaries; 3) expand every day and programmed capacity; 4) Increase visitor safety, accessibility and hospitality; 5) enhance appearance while maintaining signature characteristics; and 6) engage the next generation of Riverwalk advocates and donors.

Peterson reviewed and the group discussed the following initial suggested edits:

Page 1 - update the Riverwalk Commissioners to include past and present from 2019.

Page 2 - keep existing Chairman’s message but include update from the current Chair, Erickson.

Page 3 - no changes.

Page 4 - no changes.

Page 5 - update the map of Current Attractions to match the Park District map in the new Riverwalk brochure.

Page 6 - suggested changes to Future Attractions are: A) Grand Pavilion - may want to mention programming survey underway; B) Prairie Nature Garden is complete - add photo; C) Riverbank Ecological Restoration - add photo and change location/show completed location; E) Paddleboat Quarry Overlooks - Park District and Riverwalk Foundation have completed; F) Eagle Street Gateway - discuss if we want to show construction photos; G) 430 South Washington Street - add lower walk photo and update text; J) Artists’ Overlook - discuss if we want to remove or replace; K) Hillside Road Gateway - add 3D image; L) South Gateway - change site plan photo.

The group discussed changing Future Attractions to Master Plan Attractions and adding status (in progress, completed w/ year completed) and changing project order to group completed projects together.

Page 7 - Grand Pavilion - need to update budget/add programming survey is underway. Discussion followed on the current concept drawing and the possibility of finalizing based on the survey results. Picco will provide current usage information for the Grand Pavilion at next month’s PDC Committee meeting.

Page 8 - Prairie Nature Garden - show project as complete and remove conceptual drawing/replace with better photos.

Page 9/10 - Riverbank Ecological Restoration - now includes photos in place of conceptual graphic, note that it is in progress and text should be updated to include other areas on the map. The Park District is developing a Master Plan for this area and native landscaping concept will be applied in the future. Could include this language in text.

Page 11- Netzley Overlook - stairs are proposed, project costs need to be updated, and project needs to be better defined. Picco noted that the stacked limestone in the area needs to be looked at and addressed.

Page 12 - Paddleboat Quarry Overlooks - project could be marked complete knowing that landscaping will be done later. Better photos will be added.

Page 13 - Eagle Street Gateway - under construction. Fall photos of completed project should be included (with before/after).

Page 14 - 430 South Washington Street - project will be underway next year; need to update costs to reflect CIP, update text to note “owned” by North Central College. Further discussion on the plans for this project will be held at an upcoming PDC Committee meeting to include representatives from North Central College. Renaming this project was also suggested.

Page 15/16 - Main Street to Washington Street Riverwalk - no changes.

Page 17 - East Bank Riverwalk - no changes but should be included with upcoming discussion topics with North Central College.

Page 18 - Artists’ Overlook - the group discussed challenges with permitting and costs. After further discussion, a motion was made to recommend removal of the Artists’ Overlook Project from the Riverwalk 2031 Master Plan by Sullivan and seconded by Cowen. Wohlt noted he supported cancelling this concept but keeping open for discussion of where it might go. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Page 19 - Hillside Road Gateway - a new concept drawing will be included with a different angle.

Page 20 - South Gateway - the site plan will be replaced with the updated site plan that shows the residences, etc. Include a birds-eye view of the Martin Plaza to replace the current sketch. Hitchcock suggested adding two new major capital projects to the Master Plan to include 1) consider adding redesign of the 20-space parking lot at corner of Main Street and Jackson Avenue due to possible Nichols Library Parking Deck; and 2) showcasing the bank immediately south of Eagle Street Gateway.

Peterson will update the plan with the current suggestions and further discussion will continue at next month’s PDC Committee meeting.

G. MEETING SCHEDULE:

Riverwalk Commission, August 13, 2025, 7:30 a.m.

Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction, September 2, 2025, 7:30 a.m.

Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

Riverwalk Commission, September 10, 2025, 7:30 a.m.

Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

**Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction, September 30, 2025, 7:30 a.m.

Municipal Center NEU, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL

H. ADJOURNMENT:

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Cuff and seconded by Erickson. The meeting adjourned at 9:09 a.m. MOTION CARRIED

https://naperville.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7641122&GUID=33653337-8876-400D-AC17-5B48D852A9A3