Lake Arlington Safety Changes to be Discussed

The park district is holding a meeting next week on changes to the path at Lake Arlington, where a collision earlier this year between a bicyclist and a walker caused fatal injuries to the walker.

The meeting on the changes will be held from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, October 23, at the park district administration enter, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road.

It will detail changes the park district is making to increase bicyclist and pedestrian safety at Lake Arlington, 1400 E. Valley Lane. At the meeting, residents can hear about changes that have already been made, hear what interviews with residents who have used the path since the changes were made have produced, and listen to future plans.

The changes at Lake Arlington resulted from a crash in June that happened when Barbara Pagano, 74, was walking on the path around Lake Arlington at the same time children on a Buffalo Grove Park District sponsored event were bicycling at the park. An 11-year-old Buffalo Grove bicyclist struck her from behind when he didn’t see her.

Pagano fell and struck her head on the pavement. She died a few weeks later on July 3.

The young rider was in a single file line with other bikes when the rider in front of him swerved. Police said he didn’t see Pagano in enough time and struck her.

Residents and friends of Pagano started talking about safety issues at Lake Arlington after the accident.

The Arlington Heights Park District started making changes in August on the path, specifying specific lanes for bikers and walkers, and which direction they must travel.

The changes also included directional signs, cross walk markings and poles near the pathway

Input on how those changes are working will be shared at the meeting.