Burr Ridge Asked To Back Sidewalk On 'Dangerous' Section

BURR RIDGE, IL – For more than a dozen years, a sidewalk on a portion of Garfield Street has been on the village's list of projects.

Last week, Grant Street resident Duane Hong spoke to the Village Board about the need for a sidewalk.

"I drive that route every single day," he said. "There are runners and walkers that I see daily having to walk on the street because of the lack of a sidewalk."

He said he presented to the board a petition with more than 90 signatures asking the village to approve money for the project.

In 2009, the village's Pathway Commission placed the Garfield sidewalk at No. 7 on its list. It has since moved up to No. 3, Hong said.

Willowbrook, which is on one side of the road, decided to chip in $60,000 for the sidewalk, depending on which side of the road it goes.

At a January meeting, Burr Ridge officials estimated the project would cost $220,000.

The idea is to connect the dead-end sidewalk on the east side of Garfield north of Waterford Drive to a dead-end sidewalk at Rogers Farm Road.

The discussion came up in January because village officials are deciding how to spend $1.4 million in federal pandemic relief.

Trustees talked about using the money for the reconstruction of the pathways on 79th Street and 87th Street-Kraml Drive, costing $325,000.

They showed less interest in the Garfield project.

After Hong's comments last week, Village President Gary Grasso said the board would "absolutely" consider the Garfield sidewalk.

"It's been on our radar, as you have indicated," Grasso said. "It will certainly be considered as we look at our budget."

In an email to Patch, Hong questioned why the other pathways appear to have taken priority over Garfield.

"I will invite the Trustees to walk or bike with me along Garfield, so they can experience this dangerous section firsthand," he told Patch.

Hong plans to speak to the trustees again March 28.