Turning Elmhurst Dirt Path Into Sidewalk?

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is poised to add a sidewalk to one block of North Avenue where a dirt path now exists.

On Monday, a City Council committee is set to decide on whether to recommend a sidewalk for the north side of North Avenue, from Shady Lane to Ferndale Avenue.

This area of North is largely without sidewalks, with none across the street or west of the block in question.

A city memo said the dirt path indicates heavy pedestrian traffic along the four-lane street. It also said the sidewalk would help those walking to the traffic light at North and West avenues.

The sidewalk project is estimated to cost $45,000 and could get done this year. The city asked the state if it would build the sidewalk, given that North is State Route 64. But the state denied the request.

In July 2021, Ward 2 aldermen Bob Dunn and Jacob Hill requested the city look into a sidewalk for the block. It would allow "safer walking and biking travel along North Ave, one of the busiest arterial roadways in northern Illinois," they said in a memo.