Letter: Kids Should Feel Welcome In Downtown Clarendon Hills

This is a letter to the editor from Clarendon Hills resident Corri Natarelli.

Clarendon Hills is a special place. People come here for the schools, but fall in love with everything else – the community, the walkability, the freedom and safety our kids all have, and our charming Downtown area.

Growing up in Clarendon Hills is truly a blessing. There are very few places kids have the freedom and safety to roam a neighborhood on bikes and gather to hang out in town. It makes for a magical childhood. The number one place to raise a family in fact.

Recently, there have been residents who spoke out against the plaza, citing it will encourage kids to gather more Downtown. Regardless of where you stand on the plaza, as a mother and a 20-year resident, I feel kids should be welcomed and encouraged to visit our Downtown.

Families and children are the backbone and future of Clarendon Hills. Kids are a main part of the Clarendon Hills economy as they buy pizza from Brama, slime from Learning Express, and candy from the Hardware Store and more. Families and kids should be encouraged to go to town, and linger there.

A unique feature of Clarendon Hills is how many people come back here to raise their own families. The kids hanging out in town today are a big part of the future of our town. What will make them want to come back? Cars and parking availability aren't what make Clarendon Hills special – the community does. We should build spaces that encourage and build community and gathering (of all ages!) together in our Downtown and, with or without a plaza, kids should certainly be encouraged to enjoy the spaces we already have instead of only in their houses, yards, or at playgrounds as suggested by some residents.