Sidewalks Pushed Near Western Springs Schools

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A consultant recommended this week that Western Springs fill in gaps in its sidewalk network near two elementary schools on the west side.

At a Village Board meeting, Stephanie Nappa of the Epstein firm pointed to the issue near Forest Hills and Laidlaw elementaries.

A few years ago, Forest Hills residents lobbied the Village Board to complete sidewalks in their neighborhood. At the time, a village survey showed residents in that area split on the need for sidewalks, with younger families pushing for them.

According to Nappa's report, the village should fill in sidewalks on five streets:

• Garden Avenue, from Maple to 39th streets
• Forest Avenue, from Chestnut to Maple streets
• Prospect Avenue, from Hillgrove Avenue to Chestnut Street
• Central Avenue, from 47th to 55th streets
• 53rd Street, from Flagg Creek to Wolf Road

The village hired the consultant with a $75,000 Safe Routes to School state grant.

In her report, Nappa suggested raised crosswalks and curb bumpouts, so drivers notice pedestrian crossings.

Curb bumpouts narrow streets at crossings. The feature, Nappa said, increases crosswalk visibility and prevents drivers from parking too close to intersections.

Nappa's report also suggested a pedestrian bridge over Flagg Creek to connect the newer Commonwealth neighborhood along Interstate 294 to 51st Street, which is near Forest Hills Elementary.

Such a bridge may not be necessary now because of the demographics of Commonwealth, with fewer schoolchildren, Nappa said.

"Those (demographics) could change, so it would be nice to have that direct connection so close to the school," she said.

Nappa also recommended a pedestrian island on Wolf Road at 59th Street.

Her study included two surveys that drew hundreds of comments from residents. The report with all the comments is online.

"We really needed this for a while, and it's very comprehensive," Village President Heidi Rudolph said of the report. "I think it really addresses a lot of the residents' concerns."

Trustees plan to further discuss the study at a later meeting.