Western Springs Pressed On 'Sidewalks To Nowhere'

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Advocates of sidewalks in Western Springs' Forest Hills neighborhood are pushing for the village to study the costs of a sidewalk project as soon as possible. As it is, the neighborhood is a patchwork of homes with sidewalks and those without.

But village officials said the advocates should talk with their neighbors, saying they lack a clear mandate for sidewalks.

Amy Tilles and Rod Frazier are the leaders of sidewalk supporters in the 30-block subdivision. They both spoke at the Village Board's remote meeting Monday.

Tilles told the board she and Frazier represented the majority of their neighborhood. She said it was important to begin the study now.

"More people are out and about on our streets," she said. "A very major accident is waiting to happen in our community."

At a meeting last month, the Village Board appeared poised to approve a $16,000 study for the project, but agreed to delay consideration until after a strategic planning session in the fall.

In remarks about the issue Monday, Village President Alice Gallagher said a survey showed 68 percent of those with sidewalks are willing to participate in a cost-sharing program for a project. But she said only 51 percent of residents without sidewalks agreed.

Tilles, though, said she reviewed the hundreds of comments from the survey and found 78 percent were either in favor or unsure what they were choosing. Many residents, she said, want more information on the project's costs, which a study would provide.

"We want to be very clear that Rod and I are professionals, respectful, and we want to be great partners with the board, but please don't confuse that with passiveness or weakness," Tilles said. "We are committed to this cause, as are the majority of Forest Hills residents. And we need your support to make it work."

Lawn Avenue resident Scott Will said he first heard about the proposed sidewalks at a block party shortly after moving to the neighborhood three years ago.

"Pretty much everyone on our street is pushing for it," he said. "There are streets peppered with sidewalks to nowhere. That looks a little strange."

In 2006, the village started requiring sidewalks for new construction. So as older houses are replaced, sidewalks are installed. In many cases, sidewalks lead to grass on both sides.

After the public comments, Trustee Al Fink said the "overall sense" was that the board was holding up the sidewalk project. But he said opponents are clear they do not want sidewalks. In the survey, some residents did not mention costs, but said they disliked the appearance of sidewalks breaking up their lawns, comparing it to the look of big cities such as Chicago.

Fink had advice for the sidewalk supporters: "Speak to your neighbors and get a sense of who wants sidewalks and who doesn't. I've gotten plenty of emails from people who are actively against sidewalks."

Gallagher agreed with Fink's advice.

"Community outreach may be the best course of action right now," she said. "Talk to the neighbors and find a way forward."

In public comments, Frazier said advocates are respectful of sidewalk opponents. But he said it was important to make an informed decision.

Here are other stories on the effort for sidewalks in the Forest Hills neighborhood:

Sidewalks In Forest Hills Neighborhood?

Western Springs Sidewalk Foes 'Definitively' Against

The Case Against Sidewalks In Western Springs