Village Officials Break Ground on Roosevelt Road Streetscape Project

FOREST PARK, IL (March 23, 2017) – Forest Park officials broke ground today on the Roosevelt Road Streetscape Project, which is designed to enact several improvements from Desplaines Avenue to Harlem Avenue. The goals of the project include improving pedestrian safety, encouraging economic redevelopment in the area and providing an attractive gateway into the Village. The project began in earnest on March 20, 2017.

“This project will greatly improve the look and feel of our south side of town,” said Mayor Calderone, adding “the residents and businesses in the area have been waiting a long time for this facelift and I’m confident we will all be very pleased with the final product. I cannot wait to get the project underway!”

The improvement plan, designed by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL), includes:

• Streetscape features, such as landscaped planters, parkway trees, benches, trash receptacles and stamped/colored pedestrian crosswalks
• Pedestrian bump-outs at all intersections to shorten pedestrian crosswalks
• Raised landscape medians
• Ornamental street lighting
• Decorative crosswalks at Lathrop Ave. and at Circle Ave.
• Pavement resurfacing on Roosevelt Road from Desplaines Ave. to Harlem Ave.

“Streetscape projects not only improve the look and feel of an area, but can play an important role in increasing safety, encouraging foot traffic and fostering economic development,” said Village Engineer Jim Amelio of CBBEL. “CBBEL is proud to help the Village of Forest Park make this project a reality.”

Funding for the $4.7 million project has been secured from the Illinois Department of Transportation ($2.3 million) and the Roosevelt Road TIF/Village funds ($2.4 million), which was approved by the Village Council in early 2015.

The project has been in the Design and Permitting stage since it was approved. Construction began on March 20, 2017 at Harlem Avenue and is expected to last through the fall of 2017.