The Des Plaines City Council has shelved plans to build planters with trees along a rebuilt median on Golf Road between Mt. Prospect and Wolf Roads.
Last year, neighborhood residents presented aldermen with petitions signed by 225 residents who favored the project, said Dick Ahlman, a community activist.
During the Monday night meeting, aldermen rejected a proposal to spend $20,000 to prepare plans and bidding specifications on the project, expected to cost at least $206,000.
The crumbling concrete median is “downright ugly-looking,” said Ahlman, who proposed calling the project the Paul Jung Memorial Parkway in honor of the late former mayor.
About 35 people who attended the meeting applauded Ahlman’s pleas.
Ald. Tom Christiansen, however, said the large amount of money would be better spent repairing city streets and alleys.
Ald. Carla Brookman said improvements along Golf should be considered among the projects under discussion by the Keep Des Plaines Beautiful and Community Service Committees.
A motion to kill immediate funding of the median project passed an 8-0 voice vote.
“We have to slow down and do a good job and not a quick job on this,” Brookman said.