A five-minute investment of time could pay off in years’ worth of benefits to Naperville’s Riverwalk.
Beginning Monday, Naperville residents and visitors alike can voice their likes, dislikes and hopes for the future of the popular attraction via an online survey coordinated by the city’s Riverwalk Commission.
Commission members thought it would prove useful “to take the pulse of the community in regards to the current amenities and possible future projects and improvements” to the Riverwalk, given that the amenity is celebrating its 35th anniversary, Riverwalk Administrator Jan Erickson wrote in a city memorandum.
“The goal of this survey is to engage the public, to determine which of the Riverwalk’s current amenities they like, and what they would like to see changed or improved,” Erickson said. The survey will ensure “the community’s voice is heard as they plan for the future,” she said.
William J. Novack, director of the city’s Transportation, Engineering & Development Department, said the survey takes about five minutes to complete. Commission members expect the online polling to last “at least a few weeks” in order to gather enough input “to make it a good, meaningful survey,” he said.
“The city and the (Naperville) Park District have enjoyed great success” because of the Riverwalk’s presence and popularity, Novack said. He said he expected survey participants to offer “a lot of suggestions for enhancements and improvements” there.
Judith Brodhead, the Naperville City Council representative on the commission, said she completed a “trial” or rough draft version of the survey, which she said consisted of approximately 20 questions.
Questions ask respondents “how often they use the Riverwalk and what amenities they enjoy,” Brodhead said. The survey also provided room for comments, she said.
The final, online version should be replete with photographs and illustrations of what the Riverwalk offers and could feature in the future, Brodhead said. “People will enjoy taking it,” she said.
Novack said commission members ultimately will review the results and share them with city officials and the community at large.
Meanwhile, commission members and others are preparing for the formal opening of the Water Street portion of the Riverwalk, which will happen sometime later this month.
Novack said officials also are hoping for restoration of state funding that would allow for transformation of 430 S. Washington St. into a park along the Riverwalk. A dilapidated, nearly 100-year-old building formerly occupied the site.
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The invitation to participate in the survey is being promoted by the city’s newsletter and all of its social media outlets. Park District officials also are promoting the survey via social media and the agency’s community newsletter.
In addition, those receiving Riverwalk eNews and news from the Downtown Naperville Alliance will be invited to take the survey.
The link to the survey is to go live Monday and can be found at www.napervilleriverwalk.com.