Mundelein village officials made plans to close Park Street for the 2021 summer season official at the recent Village Board meeting, voting to allow outdoor dining on the one-block stretch of road this summer.
What began last year as a way to help prop up local businesses struggling from the financial impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic has gained momentum. Officials said due to the success of last year’s street shut down, they’ve floated the idea of making the closure recurring during the outdoor months. Some discussions have gone as far as to weigh the idea of closing it permanently.
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In January, the Village Board earmarked $300,000 to fund various upgrades to the area. This could potentially include an archway, fire pits, a stage and hanging lights. Assistant Village Manager Peter Vadopalas said at this point, nothing is formal yet on upgrades.
In the short term, the village is replacing the current barricades with decorative planters to improve the aesthetic of the area, and installing banners, officials said.
The affected are starts where Park Street meets Route 45, and goes one block east to the alley, stopping halfway between Route 45 and North Seymour Avenue.
While residents have been receptive to the idea, some business owners in town have called it an unfair advantage being given to specific businesses. Those who would be directly affected by the closure include Tina G’s, Park Street Restaurant and AREA Coffee, and Vadopalas confirmed the closure is intended for those three businesses to take advantage of.
“We took those comments to heart and explored some ways to them in good faith,” said Village Planner Colleen Malec.
To help include other businesses, the village also acquired the lot next to AREA Coffee earlier this year. Vadopalas said the hope is the lot may be used to expand outdoor seating in the area for other businesses to access.
Malec also said eight wayfinding signs were installed throughout the area to help promote businesses. The village will also require the businesses on Park Street to pay annual fees to use the area and are also asking the business owners to buy their own tables, as last year the village lent them .
The village also hosted a virtual meeting March 24 to give business owners a chance to share their thoughts. Malec said outside of a concern over parking, there haven’t been any more negative comments about the project.
The village will also have a chance to see what closing the entire stretch between Park and Seymour will look like. The Mundelein farmers market, which also sets in the area, is set to return every Friday starting in June. This will extend the street closure on Friday afternoons one block past the alley to Seymour.
“It’s kind of a living experiment right now,” Vadopalas said.
Vadopalas said discussions about making the closure permanent have taken place over time but, at this point, there hasn’t been a decision to do that. The ordinance passed at the May 10 board meeting lays out details only for the 2021 season. Vadopalas said it will expire in November.
Closing the street next year would require new approval, Vadopalas said.
Trustee Kerston Russell said during the meeting he was looking forward to the closure.
“It’s a great place to spend an afternoon or an evening,” Russell said. “So I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited.”