From an Easter egg hunt to a possible event celebrating an iconic 1980s film, a group of business owners in Park Ridge’s South Park commercial district are looking at ways to bring families and visitors to the area this year.
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The South Park Merchants Association is working to revitalize and plan several public events for the coming months, said Holly Santelli, owner of Ash and Willow Salon and a member of the association.
“We really want to welcome people to see what we have on this side of town and be an active part of the community,” Santelli said. “A lot of people who live in the neighborhood here say, ‘Oh, we wish things would happen here a little bit more.’ So we’re on a mission to bring it back.”
Santelli, with Nicole Hanlon of Triple Scoop’d and Anne Witek of State Farm Insurance, hosted a small meeting on March 9 for South Park business people and residents in order to talk about possible initiatives for 2022 and share ideas.
“(We want) to revitalize the merchant’s group to get people out again and start planning events for South Park,” Hanlon said. “I want to draw more people to South Park just because it’s a great area and we have a lot to offer.”
The South Park commercial district largely includes Devon Avenue from Cumberland to Talcott and Talcott Road from Greenwood to Devon. It includes a mix of small restaurants, salons, retail and offices.
The association had been meeting in 2020 to plan an annual Easter egg hunt for children at South Park, but then the pandemic hit and most activity stopped, Santelli said.
One of the first events being planned for this year is the return of the egg hunt, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 16 at the tennis courts in South Park, 833 W. Talcott Road.
The Merchants Association has also been discussing a possible pet parade to accompany the egg hunt.
One idea being tossed around for summer is a Blue Brothers night or festival that would include an outdoor showing of the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers.” Portions of the movie were filmed in South Park, including the start of a police chase scene that leads to the destruction of an indoor shopping mall. In the scene, Nelson Funeral home, a residential block and the six corners intersection of Devon Avenue, Talcott Road and Courtland Avenue can be clearly seen.
Witek said discussions have included possibly featuring cars from the film, if possible.
“It would be so much to bring (that kind of event) here,” she said.
The Merchants Association would also like to see trick-or-treating return to South Park businesses on Halloween and the addition of more activities during Winterfest, an annual November event hosted by the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Santelli said.
Jackie Mathews, executive director of the Park Ridge Chamber, said discussions of making Winterfest a three-day event this year have been occurring. The thought is that the “traditional” Winterfest events, including Santa’s arrival, will take place on the Friday after Thanksgiving, with Saturday focused on South Park.
Mathews said businesses in Uptown Park Ridge, the city’s main commercial district, have expressed interest in incorporating South Park businesses into events, like the twice-annual Wine Walk or the Canopies on Courtland business expo that takes place during Taste of Park Ridge.
Santelli, too, noted the many events that occur in Uptown, which has seen its own revitalization over the last decade.
“We just want to start making some things happen,” she said. “They do so many cool things in Uptown and we could totally be doing them over here. We have a lot of new businesses and a very supportive community that wants things to happen over here.”