RIVERFRONT

Riverfront Master Plan Overview • Riverfront Foundation •  Current Projects •  History of Riverfront Planning Efforts •  Project Documents •  Steering Committee • Plainfield Riverfront Foundation Web Site

Plainfield's Riverfront Master Plan Overview

Adopted in June 2007, the Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan is a long-term development plan for land located along a two-mile stretch of the DuPage River, from approximately Illinois Route 59 on the north to Renwick Road on the south.  The Plan focuses on the riverfront corridor to create a unique, innovative, and environmentally-sensitive asset that will add to the quality of life for residents, will contribute to additional economic development in the Downtown, and will be a focal point and source of pride for the entire Plainfield Community.

The Plan identifies various recreational amenities, including scenic overlooks, walking paths and bridges, and green pedestrian corridors that will enhance the existing natural landscape along the banks of the DuPage River in the Downtown area.  It also calls for the expansion of Electric Park, with potential amenities such as an ice rink and children's garden; a river walk which links the existing Downtown with the river; public open space that can accommodate cultural venues, festivals, a farmer’s market and other events; and extensive natural landscaping and stream bank restoration.  The Plan also calls for fishing access, picnic areas, one or more canoe launches, parking, attractive lighting, and connections to the planned DuPage River Trail, which is a paved bicycle path that will link the Village with other communities along the DuPage River.  A copy of the Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan and other project-related information is available by clicking here.

The consultant team for the Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan included Hitchcock Design Group, Inc., Business Districts, Inc., Hey & Associates, Inc., and Civiltech Engineering, Inc.  In December 2008, the Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan was recognized with a Planning and Analysis Honor Award from the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Riverfront Foundation

A committed group of volunteers joined forces in November 2009 to form the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation as a charitable, not-for-profit corporation (510[c][3] status pending).  The Foundation's Mission Statement is "To stimulate interest, educate the community, collect ideas, and provide help and donations to benefit the development and maintenance of the Plainfield Riverfront."  To learn more about the Plainfield Riverfront Foundation and how you can become involved, please visit the Foundation's web site at www.plainfieldriverfront.com.

Current Projects

Northwest Riverwalk Project

The Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan Steering Committee recently completed its work with the project consultant, Hitchcock Design Group, Inc., on the preparation of construction documents for the Northwest Riverwalk project, which is identified as one of several first-phase catalyst projects within the Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan.  The Northwest Riverwalk will be located on Village-owned property, generally located along the west bank of the DuPage River, north of Lockport Street, between the Commonwealth Edison utility corridor and EJ&E Railroad, and extending approximately 700 feet north of Lockport Street.  This future project will include construction of a segment of the DuPage River Trail, a river walk path system, a plaza with a custom arbor, seating areas, scenic overlooks, extensive native landscaping, pathway lighting, educational and interpretive features, parking access, and pedestrian access via a pathway under the Lockport Street bridge. Funding has not yet been identified for this project.  However, funding is likely to include a combination of public and private sources, including potential grant sources and private donations. While the design phase is complete, the permitting and construction phases remain.  A timetable for these remaining phases is uncertain at this time. View the schematic design plan and perspective renderings:  Image #1 Arbor - human height perspective looking northwest; Image #2 Arbor - human height perspective looking southwest; and Image #3 Arbor - treetop height perspective looking southwest.

Lockport Street South Pedestrian Bridge Project

The existing pedestrian walkways on each side of the Lockport Street bridge over the DuPage River are relatively narrow by current design standards and do not provide an effective way of crossing the river. However, the current roadway bridge is structurally sound and will not be replaced for many years.  Additionally, the Village does not have control over the roadway and bridge, which are under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation.  This creates some difficulty in terms of addressing current pedestrian needs.  At the April 14, 2008, Committee of the Whole Workshop, the Village Board provided direction to Village staff to pursue a custom-fabricated pedestrian bridge consistent with the concept sketches that are provided in the Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan. This project is currently included in the Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Village budget.  A timetable for the design, permitting, and construction phases is uncertain at this time.  A concept sketch that illustrates the proposed bridge design is available by clicking here.

Future North Pedestrian Bridge

The adopted Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan identifies several future pedestrian bridges between Lockport Street and Penn Road, which will link Main Street (and the Downtown area) with the planned Northwest Riverwalk project and other future riverfront projects on the west side of the river.  One such pedestrian bridge is planned to be located approximately 350 feet north of Lockport Street.  This future north pedestrian bridge is intended to create a pleasant, walkable loop once the Northwest Riverwalk, DuPage River Trail, and Lockport Street north pedestrian bridge projects are completed in the future.  On April 6, 2009, the Village Board authorized the purchase of the property at 24242 W. Main Street, which is generally the location of a future north pedestrian bridge.  The property currently includes a one-story single-family residence and detached garage, which will eventually be removed to accommodate the future pedestrian bridge.  This property acquisition was an opportunity that arose during the design phase of the Northwest Riverwalk project.  A timetable for the design, permitting, and construction phase for the future pedestrian bridge is uncertain at this time.

Project Documents

Click on the links below to download the current project documents.
Plainfield Riverfront:  An Innovative and Environmentally-Sensitive Vision for our Riverfront Corridor - 05.15.06
Public Meeting Presentation - 01.30.07
Board Meeting Presentation - 02.12.07
Board Meeting Presentation - 04.09.07
Northwest Riverwalk Project - Community Input Meeting Presentation - 12.11.07
Northwest Riverwalk Project - Community Input Meeting Presentation - 03.25.08

Plainfield Riverfront Master Plan - 06.18.07

Steering Committee

Trustee Paul Fay, Village of Plainfield (Chairman)

Jeffrey Dement, Citizen Representative and former Chairman
Jonathan Proulx, Planner, Village of Plainfield
Allen Persons, Public Works Director, Village of Plainfield
Larry Newton, President of the Plainfield Park District Board
Greg Bott, Executive Director, Plainfield Park District
Cameron Bettin, Superintendent of Planning, Plainfield Park District
Anna Denys, MainStreet Plainfield, Inc./Downtown Business Owner, Wine & Cheese by TCC
The Steering Committee typically meets on the third Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at the Plainfield Village Hall.  All meetings are open to the public.  Agendas are posted online and at the Village Hall a minimum of 48 hours prior to each meeting.