A parking lot across from River Forest Village Hall could be transformed into a pocket park if village officials follow through on a proposal made at the July 14 village board meeting.
The village owns two properties at that location, a parking lot at the southeast corner of Lake Street and Park Avenue and a vacant grass lot at 419 Park. Previous efforts have been made to market the properties for economic development, along with the privately-owned 7777 Lake Street property that bisects the village properties.
Turning the property into a small park with seating and relaxation areas would increase walkability and green space in line with the village’s Age-Friendly report and the comprehensive plan. It is one of several suggestions made by Village Administrator Matt Walsh.
“There are a number of potential uses,” he said. “There are a lot of different ways we can think about it.”
Other possibilities he mentioned include public art, a historical display or a water feature; a village message board; and an event space or stage to host village gatherings.
Village President Cathy Adduci supported the pocket park suggestion.
“I just think it’s a good idea,” she said. “Why don’t we make some green space out of it?”
Walsh explained that the 7,100 square foot lot currently provides parking for village employees and visitors to village hall, along with “a few” residential permit parking holders. Converting the lot into a park or one of the other suggestions would require relocating drivers to another village-owned lot at 418 Franklin Ave. or street parking along Central Avenue.
He said efforts by officials to attract developers to purchase all three properties and develop the combined parcel have failed. Those efforts, which predate his hiring in 2022, were “challenging,” he said. Jack Strand, owner of 7777 Lake, continued to market the property until fall of 2024 when he removed the property listing and is filling the existing property with new tenants, Walsh added.
As a result, there is little likelihood of development at the village owned sites in the near future, he added. Adduci agreed, noting the likelihood of the property coming to market within five or six years is “slim.”
In response to a question from Trustee Katie Brennan, Walsh said staff members have no plans for the grass lot at 419 Park either leaving it alone or using it for parking.
Trustee Erika Bachner supported using the lot as a public gathering spot.
“The Lake/Park parking lot is located at a prime corner within the central commercial district,” Walsh said in a memo to officials. “There is potential to convert the Lake Street-fronting space to public use that can beautify and complement the corridor better than the current lot.”
He said village staff members have begun preliminary discussions regarding converting the lot into a public park space. However, the project is not included in the capital improvement program and would not take place until the next fiscal year.
The scope of work could include excavation, grading, landscape design, concrete and purchase of specific design elements. Estimates on cost will depend on the final design and construction.
Although no formal action was taken, officials directed Walsh to begin planning public engagement sessions for residents to provide input on potential design elements.
