THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008
Officials Happy With State Visit
Des Plaines city and historical society officials were "very well received" by state leaders last Thursday during a day-long visit to Springfield in search of money for the proposed Riverwalk and history campus.
Mayor Tony Arredia, Ald. Marty Moylan (2d), and John Burke and Joy Matthiessen of the Des Plaines Historical Society, met with local state legislators asking for their support for the two projects.
"The proof of the pudding is to see how much we get," said Arredia late last week. "It's a combination of who's first in line and what's the impact of your project. I don't think anyone has a project like ours that benefits as many people as ours."
Arredia's proposed Riverwalk calls for improvements along an existing yet underutilized pathway on Cook County Forest Preserve property in Des Plaines from Golf Road south to Touhy Avenue. Work will include widening the trail to 10-ft. and laying of crushed stone to accommodate hikers, bicyclists and horses. According to Arredia, the city has already secured a grant of more than $1 million. He is hoping to generate more state and federal money for the history campus phase near Rand and River roads. That project calls for moving the historical society museum and building to the Rand-River area, enlarging the first McDonald's Restaurant building on Lee Street, and adding a substantial amount of greenery as well as a possible bridge connection to the Des Plaines River.
"I'm the flood guy down there," said Arredia referring to Springfield. "Now I'm talking about using the same water I've been complaining about as an asset for the city. It's like turning a lemon into lemonade." The Mayor said he believes last week's meetings "went real well." He expects to return to Springfield in about two weeks to conduct more meetings to obtain additional grant money.
"I'm really happy about the project and the way legislators took their time out for us," added Arredia.
A segment of the Riverwalk is a stretch along the River at the Miner Street bridge. That walkway will consist of a concrete trail and floodwall. Work should be completed in June.
Ald. Moylan said he, Arredia, Burke and Matthiessen left Des Plaines at 6 a.m. and arrived in Springfield three hours later. They began their return trip at 2 p.m.
Legislators they met with included State Senator Susan Garrett (D-29th), Dan Kotowski (D-33d), State Rep. Carolyn Krause (R-66th), Elaine Nekritz (D-57th) and Rosemary Mulligan (R-65th).