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Ravinia Business District Streetscape Improvement Project

The City is currently working with a consultant team to develop engineering and streetscape design documents for the Ravinia Business District. The project will further the concepts presented in the 2012 Streetscape Design & Identity Plan and findings from the Strand Associates’ 2012 Utility Adequacy Study, and includes the next phase of design work that will identify specific installation locations and provide detailed cost estimates for a final streetscape plan for the District. The goals of the project are to:

  • Upgrade the Roger Williams Avenue corridor to leverage additional private investment in the district and elevate the Ravinia Business District into a vibrant, modern mixed-use neighborhood;
  • Stimulate additional reinvestment and growth in the area; 
  • Enhance the quality-of-life for the adjacent residential neighborhood; 
  • Further establish the district as a destination for pedestrians and cyclists; and 
  • Provide a streetscape infrastructure that offers a connected, welcoming business district to visitors.

Streetscape & Lighting Plan Adopted!

On March 9, 2020,  the City of Highland Park adopted the Ravinia Business District Streetscape and Lighting Plan. This document provides guidance for future infrastructure improvements to the Ravinia Business District and will serve as the playbook to foster a beautiful and vibrant commercial area. The plan can be viewed here.

Let there be Light! Construction to Begin This Summer

On June 17,  Lyons Electric, the selected City contractor, began lay-out staking in the Ravinia Business District in preparation for the installation of the new streetlights. They will begin work on the light installation in July. 

Pedestrian-scaled light poles, spaced approximately 50 feet apart, will be installed in the public right-of-way along the Roger Williams Avenue corridor, from Green Bay Road to Dean Avenue. The Street Lighting Plan is designed to provide even lighting throughout the corridor and comply with the City’s recent right-of-way lighting standards, as well as dark skies policies.

Special event lighting affixed to three roadway fixtures adjacent to Jens Jensen Park and on Dean Avenue will be included to provide lighting for evening events and other public gatherings in the park such as Food Truck Thursdays with music in the park. The light poles will include auxiliary outlets to provide power for events as well as holiday tree lights. Increased amperage and electrical service will also be installed adjacent to the park, which will reduce the ongoing operational cost for special events. Two dozen light poles will be equipped to display banners to further brand the district and create a distinct sense of place. Design choices were selected based on public input and were widely supported during the design process as key project objectives.

Lights go to Bid

The Ravinia Business District Streetscape Improvement Project met a major milestone on Thursday, February 7, 2019 when the City opened the bid to install new lighting on the Roger Williams corridor. The work consists of demolition of existing lighting along Roger Williams Avenue and installation of new vehicular and pedestrian lighting. The project extents include Roger Williams from Green Bay Road to Judson Avenue and the side streets and alleys immediately north and south. The City received three bids and the project was awarded to Lyons Electric Company, Inc. of La Grange, Illinois and approved by City Council in May 2019.

Pedestrian Lighting for Web

Proposed Lighting

Based on the input provided by residents, stakeholders, the Ravinia Neighbors Association, and members of the Ravinia Business District Association, pedestrian and roadway lights were chosen. The proposed designs will illuminate Roger Williams Avenue, providing consistent, "dark-skies"-approved fixtures to help both pedestrians and drivers navigate the business district. A cross-section of the proposed lights can be found here. The project team is busy fine-tuning the the lighting documents so that fixtures can be installed in Spring 2019.

Public Input

The final product of the Ravinia Business District Streetscape Improvement Project will be the result of community engagement and participation. The project has included a robust public input process that, to date, has included focus group interviews, a public workshop, events at the Ravinia Farmers Market and Food Truck Thursday, a neighborhood meeting, and close coordination with the Ravinia Business District Association. 

Community Open House
IMG_4255_editThe City hosted a Community Open House at the historic Ravinia Metra Station on September 6. The project team presented the proposed plans, including the proposed new street lights, for the Ravinia Business District Streetscape Improvement Project. 

City Council Update
The project team presented an update of the project at the Committee of the Whole on June 25, 2018.  Included in the presentation were outcomes from the public engagement process. Click here to see additional information and view the presentation.

IMG_3673Public Workshop
The City hosted a Public Workshop on June 6, 2018, as well as solicited feedback from the community at the Ravinia Farmers Market and Food Truck Thursday on June 13 and 14, respectively. Participants at these events voted on their preferred design concepts for streetscape elements that included lighting, paving, benches, trash cans, bike racks, and plantings.




About the Ravinia Streetscape Improvement Project

The Ravinia Streetscape Improvement Project furthers the concepts presented in the 2012 Streetscape Design & Identity Plan and findings from the Strand Associates’ 2012 Utility Adequacy Study, and includes the next phase of design work that will identify specific installation locations and provide detailed cost estimates for a final streetscape plan for the District. In addition, the project includes the installation of new lighting within the Ravinia Business District within the next year. The goals of the project are to upgrade the Roger Williams Avenue corridor to leverage additional private investment in the district and elevate the Ravinia Business District into a welcoming, vibrant, and modern mixed-use neighborhood.

Questions? Please contact  Charmain Later, Deputy Director of Community Development: clater@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1611.