Community vibrancy is one of the core priorities of the City of Highland Park. People often ask how we can make sure that we have thriving businesses in our downtown, and why some storefronts are empty. Earlier this spring, I had the opportunity to travel to Spain. The streets were filled with people — dancing, shopping, dining, walking and biking. On our first day, we encountered groups of people dancing in parks and plazas in four separate locations. Bike lanes were incorporated into larger streets, while the older and narrower streets were filled with pedestrians. Shops and restaurants were thriving. We felt safe walking around in the evening, as shops were open and streets were vibrant and full of people strolling, dining and shopping.
How can we learn from what is working elsewhere to make our community more vibrant? If e-commerce has destroyed retail in the United States, why is retail doing so well in other countries? Walkability has been shown to benefit health, community and the economy. The Superblock is a concept from Barcelona that prioritizes people over cars. The Woonerf is a shared street concept that originated in the Netherlands. You can see woonerfs in action in the western suburbs and Chicago’s Argyle Street. These creative concepts have revitalized neighborhoods by bringing people to the area who patronize local businesses.
While we are not proposing a Superblock or a Woonerf in Highland Park (yet), we have begun the process of updating our vintage 1986 streetscape. You may have noticed the new trash and recycling bins and bike racks around the downtown area. The City has also hired a consultant to recommend updates to Second Street, and to provide a more permanent concept for The Lot, our new outdoor event space. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations once they are presented to City Council, and am always open to your input for what you’d like to see in downtown Highland Park.
Tag: Walkability
Complete Streets: Good for Business
We are fortunate to live in a community with excellent bicycle and pedestrian access, and I am proud of my work to ensure that future projects maintain the walkability so integral to Highland Park’s character. Complete streets play an important role in livable communities, where all people – regardless of age, ability or mode of transportation – feel safe and welcome on the roadways.
A new book states what I have long believed: “…it’s pedestrians (and now bicyclists in increasing numbers) that drive sales to street-level businesses, not drivers of cars. There is now an ever-increasing amount of research that demonstrates conclusively that changes to our streets which support bike and pedestrian activity have a profoundly positive impact on street-level businesses.“
Active By Design Summit
Please join me on October 4 at 1 pm at Chicago Botanic Gardens to learn more about the many benefits of designing communities that promote physical activity. Featuring Mark Fenton, nationally renowned walkability expert, and Eric Chehab, MD, of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, the program will also include a panel of local community leaders who will share their successes with complete street enhancements and strategies for funding healthier places for walking and bicycling. Registration is required for this free event. There will also be a “walk audit” in Highland Park at 8 am on October 5. If you’d like to participate, email me for details.