City of Naperville - File #: 24-0800

• File #: 24-0800
• Version: 1
• Type: Report
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 6/26/2024
• In control: Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee
• On agenda: 7/2/2024
• Title: Discuss and provide feedback regarding the next Naperville Riverwalk standard paving brick

RIVERWALK PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM

ACTION REQUESTED:
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Discuss and provide feedback regarding the next Naperville Riverwalk standard paving brick

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DEPARTMENT:                     Transportation, Engineering and Development

SUBMITTED BY:                     William J Novack, P.E., Director of Transportation, Engineering and Development/City Engineer

BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
NA

BACKGROUND:

The Naperville Riverwalk has used the same standard paver, the red brick with the squiggly edges, since it was initially constructed in 1981.  The original manufacturer was Paveloc, which was eventually bought out by Unilock about fifteen years ago.  Brick pavers were not as common forty years ago as they are today, and the squiggly-edged brick was chosen due to the belief that the edges would lock the adjacent bricks in place to form one large mat.  Brick pavers and installations have improved significantly over the years and the interlock is no longer as important as it was in the 1980’s.

Unilock informed us years ago that Naperville is the only client that still uses this brick pattern, and that they would only manufacture them at our request with a minimum order of 20,000 square feet.  Unilock later informed us that the brick mold is no longer suitable for producing the squiggly brick and that we will need to choose a new standard brick for the Naperville Riverwalk.  With several large upcoming projects such as 430 S. Washington Street and the South Extension we need to start the discussion and make a decision.  Additionally, Ryan Companies is constructing the improvements at the southwest corner of Washington and Martin and is willing to use our new standard brick if we can provide them with an answer soon.

DISCUSSION:

There are many shapes, sizes, colors and finishes of brick pavers available today, with several examples in Naperville.  Below is our current standard paver.  While they are all red when initially manufactured certain vintages have faded differently over the years as can be seen in the following picture.  The original 1981 bricks manufactured by Paveloc have held their red color much better than the bricks produced in the 1990’s and 2000’s.

Brick manufacturers now add chemicals to the upper one quarter of an inch of the pavers to provide a better finish that holds its color better and cleans up better when power washed.  Below is the new standard paver that is used in downtown Naperville which is manufactured by Unilock.

The next picture is of the bricks that were used in the Youth Plaza on the Riverwalk just east of Eagle Street.  Note that while these bricks are of different sizes they are complementary to the current standard paver.

The following picture is of the bricks that North Central College has used near the Riverwalk, specifically near the entrance to their stadium near Fredenhagen Park.

The last picture is of the bricks that are used around Exchange Club Memories Fountain at Fredenhagen Park.

The PDC needs to discuss these and other available pavers and see if a recommendation can be developed for the entire Riverwalk Commission to consider.