CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Pass the ordinance establishing temporary traffic controls and issue a Special Event Permit, including an Amplifier Permit, for the Naperville half marathon and 5K scheduled for Sunday, October 20, 2019
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DEPARTMENT: City Clerk’s Office
SUBMITTED BY: Dawn Portner, Special Events Coordinator
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
On Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, Naper Events, LLC will hold its seventh annual half marathon, third annual 5K, and fourth annual kid’s marathon. The kid’s marathon event is fully contained at Neuqua Valley High School and does not require any City services.
DISCUSSION:
The organizers partnered with the Special Events Team to develop the half marathon and 5K courses. The top priority was to minimize the impact on Naperville residents, businesses, churches, and overall traffic flow. The half marathon course will not be changed from the 2018 event and has the following highlights:
• Start/Finish: The proposed start/finish line is on Eagle Street and Aurora Avenue. This location was strategically chosen to bring spectators/runners into the downtown without closing streets in the core downtown for an extended period of time. The event will be capped at 6,500 runners total.
• Improved Course Flow in the Downtown:
o Jefferson Street and Washington Street will remain open
o West Aurora Avenue will re-open at 7:30 a.m.
o The downtown will re-open, north of the river, at 8:30 a.m.
o Washington Street, south of the downtown, will re-open at 8:45 a.m.
o Aurora Avenue will re-open at 10:30 a.m.
o The parking facilities on Chicago Avenue, Water Street and Van Buren Avenue will remain open throughout the event
• 75th Street: Near the end of the half marathon, the runners will utilize the Washington Street underpass and the DuPage River Trail underpass to allow full access to 75th Street and nearby churches.
• Area Churches: The event organizers will be meeting with representatives from all churches that may potentially be affected by the race in order for them to begin notifying parishioners. Detour routes and traffic control plans will be developed for each individual church and, after approval, event organizers will personally deliver the plans to each church. This will allow church staff six weeks to inform parishioners.
• Edward Hospital: Access will be maintained at all times.
• Gear Check/Post Race Village: The lower level of the Municipal Center parking deck will be used as a gear check area. The organizers will place temporary covers on the openings to the garage in order to block the outside elements and provide a warmer experience for participants, both pre-and post-race.
Road Closures and Notification
Road closures are staggered and will be expertly managed by the Naperville Police Department and the Department of Public Works. All roads will re-open as runners clear each section. As with previous events, the organizers use precise calculations to predict when runners will clear each section of the course which allows staff to carefully plan and manage the route.
Electronic message boards will be strategically placed along the route the week prior to the event to notify residents and motorists of the road closures and temporary traffic disruptions.
Economic Impact and Charity Program
The organizers will continue to partner with the Naperville Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as the DNA to maximize the economic benefit the event will bring to the City. Race executives will also team with various local and regional not-for-profit groups to offer donations for charity volunteer teams and discounts and special amenities for charity runner teams.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Naper Events, LLC will be billed for all City services required to support this event.