RIVERWALK PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Request of Operation Welcome You Home to install a non-standard bench on the Riverwalk
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: William J Novack, Director of TED/City Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
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BACKGROUND:
Operation Welcome You Home (OWYH) is a volunteer, Illinois-based organization that has been recognizing individuals returning home from military deployment since 2007. Attached is an overview of the organization and all they do.
Donna Morsovillo, the founder of OWYH, contacted us recently requesting to install an eight-foot long bench on the Naperville Riverwalk that honors our service members and all the branches of the military. Attached is a picture of the type of bench she would like to install.
DISCUSSION:
While you can find different types of benches and bricks on the Riverwalk today, we do have standards that we adhere to with all new construction and additions. Any new additions have always met the standards. The bench being proposed does not meet the Riverwalk standards.
For this bench to be installed on the Riverwalk it needs approval of the Riverwalk Commission. This request is being sent to the Planning, Design and Construction committee to get the committee’s input before going to the Commission. We have sent the specification for this bench to the Naperville Park District to find out if this bench will cost any more than a standard bench to maintain. The Park District will provide a verbal report on maintenance cost at the PDC Committee meeting. If the requested bench does costs more to maintain, then we will also need Park District and City Council approval of this request since it adds to the Riverwalk maintenance costs.