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 17, 2021
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DEPARTMENT: Community Services
SUBMITTED BY: Dawn Portner, Special Events Coordinator
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
On Sunday, October 17, Naper Events, LLC will hold its eighth annual half marathon, fourth annual 5K. On Saturday, October 16 the fifth annual kid’s marathon is scheduled at Neuqua Valley High School. No City services are required.
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. In response to feedback from previous races, the 2021 half marathon course has been changed 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 Downtown core for an extended period of time. The event will be capped at 6,500 runners total.
Improved Course Flow:
• Downtown: Washington Street remains open to traffic.
• Edward Hospital: Martin Avenue remains open and uninterrupted access to Osler from both Washington Street and West Street.
• Neighborhoods: no impact to the East Highlands neighborhood.
• Churches: little or no impact to Grace United, Our Saviour’s, St. Raphael, and Knox Presbyterian Churches
Area Churches:
The event organizers will be meeting with representatives from 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.
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 Downtown Naperville Alliance to maximize the economic benefit the event will bring to the City. Race executives will also team with various local and regional non-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.