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Latest News
Millennium Wall FAQ
About the Riverwalk Rehabiliation Project
Phase I - Segment Two (Now Underway!)
Frequently Asked Questions (Segment Two)
Estimated Cost - Segment Two
Phase I - Segment One
Latest News
JACKSON AVENUE SIDEWALK NOW OPEN!
The sidewalk along Jackson Avenue and Eagle Street is now open. The concrete walkway has been replaced with Riverwalk pavers and widened to a comfortable 7 feet.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MILLENNIUM WALL
The City Council approved the reconstruction of the Millennium Wall at their meeting on August 17, 2010. The Naperville Park District recently removed the wall as a part of their donation of in-kind service. Construction is scheduled to begin the week of August 30.
MILLENNIUM WALL OPEN HOUSE HELD ON JUNE 24, 2010
The Naperville Riverwalk Commission hosted a public open house on Thursday, June 24 to discuss what is happening with the Millennium Wall, located adjacent to the Riverwalk Amphitheater. Approximately 35 community members attended the presentation. The group was told that although there is an instability issue with the wall and it may be replaced, the list of donor names along with their associated donor levels will be honored and reinstated. The Riverwalk Commission has made a recommendation to the City Council to replace the wall with a more sturdy structure. The matter will be addressed at the July 20, 2010 City Council meeting. Learn more about the Millennium Wall by visiting the FAQ section on this page.
Millennium Wall FAQ
When and why was the Millennium Wall built?
The Millennium Wall was constructed in the summer of 1999 as a part of Celebration 2000, providing a lasting legacy for the community. Celebration 2000 was an initiative focused on providing a variety of activities to all citizens of Naperville allowing them to participate in the celebration of the beginning of a new millennium. Over 2000 donors contributed monies to have their names included on the wall.
Who built the Millennium Wall?
The Millennium Wall was facilitated by Celebration 2000, a separate non-profit charitable organization whose purpose was to provide a variety of family-oriented opportunities to celebrate the new millennium. The wall and the labyrinth were built as a permanent legacy to those who were present in the community at that momentous time.
Who funded the construction of the Millennium Wall?
Private funding for the wall was raised through the Celebration 2000 committee.
Who currently owns the Millennium Wall?
Ownership of the wall was transferred from the Celebration 2000 group to the City of Naperville in March, 2001.
What is wrong with the Millennium Wall?
Sections of the wall are separating and listing to the south making the wall unstable.
When was the instability discovered?
It was discovered after the trees were removed as a part of the demolition of the Phase I rehabilitation.
Why wasn’t the wall examined before construction began?
The Riverwalk Commission made the logical assumption that the wall was only eleven years old and, given its young age, the wall would be stable.
Why did the wall become unstable?
The Riverwalk Consultant, Engineering Resource Associates, has provided five possible reasons for the instability of the wall.
- The wall’s foundation (one or two buried block courses over crushed gravel) is inadequate to support the wall as a single unit and does not provide effective lateral stability.
- The foundation doesn’t extend below normal frost depth (about 42”) so it is subjected to movement in the upper soil layer associated with freeze and thaw cycles.
- The wall consists of individual concrete blocks that are glued together. The wall isn’t tied together with reinforcement bars so, as the glue ages, the wall acts more like individual blocks instead of a single, cohesive structural unit.
- The wall is exposed on both sides and is nearly 4.5 feet high. The concrete blocks used in the wall are normally backfilled on one side and they are stepped to provide additional stability. These types of walls are also usually reinforced if their height exceeds 2.5 to 3 feet.
- There is no drainage removal system under or behind the wall. The lack of effective drainage contributes to the instability of soils around the wall.
Can the wall be reinforced?
The Riverwalk Consultant, Engineering Resource Associates, believes that it would not be feasible to reinforce the existing wall as it would be very difficult to address the deficiencies of the wall without causing additional damage. If an attempt was made to excavate behind the wall and install under drains, sections of the wall would likely fail from instability caused by the excavation. The same problem would likely occur if an attempt was made to excavate under the wall to install a concrete foundation. The alternative to drive steel piling behind the wall and somehow tie parts of the wall to the piling would probably fail as well because the wall isn’t reinforced and it would be difficult to provide significant stability to the whole wall. There is also concern that operations to drive the pilings next to the wall would likely significantly damage sections of the wall. These measures would only be considered temporary because the wall would still lack an effective foundation and would continue to be relatively unstable.
Will the wall be rebuilt?
The Riverwalk Commission is recommending that the wall be rebuilt. The design options include: Rendering, Plan View (PDF) and Elevation View (PDF). Over 2,000 inscriptions are on the wall commemorating families and businesses that were in Naperville at the turn of the century. If the wall is demolished and rebuilt, the list of donor names and donor levels will be honored and reinstated. The City Council will decide if the wall will be rebuilt at the July 20, 2010 meeting.
What will happen to the donor names listed on the wall?
Although it will probably be impossible to preserve the existing tiles, the listing of donors will be honored. The proposed new wall design incorporates several bronze plaques that will have a listing of all donor names and their level of giving.
There are three alternative designs for a new wall. What will the three different proposed alternatives cost?
The City Council has directed staff to go out for bid for the construction of Options A and B. The bids will be opened on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the City’s procurement office at 400 S. Eagle Street. Submit your bid.
Who will pay for the solution?
Potential revenue sources include use of monies remaining from the Celebration 2000 initiative, Riverwalk Foundation, Naperville Park District and possible reprogramming of Riverwalk CIP projects.
Will this delay the current Segment 2 construction?
This should not delay the current Segment 2 construction.
Will the public have an opportunity to comment on the proposed options?
Yes, the Riverwalk Commission hosted a public open house on Thursday, June 24. Approximately 35 people attended giving positive input to the decision making process. Three design alternatives were presented and reviewed.
About the Riverwalk Rehabilitation Project
In 2005, an engineering study determined that the Riverwalk’s bulkhead wall, originally constructed in the 1930’s as a part of the Federal Work Projects Administration (WPA), is in need of reconstruction. In order to maintain the stability, hospitality and appearance of Naperville’s “crown jewel” for future generations, the Riverwalk Commission recommended, and the City Council agreed to replace the wall and make other improvements to the walks, landscaping and related furnishings.
The project is divided into three segments: segment one extends from Main Street to Webster Street, the second segment extends from Webster Street to Eagle Street and segment three includes the Riverwalk Parking Lot, located at Main Street and Jackson Avenue.
Phase I - Segment Two
The following improvements to Segment Two will complete the Riverwalk Phase I Rehabilitation Project:
- New Bulkhead Wall (supports the lower walkway): The currently deteriorating wall will be replaced with a long-lasting, poured in place, textured, concrete wall system.
- Improved Lower Walkway: The lower walkway will be widened from the current three feet to five feet, with three scalloped areas that will be 10 feet deep with convenient built-in seating.
- Stairway Access: The stairs leading from the Riverwalk Amphitheater to the lower walkway will be renovated.
- ADA Accessibility: The pathway east of the Riverwalk Amphitheater will be made ADA compliant.
- Youth Plaza: The plaza is undergoing a complete redesign.
- New Landscaping: New plants, flowers and trees will be installed, making the Riverwalk even more beautiful for generations to come.
- Sidewalk Replacement and Lighting: The current concrete sidewalk along Jackson Avenue is being replaced with Riverwalk brick pavers and widened to 7 feet with new shepherd crook lights.
There will be no changes to the Riverwalk Amphitheater and the labyrinth.
Following is a rendering of Segment Two:
Following is a diagram of the structural assessment of the lower bulkhead wall:
Frequently Asked Questions (Segment Two)
Coming Soon!
Estimated Cost - Segment Two
Estimated Cost: $702,393
The cost of the Segment 2 rehabilitation was originally projected at $1.35 Million, however given the current economic climate and the impact it has had on the construction industry, the low bid came in at $702,393.00, which is 48 percent less than the initial estimate.
Phase I - Segment One
Segment One was completed in the summer of 2008 with the following improvements:
- The existing lower walkway (bulkhead) wall was replaced with a sturdy, long-lasting textured concrete wall system.
- The lower walkway was widened to 5 feet. An "overlook" and barrier freeADA accessible ramp was added to the East end of this segment of the Riverwalk.
- With input from two local veterans groups, the elements representing the City’s armed forces were moved and enhanced. The redesigned Veterans Plaza provides a more peaceful place of honor and reflection.
- The sidewalk north of the Dandelion Fountain was “bumped out” to facilitate safer pedestrian usage.
- The stairway east of the Webster Street Bridge was enhanced and enlarged offering a more inviting passage for visitors to access the lower walkway.
- At street level, the two narrow walkways were combined into one Grand Promenade anchored by the Dandelion Fountain on the west and the Veteran's Plaza on the east.
- The concrete sidewalk along Jackson Avenue was replaced with Riverwalk brick pavers and widened to 7 feet with new shepherd crook lighting.
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