The cooperative effort to revitalize Roosevelt Road from Harlem Avenue to Austin Boulevard has earned the City of Berwyn, Town of Cicero and Village of Oak Park recognition from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the world’s largest network of economic development professionals.
The honorable mention for Excellence in Economic Development was presented at an awards ceremony Tuesday at the IEDC Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The award, in the category of regionalism and cross-border promotion for communities with populations of 25,000 – 200,000, was presented for the Roosevelt Road development plan and form-based zoning code adopted by the three communities.
“We recognize the City of Berwyn, Town of Cicero, and Village of Oak Park for providing successful strategies to promote new paradigms in economic development in this period of global recovery,” IEDC Chair William Best said in a written statement. “Our awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in communities. The City of Berwyn, Town of Cicero, and Village of Oak Park are showing that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession and are using innovative and effective practices that can be replicated in other communities.”
Oak Park Village Manager Tom Barwin called the recognition by the IEDC an unexpected, but welcomed honor, as efforts to forge cooperation have now moved to actual construction along the important shared corridor.
“Those of us in the communities involved in this cooperative effort have long since moved beyond talk of working together toward a common goal, and even planning how best to do it. Construction workers are there now transforming our joint ideas and shared vision into physical changes to the Roosevelt Road streetscape,” Barwin said.
“Of course, we are very pleased that the years of working together across jurisdictions has earned the respect and recognition of one of the largest associations of economic development pros. We knew we had done something special, but it’s nice for others – especially professionals in the discipline – to recognize it, too.”
Initial groundwork for the project was laid in 2000 with an Illinois Tomorrow Grant to develop general guidelines for improving the Roosevelt Road corridor. That plan, released in 2003, recommended that the three communities adopt a shared vision and unified regulations to make it possible.
The three communities signed an intergovernmental agreement in 2006 pledging to work together to revitalize their shared border. Specific design plans for streetscape improvements were authorized in 2007, and shared zoning regulations were approved by all three communities in 2009.
Actual work to improve the streetscape and walkability of Roosevelt Road got underway in September, with efforts focusing on creating a more pedestrian-friendly, landscaped and vibrant commercial corridor along the busy thoroughfare shared by Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero.
The project includes new sidewalks, curbs, streetlights and garbage cans, as well as extensive landscaping with trees and planters. Curb bump outs also are planned to create spaces for new benches. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2011.
The IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards Program annually recognizes the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials and most influential leaders. The program honors organizations and individuals in 28 categories for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities.
For more information on the Roosevelt Road project, including copies of the planning documents, visit www.rooseveltroad.com.
