Naperville seeks harmony on Central Park seating

The Naperville City Council has changed its tune on proposed improvements at Central Park.

Councilmen earlier this week rejected bids for the seating portion of the project and plan to seek new bids for a plan recommended by the Naperville Municipal Band.

Seating is one of a handful of planned improvements at the park at 104 E. Benton, including reconfigured traffic flow, a better sound system, handicapped accessibility and eventually, permanent restrooms.

Councilmen and park district commissioners approved the plan last year after extensive public discussion.

However, councilmen on Tuesday said they don't mind taking another try at getting it right due to concerns from the band that calls the park home.

"The decision we make today is going to be there for 20 years, 30 years, so we need to re-look at this to make sure we're spending taxpayers' dollars wisely," Councilman Doug Krause said.

The original plans call for a terrace seating arrangement that would consist of concrete on the edges with 20 feet of grass between levels. People would have the option of bringing a stadium-style seat back and sitting on the concrete or bringing blankets and chairs to sit on the grass.

However, the Naperville Municipal Band has said that design doesn't suit the needs of its audience and the money could be better spent.

The band is calling for improved grading, better bench seating to replace the benches that are 60 years old and reduced concrete walkways and walls within the seating area.

"If we could reduce the amount of concrete that we're putting into the park we could reallocate that money toward more comfortable or ergonomically correct seating," said Bret Richter, the band's treasurer.

Councilman Grant Wehrli called the current benches at the park "awful" and said improvements should be pleasing to the band.

"Shame on us throughout this entire process ... here we are at the eleventh hour and the main user of this facility is saying, 'what are you doing,'" Wehrli said.

Council member Judy Brodhead said she thinks the city staff's design is being "unfairly (criticized) as something that is a lot of concrete."

"I think this plan here is aiming to make it both accessible and keep a lot of green at the same time," she said.

But she and her colleagues ultimately decided to direct staff to formalize the band's recommendations and start the bid process.

The bid for the original seating plan came in at $503,279. The city received a $300,000 grant from the state for the work that must be used by September 2011.

Councilman Richard Furstenau said while he isn't opposed to looking into what the band wants, he will not approve spending $300,000 of the city's money if it loses the grant.

Going back to the drawing board also means the project will not start in August as planned. City Manager Doug Krieger said work would likely begin next year.