Gillson Infrastructure Improvement Project

About the Project

Gillson Infrastructure Improvement Project Update

PHASE 1 of the Project began on Monday, October 21.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: Please note the following changes to park access:

NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN – vehicular traffic for Upper Drive must enter Gillson Park at Washington Avenue and exit south at the Harbor.
No entrance via Harbor Drive.
Parking is available on Upper Drive during Phase 1 construction.
Gillson Beach Parking Lot is open to the public during construction. All vehicles must enter and exit through the north gate at Lake & Sheridan.
Temporary fencing is being added for public safety.
Temporary path access to the tennis courts and dog beach are marked in green on the map.
Facilities including Gillson Beach, Lakeview Center, Playground, Tennis Courts, and Dog Park will remain open to the public.
Please be advised that ongoing construction may result in uneven ground and other potential hazards within the park. For your safety, we kindly ask all visitors to exercise caution while walking in the park, paying close attention to your surroundings.

Background

Gillson Park, recently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, suffers from deteriorating roadways and issues with drainage throughout the park. In addition, the park’s Harbor Drive presents a safety hazard due to the lack of an integrated path for pedestrians and cyclists.

In December 2020, the Wilmette Park District engaged consultants from the Lakota Group and Woodhouse Tinucci Architects to evaluate Gillson and propose ideas for enhancing the overall visitor experience, and to engage the public in the process.

Over three years, the public planning process unfolded including presentations, open houses, feedback sessions and resident surveys. Various park update concepts were presented and assessed. Throughout this process, the Wilmette community expressed a strong preference for minimal changes to the park. Consequently, the Park District Board and staff decided to focus exclusively on addressing Gillson’s most urgent structural and safety issues.

Project Overview

In August 2022, a Gillson roadway survey indicated that our community preferred to keep the current road configuration in the park, but convert Middle Drive to a path for non-vehicular traffic (future plan). With this input, the District began work with engineers from Gewalt Hamilton Associates to develop an infrastructure project scope and plan.

Planning activities continued throughout 2023. Following a six-month permitting process, the Board of Park Commissioners approved bids for construction and construction management on June 10 of this year. The project began preliminary work in September and is scheduled for completion in May, 2025. The specific components of the project are:

Resurfacing all roadways
Replacing underground sewers
Adding a bike-only lane and a sidewalk
Reconfiguring portions of Harbor Drive to accommodate the new lanes and the Yacht Club while maintaining its iconic curves
Adding twenty-four-inch retaining walls to shore up the berms and mitigate erosion in two (2) locations
Removing two (2) Norway Maple trees (an invasive tree species)

For more information about this project, read our FAQ document here

Planning Goal and Outcomes

The overall goal of the Gillson Infrastructure Improvement Project is to preserve Gillson for future generations by providing safe roads and pathways for visitors, and efficient drainage systems.

Documents and Presentations

Project Details

Project Timeline

October and November, 2021

Public engagement events

Wilmette Park District and consultants from Lakota Group and Woodhouse Tinucci Architects host Gillson public engagement events on October 23 and 27, and November 3.

December 13, 2021

Board of Park Commissioners meeting

Lakota Group and Woodhouse Tinucci Architects present feedback received during three public engagement events on October 23 and 27, and November 3. They offer new recommendations based on the feedback and further analysis. The Board agrees to focus on vehicular circulation patterns and narrows the discussion to three concepts.

June 13, 2022

Committee of the Whole meeting

The Board of Park Commissioners direct Lakota Group and Park District staff to create a survey for input on the three roadway options under consideration.

August 2, 2022

Survey

The Gillson roadway survey posts on the Park District website and social media, and is sent to over 21,000 on the Park District email list.

September 12, 2022

Board of Park Commissioners meeting

The Park Board reviews results from the Roadway Survey indicating a preference to keep the current road configuration in the park, but convert Middle Drive to a path for non-vehicular traffic. The Board directs District staff to move forward with the planning process.

May 22, 2023

Committee of the Whole meeting

Gewalt Hamilton and Associates' lead project engineer presents information on timing and phasing of work, traffic considerations while work progresses, and an update on planning status.

August 28, 2023

Committee of the Whole meeting

Gewalt Hamilton presents a project update to the Board of Park Commissioners.

June 10, 2024

Board of Park Commissioners meeting

The Board of Park Commissioners approves Gewalt Hamilton bids for Gillson Infrastructure Project construction and construction management.

September 3, 2024

Preliminary work begins

At the August 26 Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, Commissioners reviewed plans for the pedestrian/auto/bicycle path along Harbor Drive. Preliminary work is set to begin on Tuesday, September 3. This project will continue throughout September and into 2025.

October 21

Phase one of project begins

Crews began working on the storm sewer system, and started the prep work for the concrete sidewalk that leads from the Beach house to Overlook Drive.

Gillson Infrastructure in the Media

Project Photos

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Gillson Infrastructure Improvement Project

About the Project