Riverfront and Downtown Revitalization | Elgin, Illinois

The City of Elgin embarked on an ambitious plan to rejuvenate its riverfront and revitalize the downtown. A redevelopment strategy that focused on over two miles of the Fox River and their adjacent Center City was identified. The City and Cultural Campus was transformed to provide environmental, recreational, cultural and transportation enhancements to create a regional destination center. Two of the projects identified from the strategy were Festival Park and the Riverfront Promenade which now serve as settings for year-round community celebrations, events and casual recreation. Festival Park features a unique children’s play environment that ties into the park’s festival theme. Riverside Drive Promenade serves as a critical link between vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle access to the waterfront and provides the Downtown with access to major amenities along the Riverfront while serving as a vital connection to the regional Fox River Bike Trail—a 36-mile trail that spans from Oswego to Algonquin.