Glen Ellyn Trustee: Parking-Lot Runoff System a Tripping Hazard

As the Village of Glen Ellyn prepares to build a new commuter parking lot at 460-478 Duane Street, Trustee Diane McGinley—the only trustee to oppose a $575,000 construction contract last week—is warning that the project’s permeable pavers, designed to facilitate drainage, could be a dangerous tripping hazard, the Daily Herald reports.

"I do not believe this is a safe and effective method for our sidewalks," the paper quoted McGinley saying. "There [are] runners, joggers, [and those in] wheelchairs and strollers who will not appreciate this new design." 

According to the paper, the 12-foot brick pavers, three of which will grace the sidewalk fronting the new parking lot, are designed to be an environmentally friendly feature; if the pavers work well, Glen Ellyn staffers are considering implementing them throughout the downtown. 

"I think if you go forward with this, next time you'll get a $10 million paver request for downtown and they will point to this and say, 'It works here, so bring it to the rest of downtown so it doesn't look like it's on its own,'" the paper quoted McGinley objecting. “We'll be forced into a decision in the future."

"Let's do three panels. It's just three panels. Let's see what happens," the paper quoted Trustee Tim Elliott responding. "If we have unsightly white bricks that are knocking over old ladies, then we can do away with it." (“White bricks” referred to another trustee’s concern that winter salting will gunk up the pavers.) 

Read the full story at the Daily Herald website.