Five new public spaces are taking shape along Main Street in downtown Downers Grove, bringing outdoor dining areas, seating and public art to the commercial heart of the village.

Construction crews have been working since the week of July 6 at three east-side intersections. The sites are the southeast corner of Burlington and Main, the northeast corner of Curtiss and Main, and the northeast corner of Maple and Main. The project is scheduled to wrap up in November.

West-side work comes next. Businesses on the west side of Main Street, north of Curtiss and south of the railroad tracks, were notified that construction at those locations will begin Monday, Sept. 21, according to the Village's project page.

The five spaces are part of the Guiding DG Streetscapes Plan, which the Village Council adopted in April 2025. The council awarded the construction contract at its April 14 meeting. Stephanie Graves, the village's engineering manager, is overseeing the project.

East-side progress

Each amenity area involves pavement removal, underground utility work, concrete placement, landscaping and furnishings. The village describes them as adaptable spaces that can shift between community gatherings, seasonal dining and other uses year-round.

During the week of Aug. 31, crews poured curb and sidewalk ramps at the Maple and Curtiss intersections, laid concrete pavement at Curtiss and Main, and installed underground irrigation at all three sites. Foundations for shade structures went in the week of Aug. 24.

As of the Friday, Sept. 11 project update, workers had framed a seat wall at Maple in preparation for a concrete pour. Curbs were laid out and poured at the Curtiss and Burlington locations. Concrete for the seat wall and curb-and-gutter work at Maple is scheduled for the week of Sept. 14, with pavement restoration tentatively set to begin.

Public art and a national partner

Four of the five amenity areas will include public art installations. The village is partnering with Sculpture Milwaukee, a nationally recognized public art organization, to manage the program. The village issued a request for proposals for the artwork in February, and the submission window has closed.

The amenity area project is running alongside a separate renovation of Linda Kunze Plaza at the Main Street train station.

All construction schedules are weather-dependent.