Crews started cutting into Main Street sidewalks the week of Monday, July 6, marking the first visible construction phase of downtown Downers Grove's new flexible amenity spaces.

The Village of Downers Grove confirmed Friday, July 10, that sawcutting is underway at three locations along the east side of Main Street: Burlington and Main, Curtiss and Main, and Maple and Main. The village said concrete removal and underground utility work are scheduled to begin the week of July 13 at the northeast corner of Main and Maple, though timelines are weather-dependent.

The project, designated ST-067, will transform five downtown locations into spaces for outdoor dining, casual seating, community events, and public art displays. The Village Council approved the work at its Tuesday, April 14 meeting, with construction restricted from starting before July 6.

What the spaces will include

Construction involves pavement removal, underground utility work, concrete placement, landscaping, and furnishings, according to the village's project page. Four of the five locations will incorporate public art through a partnership with Sculpture Milwaukee, a Wisconsin-based public art organization. Those four sites are Linda Kunze Plaza near the Main Street train station, Main Street and Burlington Avenue, Main Street and Curtiss Street, and the west side of Main Street. The village has not publicly identified the fifth location.

The village has posted renderings of the completed spaces on its project page, including a detailed view of the Curtiss Street and Main Street corner.

Timeline

The project is scheduled for completion in November 2026. All work is weather-dependent and schedules may shift.

Directly impacted businesses and residents received construction notices on Thursday, June 25, with additional project details. A preconstruction meeting with the contractor took place the week of May 25 to establish the construction schedule.

The five spaces are the first on-the-ground result of the 2025 Guiding DG Streetscapes Plan, which set the vision for downtown public spaces.

Stephanie Graves, the village's engineering manager, is the project manager and can be reached at 630-434-5487. Residents can track construction progress and view renderings at the village's project page: downers.us under Projects > Streets > Flexible Amenity Areas.