In September, the Spring into Our Future planning team welcomed Western Springs residents, business owners, and all other interested parties to the September 29 Community Open House at the Recreation Center. Together, we discussed the vision for the plan, the future of the Village, and opportunities to make Western Springs the best Western Springs it can be. A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by, participate, and chat with us!

Participants shared their vision in a variety of ways throughout the evening:

• Shape the Vision: Armed with thumbs-up stickers, open house participants were tasked with identifying the top three qualities that they hope would describe Western Springs in the future. Family-friendly, vibrant downtown, walkable, and historic were characteristics that received the most support. A preference for small businesses, dining, shopping, and sustainability was also notable.
• My Future Mural: Participants were asked to write and draw how they see the future of Western Springs. Responses emphasized a desire to preserve historic assets, create more entertainment and culinary destinations in the community, and continue to build on the Village’s walkable environment.
• Village Builder: Visitors to the open house were invited to use to-scale blocks on key subareas that will be explored throughout the plan process. Each block represented a different land use type in the community, including housing, open space, mixed-use development, and commercial space. Participants offered ideas for the downtown Western Springs, 47^th Street and Gilbert Avenue, and 55^th Street and Wolf Road areas. Respondents saw opportunities for new development in the downtown area while generally preserving the historic core. Small-scale development opportunities were also identified in the Village’s other commercial districts. See the image carousel below to view the concepts!
• Downtown Doodle: With the assistance of the planning team, participants voiced their vision for the downtown as a planner sketched it out over a sheet of trace paper. Open house visitors noted opportunities for redevelopment by consolidating parking, more active storefronts, small green spaces, a need for senior housing, and improved safety when crossing the BNSF rail tracks.
• Letter to Leaders: Open house visitors were also offered a station to take a seat and pen a letter to community leaders about what they want to see in the plan and from the future of the community at large. Letters supported a more active downtown, more sidewalks and trails, continued infrastructure maintenance, traffic calming, and new development that is thoughtful and in keeping with the character of Western Springs.

In summation, the September Open House echoed much of the sentiment heard in the planning process thus far: Western Springs is great already, and enhancing its walkability, downtown area, and commercial offerings will make it an even better place to live, work, and visit. The feedback shared at this open house will be incorporated into the Community Vision document, the next deliverable in the planning process.

Scroll through participants’ visions for subareas!

Halloween Hoopla Pop-up

Following the Open House, the planning team took to the Halloween Hoopla event on October 16th, seeking additional feedback on what residents want the community to be in the next few decades. Visitors to the planning booth at Halloween Hoopla were asked: Which three words would you want to describe Western Springs in the future?

Similar to feedback received at the Open House, visitors to the booth believed that the following words should describe the Village in the future, and be goals to plan towards or essential characteristics to not overlook.

• A family-friendly community
• A vibrant downtown
• Dining options
• Walkability
• A community with thriving small businesses
• A historic and sustainable place

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Once again, we thank everyone who showed up to share their time and vision for the community’s future—we couldn’t do it without you!