'Already Dangerous': Elmhurst Residents Speak Out Against Path

ELMHURST, IL – Fay Avenue residents on Tuesday described their street as too busy to accommodate an 8-foot-wide pedestrian and bike path, which would lead to a pedestrian bridge over Route 83.

However, the City Council took a final vote to hire an engineer for the bridge and path project. One alderman dissented.

The path would go on the south side of the street, where new houses are set to be built. Also, the local park district plans to build a new Wagner Community Center nearby.

Resident Olivia Levine said the city has no way to conduct an accurate traffic study until the houses and center are finished.

"It's already dangerous," she said.

Residents say a bike path in front of their homes would pose risks, particularly with electric bicycle riders whipping by.

Bryce Fisher, another Fay Avenue homeowner, said the city's decision for a bike path was "candidly very bad." He has four children, including a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old.

"If I lose one of my kids, we're all going to have a problem," he warned.

Fay Avenue resident Bryce Fisher says Elmhurst's plan for a bike path in front of Fay houses was "candidly very bad." (City of Elmhurst/via video)

Fay Avenue resident Joanne Garcia suggested the city buy land behind their homes from Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church to build the path.

Richard Helm, who lives on Armitage Avenue, which is a block to the north, said he was for the bridge.

"We will use it, and I look forward to crossing the bridge and taking my grandson fishing at Cricket Creek," Helm said.

The path would be on Fay from West Avenue to the bridge.

During the City Council's discussion, Alderman Michael Bram repeated his argument from last month that the project was a "nice-to-have," not a "need-to-have." The city, he said, had more important projects.

He was the lone dissenter in the vote for authorizing up to $382,000 to be spent with an engineering firm. Three aldermen, Jennifer Veremis, Mike Brennan and Noel Talluto, were absent, but they supported the expenditure in an initial vote last month.

Fay Avenue residents are holding a town hall at 6 p.m. Thursday at Fay and West avenues. They have invited local officials, saying Mayor Scott Levin and some aldermen have agreed to attend.