Close Downtown Elmhurst To Cars At Times: Officials

ELMHURST, IL – A trio of Elmhurst aldermen is suggesting the possibility of closing downtown to cars on two nights a month, creating a pedestrian-friendly environment.

Aldermen Michael Bram, Karen Sienko and Dan Virgil said other area towns close their downtowns to cars, drawing large crowds during the summer.

The city, they said, already allows downtown businesses to have "parklets," which let restaurants expand outdoor dining.

"The proposal of closing streets to vehicular traffic expands on that concept and those benefits," the aldermen said.

Specifically, they recommended the closure apply to York Street between First and Second streets, including the area of Schiller Street between the alley and York.

Under their proposal, the closure would be on Friday and Saturday evenings once a month.

On Monday, the City Council is set to vote on whether to send the idea to a committee.

In 2022, aldermen discussed closing York Street to promote outdoor dining. Mayor Scott Levin opposed the idea. But he and others did not indicate whether they were against a closure for just a couple of evenings a month.