Improvements On Northbrook's Meadowhill Park Pathway Set To Begin

NORTHBROOK, IL — The pathway at Meadowhill Park will close for more than a month in a couple of weeks as scheduled improvements to the walkway will begin to make needed repairs following flooding and drainage problems at the site.

The park pathway, which is located on the south side of the park at 1401 Maple Ave., will close on April 17 and will remain closed for five weeks, depending on weather conditions, the Northbrook Park District announced on Tuesday.

The pathway connects Meadowhill Park and Techny Prairie Park and Fields and was originally designed to allow water to drain down from the neighborhood homes and travel over the pathway and into the river. However, over time, the plant material on the west side of the pathway has matured, obstructing the water’s flow over the path, park district officials said.

This has caused further grading issues, especially as the water often contains sediment. The combination of plant growth and sediment buildup causes the pathway to flood and in winter months this can result in frozen patches, according to a news release. As a result, the asphalt pathway has degraded and now requires complete replacement.

The project is part of the park district’s Capital Improvement Plan and aims to remove and replace the failing pathway, remove the overgrown plant material, regrade the riverbank, add drainage pipes, and replant the riverbank with regionally appropriate native plantings, park district officials said.

Park District Director of Parks and Properties Chris Leiner said he hopes that the pathway is again ready for use by mid-May.

“The short disruption in trail use will be well worth the wait”, Leiner said in the news release. “The new section of trail will drain faster and prevent ice buildup in winter months.”

During the renovation, the pathway is a construction site, and a portion of the path will be closed, officials said. Access will not be possible between the two parks. The renovation is one of several Capital Improvement Plan projects taking place in 2023 at the Northbrook Park District.

Community members said that maintaining existing park amenities and infrastructure was considered the most important action for the Park District, which adopted a 10-year master plan, of which the improvement plan is part.