Public input shaping Riverside corridor overhaul in downtown St. Charles; pedestrian-friendly upgrades

As the city of St. Charles looks to revitalize the downtown Riverside corridor, it is seeking residents’ feedback on options to enhance the area’s safety, aesthetics and pedestrian-friendliness.The “Riverside Avenue for All: Complete Streets Project” is overhauling Riverside Avenue between Illinois Avenue and Main Street.Located around the corner from the Arcada Theatre and across Main Street to the St. Charles Municipal Center, the area is highly visited, especially during downtown city festivals.The targeted roadway extends past Flagship on the Fox.Mayor Clint Hull said in addition to making the area pedestrian-friendly, the city is aiming to maintain vehicle access and preserve existing parking along the corridor.The city is toying with a few designs, gaining public feedback on each one. The city said in addition to public comments gathered at an Oct. 20 meeting, it is collecting comments until Nov. 18 to help shape the final direction of the project.“The Riverside corridor serves a