Walk This Way! New Sidewalk Opens Along Central Avenue

Work on the sidewalks along Central Avenue is finished and for the first time ever, Oak Forest residents have an uninterrupted sidewalk path from 147th Street to 159th Street. 

“I think the project was well worth the endeavor and even moreso that the state kicked in $50,000,” said City Administrator Troy Ishler.

The project cost roughly $55,400; $50,000 of which came from a  grant from the state of Illinois, with the remaining monies coming from the city's sidewalk escrow fund.

The walkway was installed the stretch of James Drive to Independence Drive, and in front of the Jewel Osco property, also on Central Avenue. The completed project created a continuous sidewalk from 147th Street to 159th Street. Residents are already enjoying the new path, Ishler said. 

“I've walked it several times and I've seen quite a few pedestrians on it already,” he said.

Mayor Hank Kuspa echoed Ishler's comments during a Nov. 27 council meeting, saying that one resident wasn't shy in expressing herself about the new sidewalk. 

“I did get a handwritten note at city hall. The woman dropped it off and wanted to know what took us so long, so good job on that, Troy,” Kuspa said with a chuckle.  

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