Sidewalk Coming to Central Avenue Near Library

Oak Forest residents looking for a safer way to walk along Central Avenue might have an option coming soon. 

Tuesday signed off on an agreement with, that allows use of library land for a sidewalk, which will extend from James Drive to Independence Drive. 

An easement agreement was necessary, as the library's property ownership extends to the curb of Central Avenue. Library board members approved the agreement at a meeting last month, said Director Eric Werthmann. The city recently received a grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to fund the installation. 

"I think this is a very big deal to the city," said City Administrator Troy Ishler. "By putting these pieces of sidewalk in, we will have contiguous sidewalk all the way from 147th Street to 159th Street, which connects a lot of major things in the city: the high school, city hall, the library, the park district, shopping along 159th Street."

Werthmann is looking forward to an increased accessibility to the library.

"It will be great to give everybody access to the library, and other things in the area," Werthmann said. "We're very excited."

City council members will consider construction companies for the project at the next meeting. 

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