Riverwalk Extension Cuts Could Save $1.5 Million
Naperville households should watch which of four amenities the Riverwalk Commission removes before bids reach City Council.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Home Renovation
Live Poll
Should your city cut amenities like plazas and benches to lower public project costs?
Naperville's Riverwalk Planning, Design, and Construction Committee unanimously approved a motion giving the city two bid plans for the South Extension and Hillside Gateway project. The full design is $6.8 million, and the second plan reflects four elements already cut, at a lower bid.
Why it matters
The project was first pitched in 2024 at $3 million, so the gap between that figure and the current $6.8 million design is the core budget question for Naperville households and taxpayers. Commissioners are weighing which amenities to drop to bring construction costs down before bids go to City Council.
The full South Extension and Hillside Gateway design runs $6.8 million, and the four candidate deductions carry estimated savings of $800,000 to $900,000 for the Hillside Gateway plaza and stairs, $200,000 to $250,000 for the Washington Street sitting area, $200,000 to $225,000 for the barrier wall, and $100,000 to $150,000 for the Martin Avenue plaza and seat wall.
The players
Riverwalk Planning, Design, and Construction Committee
The Naperville committee that oversees the riverwalk's design and construction and voted to advance the two bid plans.
Riverwalk Commission
The Naperville body that will consider the motion on November 10 before the bids go to City Council.
Naperville City Council
The city's governing body that will receive the bids and make the final funding decision.
The details
Commissioners reviewed ten options identified with design consultants and agreed on four possible reductions. The four items could be added to the initial $6.8 million bid as deduct options pending Riverwalk Commission approval. The first bid plan covers the full design from Hillside Road to Martin Avenue, while the second reflects the four eliminations already made. Seven of nine voting members flagged the north Hillside Gateway plaza and stairs for possible removal.
Timeline
2024: Project first pitched at an initial projection of $3 million.
October 2026: Riverwalk Commission asked to consider three lower-cost options.
November 2, 2026: Committee unanimously approved the motion for two bid plans.
November 10, 2026: Riverwalk Commission to consider the motion before bids go to City Council.
End of 2026: Construction is slated to begin.
The Home Front
The jump from a $3 million projection in 2024 to a $6.8 million design shows how local public amenity budgets can expand as plans take shape. Naperville's riverwalk debate now centers on which features are worth their cost in the city's broader infrastructure and property-tax picture.
If you live near the Riverwalk corridor or pay Naperville property taxes, watch the November 10 Riverwalk Commission agenda to see which deductions are approved. Keep any public comment or council meeting dates on your calendar, since the final bid decision shapes the project's cost.
The takeaway
The cost gap between the 2024 projection and the current design means Naperville's final riverwalk scope will likely be set by which amenities the commission keeps. Following the November 10 vote is the most practical way to track how the project's price settles before council takes it up.
What happens next
The Riverwalk Commission will consider the motion on November 10, 2026, before design bids move to Naperville City Council. Construction is slated to begin at the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more on neighborhood-scale improvement projects like this one, browse our Home Renovation coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NCTV17.
Live Poll
Should your city cut amenities like plazas and benches to lower public project costs?
