Downtown Geneva guests who utilize the public parking at the Campbell Street lot – and the public parking spaces north of the lot – will be greeted with an enhanced walking experience from their car to Third Street with the creation of a pedestrian friendly mall.

A decorative sidewalk bordered with brick pavers and inlayed with etched granite memorial tiles will be installed in the alleyway between 121 and 113 S. Third St. Other highlights of the pedestrian mall will be a communal gas fireplace, masonry seating wall, benches, a fountain and landscaping.

Construction on the project will begin in April with hopes of being completed in time for the Swedish Days Festival in mid-June. The project is taking place on City-owned/leased property, but the cost is being funded through a state capital grant secured by State Rep. Tim Schmitz.

The Geneva History Center, which borders the current alleyway, will be selling the memorial tiles to be incorporated as part of the Third Street pedestrian mall design. Residents interested in purchasing a tile should call the History Center’s Executive Director Terry Emma at 630-232-4951.

For more information about the project, call the Geneva Public Works Department at 630-232-1501.