McHenry City Council to consider Miller Point improvements

McHenry officials will meet Monday to consider improvement plans for the Riverwalk and Miller Point.

The McHenry Riverwalk Foundation wants to complete a $650,000 project that would include upgrades to the city-owned property at
1202 N. Riverside Drive, known as Miller Point.

The city constructed the first phase of the Riverwalk in 2006, and the project slowly has moved forward over the years.

The next step of the proposal calls for construction of a pavilion and possibly a gazebo on the Miller Point property, according to city documents.

The last phase of the project was completed several years ago on the north side of Route 120.

The next phase involves developing the Riverwalk along a route to Weber Park and linking retail areas on Green Street and Riverside Drive.

The ultimate goal – to extend the walkway along the Fox River behind Riverside Drive – is financially unfeasible without help from the city, according to city documents.

The foundation opened bids for the pavilion and gazebo project in November, with Landmark Construction offering the lowest prices.

Officials recommended that the foundation proceed with a $429,500 project to construct the paver pavilion and further explore design options to make the gazebo plan more affordable.

Landmark Construction bid $155,900 to build the gazebo, according to city documents.

The city must approve the plan for it to move forward.

“The foundation has an excellent track record of working with the city to build or improve the additions to the Riverwalk,” McHenry Parks and Recreation Director Bill Hobson said. “This is an opportunity to continue those efforts and create the public pavilion that was initially designed and always designated for Miller Point.”

McHenry has been looking to capitalize on its waterway offerings in the past several years.

Officials will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 333 S. Green St.