News

Downtown Plaza Phase 2 Construction Beginning

August 4, 2026

A Look at What's Coming

Construction on Phase 2 of the Downtown Plaza began the week of August 3, marking the next step in transforming this downtown block into a vibrant public gathering space. Following the introduction of a performing arts stage, bench swings, public art, and planting beds in Phase 1, Phase 2 extends the plaza north to Washington Street and adds many signature features, including:

  • A pedestrian promenade south of the Orpheum, connecting the plaza to public parking on Fremont Street.
  • An interactive lighted pop-jet fountain.
  • A gently sloped lawn for relaxing.
  • Musical benches and additional bench swings.
  • Business kiosks and a public restroom.
  • A Pétanque court, a game similar to bocce.
  • New gateway signs welcoming visitors from Neil Street, Hill Street, and Fremont Street.

The project also includes full reconstruction of Washington Street and Neil Street adjacent to the plaza, including a raised intersection at Neil and Hill Streets to improve safety and create a more pedestrian-friendly environment.

A few preliminary renderings of what the project will look like when completed are below.

An overhead view of the fully constructed Downtown Plaza south of Washington Avenue and east of Neil Street. The rendering shows a grassy lawn and bench swings near Washington Avenue, a Petanque court (similar to bocce ball) near the Orpheum Theater, a pe

An overhead view of the completed Downtown Plaza at the southeast corner of Neil and Washington Streets

A view of the fully completed Downtown Plaza from Washington Avenue facing south. On-street parking remains available on Washington Avenue and on the east side of Neil Street. Planters, bench swings, a public restroom, a grassy lawn, and a Petanque court

A view of the completed Downtown Plaza facing south from Neil Street and Washington Streets

A view of the completed Downtown Plaza facing north from Neil and Main Streets. Additional bench swings, seating areas, trees, and raised planter beds are shown beyond the existing performing arts stage, along with small business kiosks and a splash pad n

A view of the completed Downtown Plaza facing north from Main and Neil Streets

Construction Schedule

Construction began the week of August 3 with roadway and utility work on Washington Street near Walnut Street.

Early traffic changes during construction include:

  • Eastbound traffic on the east end of Washington Street will be temporarily closed, with westbound traffic maintained.
  • By the end of August, Washington Street will be closed between Hickory Street and Walnut Street.
  • The existing parking lot entrance will remain accessible from the west during this initial phase.
  • Detour signage will guide motorists around construction.

Parking and Access

The City's goal is to keep the Neil/Washington parking lot open as long as possible, particularly the parking spaces serving businesses along the plaza.

As construction progresses, traffic patterns, parking, and pedestrian routes will change periodically. Updates will be posted regularly so visitors, businesses, and downtown employees know what to expect.

During this project, Illinois American Water will also be replacing aging water mains in and around the plaza. They are responsible for communicating service impacts such as water outages or boil orders.

Stay Connected

We recognize that construction of a project this size will create temporary disruptions, and we appreciate everyone's patience as work moves forward.

The City will provide regular construction updates throughout the project, including changes to parking, vehicle access, pedestrian routes, and major construction milestones. If you have questions or concerns during construction, please contact the project team. If you would like to receive emails when updates are posted to this page, please click the "follow" button below.

We're excited to take this next step toward completing a downtown plaza that will serve residents, visitors, businesses, and community events for years to come.