North Central College invites the community to celebrate the dedication of the Riverwalk Gateway Oct. 27 as part of the College’s annual Homecoming Celebration.
A dedication ceremony will take place at 1PM Sat., Oct. 27, at the Riverwalk Gateway, located north of Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, 455 S. Brainard St. The ceremony will occur at the conclusion of the Homecoming Parade and before the 2PM kickoff of the Homecoming football game vs. Illinois Wesleyan University.
The Riverwalk Gateway connects the College to Naperville’s Fredenhagen Park, located northeast of the Washington Street bridge over the DuPage River.
Funding for the Riverwalk Gateway improvements comes from many sources, including a grant from the State of Illinois’ Independent Colleges Capital Program, the North Central College senior gifts from the classes of 1961, 2004 and 2012, and a pledge of $500,000 from North Central College alumni James A. Bambule and Patricia Brady Bambule, members of the class of 1963.
The project is the result of a partnership among North Central College, the Naperville Park District, the Naperville Riverwalk Commission and the Riverwalk Foundation to improve pedestrian access and beautify the campus.
The Riverwalk Gateway includes stone pillars that mark the entryway to campus and a landscaped pathway along the east bank of the West Branch of the DuPage River next to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Work on the Riverwalk Gateway began in June.
The College’s Legacy Project includes the Riverwalk Gateway and Sesquicentennial Walkway. Work continues on the Sesquicentennial Walkway, a pedestrian path that runs through the interior of campus between Benton and Jefferson avenues.
The dedication of the Riverwalk Gateway is part of the celebration of the College’s 2012 Homecoming Oct. 25-28. Public events include performances by Bernadette Peters and Sara Evans, documentary screening, a reunion party with dancing and entertainment, a parade and football game. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/homecoming to learn more.
Photo courtesy of North Central College
Editor’s Note: Positively Naperville cameras have captured the development of the Riverwalk Gateway during its 3-month construction adjacent to Fredenhagen Park. The handy “search” tool in the upper right of this page under the navigation bar will provide many photos of its development at the gateway not only to North Central College, but to downtown Naperville and the entire Riverwalk as it meanders westward toward the Jefferson Ave. Bridge.
During a recent visit to watch the progress of the Riverwalk Gateway, bronze plaques were being prepared for installation in the stone pillars in advance of the dedication on Oct. 27.
Shane Beard, owner of Fast Signs, noted the large North Central College plaques at the entrance weighed 180 pounds each. Other smaller bronze plaques represent the generous contributions of alumni and other donors, he said.
“I’m thrilled to have contributed my small part to this gateway,” said Beard, as he looked forward to a full day of installing plaques. “What a great day to be outside on the Riverwalk.”
Thanks, North Central College and all citizens of Naperville for this natural treasure in the heart of downtown.
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