Last week the Restaurant Association of Naperville met with Police Chief Marshall, Fire Chief Puknaitis, the Downtown Naperville Alliance and City Officials including the Mayor and Liquor Commissioner, George Pradel to discuss the ongoing effort to provide a safe and entertaining downtown nightlife. In response to continued growth and popularity of downtown Naperville, restaurateurs proactively initiated the meeting as part of a safety program, Celebrate Safely in Naperville.
Naperville Development Partnership Chairman and Liquor Commission member Scott Wehrli opened the meeting by first addressing the importance of having a safe and vibrant hospitality community as it relates to the overall quality of life in Naperville.
“Having a thriving restaurant district in our community not only complements the cultural scene so important to our residents decision to move to and continue to live in Naperville, but it also generates a significant volume of sales tax used to create the premier city services we all enjoy—as well as fund SECA (Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund) which is vital to the charitable and non-profit community here,” said Wehrli. “Safety is key to having a thriving downtown, and having a proactive approach like this continues to ensure the safety of our downtown.”
Mayor Pradel, Chief Puknaitis and Chief Marshall went on to describe the safety protocols that have been put into place in recent years in response to the growth of the downtown and its attractiveness to visitors within the region. At the request of the Naperville Police Department, the Naperville Fire Department has added a Fire Watch Program between 12-2 AM which provides additional eyes and ears in the downtown when the nightlife crowds are largest. Puknaitis applauded downtown establishments for their adherence to safety codes and encouraged owners and managers to remain vigilant.
Chief Marshall added that the Naperville Police Department has also taken a proactive approach to fighting crime, having increased the uniformed presence in high activity areas all around the city. “I’m happy to report a positive drop in incidents since we have instituted these safety measures. Downtown Naperville is a regional draw for late-night visitors, as we continue to attract popular restaurants into our growing downtown, we also need to grow our safety measures. Ultimately, it is the mission of the (Naperville) Police Department to ensure that visitors to downtown Naperville have a pleasurable and safe experience, and those violating laws and ordinances will be held accountable.” said Marshall.
The meeting concluded with attendees sharing their inspiring best practices for public safety which include a long list of measures from upgraded security cameras and increased patrols to instituting a rapid response notification program for any incidents occurring in the downtown.
All individuals present at the meeting agreed that Celebrate Safely in Naperville’s main focus is that safety is still the number one priority to all stakeholders.
“Sharing best practices, proactively addressing any and all possible safety issues, and collaborating with the City, other restaurants, and the police and fire departments are the only way the dining community can grow and thrive safely as our downtown continues to grow,” said Ray Kinney, board member of the Naperville Development Partnership and Dine Naperville Chairman.
“Downtown restaurants work hard to maintain a safe nightlife in an area that is extremely popular and attracts thousands of visitors. Look at events like the Hometown Holidays Electric Lights Parade or the Last Fling. Both events attract upwards of 10,000 evening and nighttime visitors,” said Kinney. “It’s a testament to the collaborative and proactive efforts of everyone here today that Naperville can continue to safely host events and crowds like these. Celebrate Safely in Naperville has certainly helped to allow us to do just that.”
