Lake Street

between Harlem Ave. and Forest Ave.
Oak Park, IL

Contributed by Project for Public Spaces

Once a well-intentioned pedestrian mall, bringing back traffic to Lake Street also restored the old-fashioned bustle that characterizes American main streets.

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Why It Works

As was done in many downtowns in the early 1970s, Oak Park city planners decided to close the city's main shopping street to vehicular traffic by creating a pedestrian-only mall. The planners hoped to gain renewed interest in their downtown and increase retail use and revenues. And even though the mall was pleasant and attractive, by the late '80s retail sales had been declining for years and stores had closed.

Reopening the "Oak Park Pedestrian Mall" to traffic allowed the street to be infused with bustle, the quality that characterizes American main streets. Traditional street uses foster an urban energy more compatible with downtown locations, and are much more conducive to retail than the former walking street's well-intentioned park-like qualities. The downtown is now a destination for the city's residents. Children play in the nearby park, and participate in special family events in the city center. Couples and elderly residents sit on the pedestrian mall or at cafe tables off Lake Street, and watch life unfold around them.

What Makes Lake Street a Great Place?

For those who do not walk to the downtown, the city built two parking garages, well-designed and unobtrusive.

Unlike many other suburban downtowns, Oak Park's surrounding neighborhoods draw upon the city center for most of their primary needs. There are a wide variety of retail services, ranging from clothes to restaurants to food and hardware stores.

History & Background

In 1988, PPS evaluated the design and use of the Oak Park Pedestrian Mall and its impact on business. Working with the Oak Park Mall Commission, property owners, and city officials, PPS conducted surveys of merchants and pedestrians and conducted time-lapse filming of pedestrian activity to determine people's perceptions and use of the mall. After discussing the results with members of the local community, a series of design and management recommendations were developed.

The community eventually decided to re-open the main street to vehicular traffic and to implement a management approach to coordinate retail leasing and store operations, as well as supplement promotional, maintenance, and security activities. PPS prepared the final design schemes and helped define the retail management program and public space plan. Construction was completed in 1989. Between 1988 and 1989, positive changes were noted, including a decline in vacancy rates from 25% to 19%; increased revenues from parking fees; and a 100% increase in inquiries from potential tenants.

Contact Info:

Contact Downtown Commission (708) 383-4145

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User Comments:

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10/25/04 Shin-pei Tsay said:
The rec center in Oak Park is in danger of being demolished. They enable the neighborhood to be walkable for all people, providing basic amenities like water and bathrooms throughout the community. Check out Save Oak Park Recs to find out more.
11/26/04 Varda Sauer said:
I grew up 'hanging out' on Lake Street as a kid...wonderful memories! I am now an adult with 3 grown children of my own...and I was so proud to take them back to Lake Street and see it how it used to be! It's a shame that Marshall Fields is gone....but it still has the wonderful atmosphere that I remember as a kid growing up in Oak Park! And...my 2 favorite diners are STILL there...and the Chinese restaurant on Marion just south of Lake Street....ah...memories... submitted by Varda Cheskis OPRFS '69
01/20/05 Jean Lotus said:
Clarification: Oak Park's seven small rec centers are in a controversy with the Park District. Deferred maintenance and inconsistent programming have made the PD consider closing them down. They've been advised to lease 3 of the seven.
03/14/07 Kathryn Jonas said:
The Village of Oak Park is currently planning to demolish the much loved 2 block long Marion St. pedestrian mall, the village's primary public space and community gathering place. The plan is to open the mall to 2-way traffic and build a 27 space surface parking lot. This public space is the center for many summer festivals and its location immediately adjacent to the 2 main public transit centers has made it an ideal pedestrian route that is lined with a variety of shops in historic buildings.

Though the primary reason the village gives for re-streeting the mall is to help retailers, the truth is that there are more retail vacancies on the re-streeted Lake St. portion of downtown than on this 2 block pedestrian stretch. We have formed a community group, Save The Marion Mall, that favors upgrading and beautifying the mall because it has suffered from no improvements since it was installed over 30 years ago.

In 2004, the PPS listed Oak Park's downtown on its "20 best downtowns" list, specifically referring to the Marion Mall section as the gathering spot just off re-streeted Lake St. where people can sit at outdoor cafes and enjoy conversation and a view of the world away from automobile traffic. If you want to learn more about our efforts to save this important public space, check out our website at where there is a link to the on-line petition.

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