Deerpath Road has reopened after a 10-month streetscape overhaul, drawing praise from city officials and a mix of relief, optimism, and lingering frustration from downtown business owners who weathered the prolonged construction.
The main east-west corridor through Lake Forest’s central business district re-opened to vehicles Oct. 31, marking the completion of a project that began in January and sought to modernize infrastructure, improve pedestrian safety and refresh the downtown aesthetic. A companion reconstruction of the narrow Bank Lane, running from Deerpath to Southgate, wrapped up Nov. 6.
“This project creates a safer, more accessible and beautiful streetscape for our community to enjoy for decades to come,” Mayor Stanford “Randy” Tack said in prepared remarks during a Nov. 8 ceremony celebrating the reopening.
Planning for the project began nearly a decade ago. City officials opted to complete all phases consecutively in hopes of finishing more efficiently.
City spokeswoman Dana Olson said the Deerpath upgrades cost $3.3 million, with $1.4 million funded locally and the remainder covered through a federal grant, processed by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Bank Lane project added another $1.6 million in city expenditures. Final cost reconciliation is still underway.
In addition to new pavement, the overhaul included replacing utilities, improving sidewalks and crosswalks, landscaping, and decorative lighting intended to boost pedestrian appeal.
“The Deerpath Streetscape Project is an investment in the future of Lake Forest — addressing critical infrastructure needs while creating a more beautiful, accessible, and welcoming gateway to the Central Business District,” Olson wrote in an e-mail. “In the end, the Deerpath Streetscape represents more than just new pavement and plantings — it’s about strengthening the heart of our community and enhancing the everyday experience of those who live, work, and visit Lake Forest.”
For merchants along Deerpath, the new streetscape has drawn mixed reviews that reflect months of lost foot traffic, impaired access, and safety concerns.
Mark Roberts, owner of Mark David Designs at Deerpath and Bank Lane, liked the finished product aesthetically, but stated the last 10 months have been stressful on him both emotionally and financially as the project limited customer access to his store.
“I’m glad it’s done,” Roberts said. “I’m glad they are out of our life for the most part.”
Roberts also flagged safety worries over what he called a lack of clearly marked crosswalks outside his store.
“Nobody knows where the actual crosswalk is or the stop,” he said. “They need to address this because people do not yield or stop at all.”
Olson countered that the concrete banding — not paint — intentionally serves as the crosswalk delineation in that area.
Crystal Gambill, who opened the athleisure clothing shop Lux Lane on the northwest corner of Deerpath and Bank Lane in February. Like Roberts, she liked the fresh appearance of Deerpath, but she said construction hampered access and created hazards for customers.
“People were tripping, and it was hazardous,” she said. “We rely on foot traffic, and we don’t have a strong social media presence yet, so it was difficult for customers to find parking or walk through what we had here.”
But other entrepreneurs liked the changes.
Adam Dlatt, co-owner of Once Upon A Bagel, which opened in May 2024, said the completed streetscape has already increased customer traffic.
“Now that the construction is over, we are seeing a new influx of customers and we couldn’t be happier,” he said. “It adds to the aesthetic of downtown and keeps its historic charm.”
On Bank Lane, Sage Explorers owner Allison Gurza welcomed the improvements to a street she said had long felt like “an alley.”
Asked if the disruption was worth it, Gurza took a measured view.
“Time will tell, but I am hoping so,” she said. “That is why we put up with it for so long.”
In response to the construction’s impact, the Lake Forest City Council approved relief grants for affected businesses.
Eligible businesses may receive a grant equal to 50 % of the sales revenue lost between January 1 and October 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024,” Olson explained. “The maximum grant amount is $11,650 per business. If a Lake Forest business is otherwise eligible for the program but opened after January 1, 2025, the maximum grant amount will be the greater of 50 % of 2025 taxable sales or $5,000.”
Eleven businesses have received grants so far, with applications open through Dec. 31, Olson said.
Roberts said he applied, but was less than enthusiastic about the program’s impact.
“That is pouring water on the fire after the fire is out,” he said. “It’s fine, but it really isn’t a big help.”
To help bring shoppers back downtown, the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce has launched a holiday shopping promotion running through Dec. 1.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
