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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE ON THEIR 150th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, the place we now know and love as Riverside was home to diverse Native American communities long before the arrival of European explorers and traders; and
WHEREAS, in the 1820s, the area served as a major trading post due to its proximity to the Chicago Portage and Portage Trail, and from the 1830s through the 1860s, the area welcomed many settlers; and
WHEREAS, in 1869, the Riverside Improvement Company hired Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to prepare a town plan for the area along the bend of the Des Plaines River; and
WHEREAS, Riverside was one of the first planned communities in the United States by Frederick Law Olmsted; and
WHEREAS, Olmsted and Vaux conceived the General Plan of Riverside and the Riverside Improvement Company began implementation of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, in 1875, residents of unincorporated Riverside determined that a proper Village Government was necessary to complete the General Plan of Riverside and to provide essential public services for their new town. On August 8 of that year, the 29 residents of Riverside voted to officially incorporate the Village of Riverside as a municipality of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, incorporation was a pivotal moment that established Riverside as an independent municipal entity with its own governing structure and ability to implement local ordinances, manage public services, and preserve and grow the community's unique character; and
WHEREAS, due to the volunteer efforts of residents for the past 150 years, the essence of Olmsted and Vaux's General Plan remains intact, including expansive green parkways and public spaces, gas-lit street lanterns, and curvilinear streets. As a result, the Village has enjoyed a National Historic Landmark designation since 1970; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Village of Riverside is celebrating its 150th anniversary of incorporation, its Sesquicentennial, and this presents an opportunity to celebrate the past, acknowledge the present, and envision a bright future for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, this sesquicentennial year is an appropriate occasion to honor the legacy of the place we know and love as Riverside, to honor the 19th-century volunteers who understood the necessity and benefits of self-government, and to honor 20th and 21st-century volunteers who have continued to preserve and respect the Village of Riverside and all that it means; and
WHEREAS, Riverside’s history and lasting beauty is a gem of Cook County and attracts families, businesses, and visitors who want to experience this historic village firsthand; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the contributions of the residents and leadership of the Village of Riverside should be recognized and celebrated; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village of Riverside has been a strong partner with Cook County and has worked together to deliver resources and support to their residents; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, do hereby honor the Village of Riverside on their 150th Anniversary in July of 2025.end