On Tuesday afternoon, October 20th, 2026, more than 40 residents of Villagebrook, Marian Park, and Autumn Ridge apartments, as well as allies from multiple local congregations held an action for sidewalks and pedestrian safety at Villagebrook Apartments (278 St. Charles Rd, Carol Stream). Leaders gathered in the parking lot near St Charles Road to share stories about how the lack of sidewalks on this busy county highway has personally impacted their lives. They shared powerful stories about how many in their neighborhood have no choice but to walk one mile to reach a bus stop, grocery store, and other essential services. These resident pedestrians must walk for their transportation because they have limited access to a car, cannot afford a car, or cannot drive.

This is not an isolated incident of lack of safe walkability in DuPage County. Residents from Marian Park Apartments, Wheaton also spoke to their campaign of more than three years to install a traffic signal and pedestrian crosswalk on Roosevelt Road, between their community and a shopping center, near the corner of County Farm and Roosevelt Road.

This community rally was the result of two years of organizing with Villagebrook residents and area allies. Multiple community meetings, door to door canvases to talk with residents, individual meetings, and research meetings with county and village elected officials led to concrete public commitment from two DuPage County elected officials. Dupage County Board Representatives: Mr Jim Zay and Mr Greg Schwarze (District 6) agreed to participate and spoke after confirming their commitment to pedestrian safety infrastructure improvements. The representatives confirmed that due to the organizing efforts of these resident leaders, there is now a plan for road improvement--including sidewalks--on St Charles Road from Gary Ave to Bloomingdale Road. The representatives said that, because DuPage United brought this to the attention of DuPage County in 2025, it was prioritized with $8.25 million committed toward this project, which is slated to begin in January 2027. It will be completed within the next five years.

Additionally, both Mr. Schwarze and Mr. Zay committed to the following: installing signs for pedestrian safety before the end of 2026; paving the shoulder and marking it as a temporary walkway in the spring of 2027; and agreed to a follow up meeting with leaders from Villagebrook Apartments, Autumn Ridge Apartments, and Marian Park Apartments within 60 days to discuss streamlining construction of pedestrian safety infrastructure.