Although the holidays are over, Riverside trustees are thinking ahead about the future winter season and winter displays. 

The trustees approved a special-event policy that permits residents to apply for winter displays in the village’s area near the train station.  

The policy was created after last year when a resident requested the board display a menorah next to the usual Christmas tree display. Typically displays on village’s property are not allowed, but this request made the board realize that just a Christmas tree is not inclusive. Although the village approved the application for the winter display, they noted that they do not allow any displays outside of this one. Future winter display can be placed near the train station during the time from Dec. 1 through Jan. 14. 

“We define it [as] winter celebrations and if you expand that scope to winter and spring, seasonal anything that falls within that definition is fair game and we cannot discriminate upon that viewpoint,” said village attorney Bob Pickrell. “The more you expand the scope, the less you’re able to control this.”

The policy states that winter displays shall be subject to the following requirements:

  • No winter display may occupy a space greater than 6 feet wide by 2 feet deep.
  • Winter displays should be constructed of sturdy materials, should not pose a danger to the public or other winter displays, and should be properly affixed to the ground.
  • The village is under no obligation to provide electricity or other power source to the winter display. Applicants shall either supply their own power source or, if a connection to village power is available and the applicant desires to use it, the applicant will pay the village for the use of its power in an amount to be determined by the public works department.
  • Each winter display will be subject to inspection by village staff for any safety concerns. If the village determines that the winter display is unsafe for any reason, then the applicant must immediately remove it.  If the applicant fails to do so, the village may remove and dispose of the winter display.
  • As a condition of approval, each winter display must include a sign located in front of the display identifying the applicant or organization sponsoring it. The sign must be legible from the sidewalk. The applicant is responsible for producing and maintaining the sign.
  • The resident or a local business has to provide insurance for the winter display.

The policy also states that due to limited space near the east end of the Riverside’s train station, only one application per year will be accepted for each type of winter display. The number of displays is not limited, however if the applicant is using the maximum size of 6-foot-wide by 2-feet-deep only two displays can be accepted. But if the displays are a smaller size there can be more than two displays.

The displays applications are operating on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the display date.

The clerk of the village of Riverside will notify applicants of their decision within 14 business days after receiving their application and can be appealed 10 days after the rejection notice.