Landmark reached out to the Brookfield beautification commission’s Steve Sabourin for his thoughts regarding the Village’s plan to add new banners to business district light poles.
Sabourin worked over 30 years in planning and community development for the cities of North Chicago and Waukegan, before he began volunteering in Brookfield’s planning and zoning, and beautification commissions just less than a year ago.
Excerpts of his comments appear in a news story about the light poles.
But his longer responses reflect expertise and delve in greater detail about the village’s beautification plan – including Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) improvements on Ogden Avenue in 2027 – the benefits of streetscape projects, and why he enjoys living in the Village.
The interview was edited for clarity and length.
Why he volunteers
I have lived in Brookfield since 2011. I was just appointed to the [Brookfield Beautification Commission, BBC] last year, so my experience with the commission is somewhat limited. I wanted to participate with the BBC because of my experience working for other communities who were undertaking some of the same initiatives and projects. I was excited about the opportunity to contribute over 30 years of community development experience to further the commission’s goals and objectives. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about helping to create vibrant and welcoming communities that people are proud to call home. As a member of the beautification commission, I am committed to using my experience and expertise to help improve the aesthetics and livability of our community. A priority for me is to work on not only maintaining, but enhancing, the visual appeal of our community. By investing in public art installations, streetscape and landscape improvements, and other aesthetic enhancements, we can create a more visually striking and engaging community that fosters a sense of pride and belonging among our residents.
Sabourin, a photographer who sells his prints online, shares why he finds Brookfield unique and engaging
I believe one has to look at the community’s assets. I was born and raised in a very large community with close to 100,000 residents. And coming to Brookfield was a welcomed change where so much is within walking distance, and I don’t have to drive to many of my frequent destinations. The village has also been very proactive to maintain Brookfield as a bicycle-friendly community with bike paths and lanes, including the most recent bike lanes along the entire stretch of Washington Avenue. I am fortunate to live in a walkable community.
There are many landmarks that identify with Brookfield, whether it’s the Brookfield Zoo, the Grossdale Train Station, Veterans Memorial Circle, Salt Creek, or many of the village’s parks and forest preserves. One can still be surprised by the spotting of wildlife that occupies these parks and preserves. The village also has great street scenes and community events, such as the Fourth of July parade, Music on Grand, Farmer’s Market, Concerts in the Park at the Kiwanis Park Band Shell, and Project NICE in the Spring and Fall. This brings together residents and volunteer groups to help clean up key locations throughout the village. Last July, Brookfield was host to the inaugural Cycle Brookfield Criterium, which is part of the Intelligentsia Cup Chicago.
On the aesthetic and practical benefits to a community like Brookfield displaying banners, and the changes coming to Ogden Avenue
There are many aesthetic benefits to Brookfield. First there is the enhanced visual appeal. The banners can add color, vibrancy, and a festive atmosphere to the village, all which enrich the appearance. The banners can also help create a sense of community identity by concentrating on some of the community’s assets, such as the Brookfield Zoo. There is also the community spirit, especially during the holidays and special occasions, like the anniversary of the village’s incorporation.
The practical benefits to Brookfield include the ability to promote popular events and festivals happening during specific times of the year, increasing community engagement and participation. These would include festivals or events that are held on a specific day of the month so that banners don’t need reprinting every year with the new dates. Examples include the Farmer’s Market, Concerts in the Park, Music on Grand, and Holiday Celebration. Another practical benefit is wayfinding and navigation, which can ultimately identify a destination, especially for attracting visitors to Brookfield. Displaying banners also fosters a sense of community identity and community pride. Currently, banners that are located along Ogden Avenue are only on lampposts that are on the south side of the street. To visitors and passersby unfamiliar with the area, they may think that Brookfield only borders the south side of Ogden Avenue, while a separate village borders the north side of Ogden Avenue. When in fact, Brookfield occupies both side of Ogden Avenue.
Why it was important for the board to develop a comprehensive banner plan
First, we want to ensure optimal visibility. A well-thought-out plan ensures that banners are strategically placed in locations with optimal visibility. This helps maximize their impact and ensures that they are easily seen by residents, visitors, and passersby. Second, we want to be consistent. A comprehensive banner plan helps maintain a cohesive and consistent aesthetic throughout the community. Consistency in banner placement creates a more visually pleasing and organized appearance. Third, proper planning ensures that the banners will be placed in areas where they can effectively communicate messages, whether it’s promoting events, highlighting seasonal themes, or conveying important information. This enhances the overall effectiveness of the banners as a communication tool. Fourth, the banner plan should help prevent visual clutter. By determining the appropriate number of banners and their location, we can avoid an overcrowded and chaotic visual environment.
In the coming weeks, the Brookfield beautification commission will present their banner recommendations to the board for approval
However, the more permanent signage for Ogden Avenue (that will be installed with the IDOT improvements in 2027) will have to be determined and forwarded to the village board at a later date. This should also include streetscape standards that identify the design of the streetscape furniture, planters, bicycle racks and the lampposts themselves. In the meantime, banners will be changed along Ogden Avenue on a less frequent basis. The beautification commission determined at its January [9th] meeting that we need to concentrate on what we consider to be Brookfield’s greatest asset. The commission members agreed that it should be the Brookfield Zoo. What is under consideration is to use pre-fabricated, double-sided cutouts of Zoo animals that would be mounted to the new lampposts permanently. These would be erected on lampposts on both sides of Ogden Avenue.