Grayslake is located in the larger lake county of the U.S state of Illinois. The village lies within Chicago’s metropolitan area. It is located to the north of Chicago’s downtown approximately 64km away, and the west of Lake Michigan approximately 23km away, and to the south of Wisconsin border approximately 24km away. Major landmarks within the village include the Lake County College, the University center, Lake County, and the famous lake county fairgrounds (Village of Grayslake Official Website). Additionally, the village has a large lake, Grays Lake located at the village’s center. Harvey Avenue, Alleghany, Lake Street, and Route 120 bind the lake. Another lake, Manor Lake is found in the Manor sub-division. Libertyville, Round Lake Park, Haynesville, Lindenhurst, Gurnee, Lake Villa, and Wildwood are the communities neighboring Grayslake (Village of Grayslake Official Website). It is however, predominantly located within Avon township’s boundaries with a little part in Fremont township.
The United States Census Bureau estimates the village’s total area as 24.7km2 with 24.3 km2 on land and 0.4km2 covered with water. The village has a population of 20,330(United States Census Bureau). The total number of households and families in the area are 6503 and4948 respectively. This translates to a population density of 760.1/km2 (United States Census Bureau). The average housing density is 272.8/km2. Though largely white, the village is inhabited by various races including African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders among others (United States Census Bureau). Like most urban centers, the village has been subjected to continuous population growth. In response to this population increase, the management of resources is concentrated to a higher degree on matters affecting the village’s population and that of its environs. These include transportation, economic growth, community facilities, and natural resource protection among others. Like any other urban center, incremental emphasis is placed on improvement f the area’s life quality. While a number of issues affect the quality of life of the village’s inhabitants, this paper focuses on transportation.
Despite land-use patterns establishing overall community character, the system of transport dictates the efficiency of the patterns of development (Kostof 61). The region’s transportations network describes all circulation aspects within the village and its links to the surrounding areas. Increased pressure on land likewise increases pressure on transportation. Grayslake’s transportation is made of highways and streets, bicycle and pedestrian pathways, and commuter rail facilities (Planning and Zoning Office, Illinois 67). The village’s transportation planning is influenced by both regional and local patterns. In the 1990s, vast resources were utilized in a project aimed at adding capacity to the overall Central Lake County transportation network. Additional commuter rail facilities were constructed and the bike system continuously developed. In 1993, for instance, $15.5 million was invested in Grayslake’s system of transport (Planning and Zoning Office, Illinois 69). Additionally, the federal government, state agencies and the regional county have continuously invested funds towards development of the village’s transport. The efforts resulted in an increased road and commuter rail systems capacity. Likewise, these initiatives led to construction of one of the metropolitan’s wholesome community-wide bike paths. The local and countrywide growths are cited as the major factors that have led to substantial growth in the transportation network. However, despite these efforts, rush-hour traffic congestion remains at high levels and commuter parking facilities exceed their capacity soon after their construction (Planning and Zoning Office, Illinois 73). These two aspects continuously threaten the village’s transportation design capacity.
Grayslake is expected to have significant rise in both employment and residential population within the next 20 years. The North Eastern Illinois plan Commission has projected an additional 60,000 community residents to the north and west of Grayslake. Employment is expected to rise from 14,000 in 1990 to 31,000 in 2030 (Village of Grayslake Official Website). Likewise, traffic volumes are expected to rise magnanimously, and without adequate expansion, the current conditions are expected to worsen. Within the next ten years, there is a need for substantial expansion of transportation n order to accommodate the predicted population and employment variations. Failure to provide expanded commuter rail, as well as bike/pedestrian improvements on the premise of predicted growth is likely to compromise the resident’s quality of life, lower value of residential properties, and inhibit the village’s ability to retain existing businesses, let alone attracting new ones.
Community facilities and social amenities are prime community property support values (Fainstein and Campbell 34). Unique and significant amenities are often associated with rising property values while lack of the same is associated with lowered property values (Kostof 63). The two offer an avenue upon which businesses and prospective homeowners make decisions regarding locations. New facility types e.g. centers for recreation, in-house ice facilities, athletic fields, among others are provided to residents as a measure of improving their lives and competition stature with other communities(Fainstein and Campbell 35). Grayslake village prides itself in several unique amenities and facilities for the community. The lake county fairgrounds that hosts several all-year-round activities are probably the most conspicuous. It offers educational opportunities and an array of cultural events. Grayslake also hosts the lake county forest preserves and a greenway trail system that connects the village to its various neighbors (Village of Grayslake Official Website). Commercial areas and open spaces are present n the area in addition to large parkland acreages of which passive and active centers of recreation are situated. Additionally, the area prides itself in a community poll, state library, several golf courses, and a skate park. Additionally, and most significant is the multi-university center which offers opportunities for degree awards from various universities.
Like transportation, expected population growth and increased employment are likely to add pressure on the existing community facilities and social amenities. The existing structures are already under pressure and within a few years, they may be unable to adequately serve the public (Planning and Zoning Office, Illinois 72). This is due to the expected rise in demand for facilities and amenities in a town that is continually subject to population pressure. It is therefore desirable that to maintain and even better the community’s quality of life, the council should construct additional facilities and social amenities at per with the perceived increase in public demand for the same. These are expected to not only increase the quality of life of the community but also support the value of property in the region (Planning and Zoning Office, Illinois 74).
In conclusion, it is important to reiterate that urban planning is rather challenging. Urban planners have to keep at pace with perceived demand and demographic changes to ensure they are not overtaken by events. This is the case at Grayslake, planners have to work with existing and adjusted plans to be able to meet the changing demographics and hence the need of the locals. It is therefore incumbent that constant adjustments are made to existing plans in response to new information emerging about the areas variables. Establishing innovative ways of transportation modification and social amenities upgrading without increments in property tax is a desirable goal for every community including the Grayslake community.
Works cited
United States Census Bureau. “US Gazetteer files.” 2005. Web.
Kostof, Spiro. “The City Shaped: Urban Patterns and Meanings through History”, 2nd Edition, London: Thames and Hudson Ltd, 2009. 56-102.
Fainstein, Susan and Campbell, Scott. “Readings in Planning Theory.” Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers, 2003. 23-45.
Planning and Zoning Office, Illinois. “Comprehensive Plan: Village Of Grayslake.” Illinois: 10 South Seymour Avenue, 2005.
Village of Grayslake Official Website.