Annual Tree Trimming

Urban Forest Management strives to achieve a healthy, sustainable urban forest and improve natural resource management within the City. The program covers trees that require routine arboriculture pruning to correct structural problems or growth patterns which would eventually obstruct traffic or interfere with sightlines or signage. One of the main objectives of this pruning is to raise the crown of the trees to stay consistent with City standards. Tree trimming will be performed during the months of November and January. 

 2026 Street Resurfacing

For project updates, follow the City social media or check back for frequent updates on the Street Surface Program page of the City's website.

 Three Oaks at Lutter / Sands Road

 The Three Oaks Road/Lutter Drive/Sands Road Intersection Improvements will install a new traffic signal to better facilitate vehicle movements through the intersection as well as adding a southbound left turn lane and northbound right turn lane. Sands Road will be reconstructed to reduce the vertical profile and a new multiuse path will be added along the south side of Three Oaks Road from the intersection east to connect to the existing path.

Randall Road Reconstruction (McHenry County Department of Transportation)

The McHenry County Randall Road Corridor Improvement Project will improve traffic flow for north-south freight and commuter traffic by widening and reconstructing the 1.3 mile section of Randall Road (Ackman Road to Acorn Lane/ Polaris Drive) in McHenry County, IL.

Lift Station 14 Construction

The Wastewater Division in the Public Works Department is responsible for operating and maintaining a system of sanitary pump stations (lift stations) located throughout the municipality. These wastewater pump stations operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and are an integral part of the City’s overall sanitary sewer system, which transports wastewater to the City’s wastewater treatment plants. Lift Station 14 began service in the early 1970’s. The site does not have a permanent emergency generator, necessitating an emergency response from Wastewater personnel during power outages to connect a portable generator in order to prevent residential sewage backups. 

Due to the age of the infrastructure and operational issues associated with the station, City staff, working with outside engineering consultants, Trotter and Associates, Inc., have determined that is it necessary to upgrade the facility. These upgrades are being undertaken to prevent station failure and continue to ensure uninterrupted service to the North Shore area.

The scope of work for the project includes rehabilitating and converting the station from a dry-pit style lift station to a submersible pump lift station similar to the majority of the City’s pump station infrastructure. Additionally, there will be upgrades to the control panel and all associated electrical components, the replacement of a gate valve located on the sanitary sewer line leading into the station, and the installation of a natural gas emergency generator. The project also includes adding Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) equipment to connect the station to the City’s remote control and monitoring network. The lift station will remain on North Shore Avenue. The control panel and stationary generator for the lift station will be located on a vacant lot at 170 Sunnyside Avenue. 

Three Oaks Water Level Control Project

The water levels at the Three Oaks Recreation Area fluctuate depending on the amount of precipitation during storm events. The fluctuation is compounded by the fact that the lake does not have a natural outlet to provide overflow relief.  During subsequent heavy rain events that exceed historical averages, the park amenities and structures are negatively impacted.  High water levels significantly impacted the park's amenities as recently as 2019 and 2020.

City staff and engineering consultants analyzed several alternative design concepts and determined that the most cost effective solution is to manage the water level with a storm water pumping station at the southwest corner of the lake. The pump station will discharge storm water into the existing McHenry County Division of Transportation storm sewer along Rakow Road. City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement allowing the use of the County storm sewer and the modification of the existing outfall. 

Three Oaks Recreation Area Trail

For project updates, follow the City and Three Oaks' social media or check back for frequent updates on the Three Oaks Recreation Area page of the City's website.

Virginia Road Pedestrian Connections

The City was awarded an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) federal grant for the Pedestrian Connections to the Regional Prairie Trail project on June 14, 2021. This project completes critical sidewalk gaps for residents and provides pedestrians access to the regional Prairie Trail, portions of the US Route 14 commercial corridor, the historic Downtown, both Metra stations, and the post office, at the Main Street and Commonwealth Drive/Shopping Center Back Entrance, south side of Congress Parkway just east of Commonwealth Drive, and the north side of Virginia Road from US Route 14 to Berkshire Drive.

Depot Park Reconstruction

For further details about the Depot Park Reconstruction Project, click here.