Naperville’s long-simmering parking headache around Nichols Library is back on the table, and this time the fix could be a four-level deck that nearly quadruples the number of spaces next to the downtown branch.
At its April 15 meeting, the Naperville Public Library Board of Trustees heard a fresh pitch to turn the existing surface lot of roughly 130 spaces into a multi-level garage with about 500 spots. Backers say the project is meant to ease chronic parking shortages around the Riverwalk, nearby shops and busy library programs. Trustees, however, signaled they want more time and more detail before they even think about signing on.
A working group from the Downtown Naperville Alliance and the Downtown Advisory Commission walked trustees through supply-and-demand comparisons and potential fixes, emphasizing that they were looking for feedback rather than a vote. As outlined in the Naperville Public Library agenda, DNA executive director Katie Wood and Tom Castagnoli led the presentation, and board members said they needed time to digest the data before taking any formal position.
What The Plan Would Look Like
The current concept is not exactly new. It traces back to a 2007 final schematic that envisioned an L-shaped, four-level garage wrapping around the north and west sides of Nichols Library. According to City of Naperville meeting exhibits, that earlier design called for 501 parking spaces, up from roughly 130 today, with a schematic cost of $23.5 million listed in “current dollars” at the time.
Price Tag And Funding Ideas
Supporters now estimate that a modern build would run in the neighborhood of $32 million to $36 million. One financing idea on the table is to cover about one-third of the cost with revenue from the downtown food-and-beverage tax, with the city picking up the remaining share.
The presentation also floated a tentative timeline that, if approved and funded, could bring updated architectural work in 2027 and construction beginning in 2028, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. In other words, no one is pouring concrete tomorrow.
Library Survey Shows Parking Is A Pain Point
The library’s 2026 community survey suggests the complaints are not just anecdotal. Parking improvements at Nichols ranked among the top priorities, with about 11% of respondents identifying parking as an area for improvement, a slight uptick from the 2023 survey.
Those survey results and staff notes are included in the board packet and show that parking at Nichols continues to be a recurring sore spot in meeting materials, according to the Naperville Public Library.
Where This Leaves The Board
Trustees did not vote to endorse the parking deck on April 15. Instead, they asked for more time to review the materials and mull the implications, according to local coverage. The Chicago Tribune reported that the Downtown Naperville Alliance will keep gathering feedback ahead of the city’s budget workshops, while city project exhibits list updating architectural plans and seeking outside funding opportunities among the potential next steps, per the City of Naperville.
For now, officials are framing the Nichols deck as the start of a longer community conversation. Even if the project advances, it will still need firm financing, updated designs and a construction phasing plan before any ground is broken. Library trustees say they plan to keep the issue on a future agenda and will track the city’s outreach and budget process as the details start to come into focus.
