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Brookfield OKs consensus to host Chicago GRIT criterium on alternate route south of the tracks July 23
Summary
Village staff and Cycle Brookfield proposed an alternate Chicago GRIT / Cycle Brookfield criterium route that runs south of the BNSF tracks because work on the 3700 block of Grand precludes the traditional course. Trustees gave staff a consensus to proceed; the race is scheduled for July 23, 2025.
Village staff and Cycle Brookfield presented an alternate course for the Chicago GRIT / Cycle Brookfield criterium after planned work on the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard eliminated the traditional route, trustees heard at the Feb. 10 Committee of the Whole.
Chris Valdez, president of Cycle Brookfield, described a single alternate route that runs south of the railroad tracks with the start-finish "basically right in front of Irish Times." The proposed course runs west on Burlington, a sharp left onto Southview, east to Grove, north on Grove, then a left back onto Burlington to pass Creekside Park before repeating laps. Valdez said the course remains under one mile and takes advantage of newly repaved Burlington for fast racing.
Valdez said the expo and volunteer staging would use library and park-adjacent spaces and that spectator parking would be placed north of the tracks; he noted volunteer staging could use Creekside Park. Trustees and staff discussed pedestrian crossings, train horn timing, restroom and vendor access, and the need for police staffing.
Public-safety staff and department heads reviewed the plan; staff reported no major operational concerns and said police and fire viewed the route as easier to staff than the downtown course. Valdez said Metro PD had supported the event in past years and that Cycle Brookfield would again request officers for staffing; trustees discussed two layers of crowd control and temporary barriers near the track to keep spectators from the rail right-of-way.
President Garvey and trustees discussed outreach and impacts to residences on the new course. Valdez said Cycle Brookfield will canvas affected houses, send mailed notices and provide maps, as in prior years. The village budget memo attached to the agenda estimated the village’s expense at $25,000; staff said those costs are included in departmental budgets and that no additional board appropriation is required for routine staffing costs.
After discussion, the board indicated consensus to support the alternate route and directed staff to continue working with Cycle Brookfield and Chicago GRIT on details. Valdez said he would sign the contract once the village gives approval; he gave the race date as Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Trustees and staff said the village will finalize crossing locations, vendor access details and volunteer staging as part of pre-event planning and permitting; staff will continue monthly coordination meetings with Cycle Brookfield and Chicago GRIT until the event.
