Friday afternoon The Riverwalk Commission and the Naperville Riverwalk Foundation unveiled the newly re-designed Millennium Wall Donor Plaques at the Riverwalk Amphitheater, located along the Riverwalk near the intersection of Eagle Street and Jackson Avenue.
Originally constructed in summer 1999, the Millennium Wall was part of Celebration 2000, providing a lasting legacy for the community. Nearly 2,000 donors contributed $500,000 to help pay for the construction. All their names appeared on the wall. Last year, however, it was discovered that sections of the wall were separating making the wall unstable. In August 2010, the Naperville City Council approved the reconstruction of the Millennium Wall.
According to Karen Solomon, president of the Riverwalk Foundation, no taxpayer money was used to fund the wall. The 12 bronze plaques cost an estimated $33,000 and included all the donors' names from the original wall.
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Guadalupe Priebe, a 20 year resident of Naperville, was one of those original donors and attended the dedication ceremony.
"Naperville has such a rich history of tradition that makes me proud to live here," Priebe said. "This wall is a great way to remember that pride."
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Mayor George Pradel led the dedication ceremony that included remarks from members of Celebration 2000, the Riverwalk Foundation, the Riverwalk Commission and the Park District.
Bettye Wehrli, whose late husband Jim played an instrumental role in the renovation and revitalization of downtown Naperville, was in attendance as well. Jim Wehrli is forever immortalized in a sculpture of sculpture of two hands clasped in a handshake, outside the , on Jefferson.
"The Millennium Wall provides a beautiful backdrop and is a lasting memorial to not only the people who live here now, but also for future generations," Bettye Wehrli said. "Even if your name isn't on the wall, chances are you will know somebody on there."
Signage located near the wall explains where donors can find their names on the plaques, in relation to the old wall.
