Chamberlain Path | Strollthreeoaks

What's going on in Chamberlain Path?

What’s Happening Today at Chamberlain Path?

Chamberlain Path is the artistic green space between Village Hall and Commune+Market, offering a scenic connection between downtown’s unique shops and the entertainment venues on Generations Drive.

The installation of a rain garden last fall was the first step in revitalizing this space—improving stormwater management, preventing erosion, and creating a natural habitat for pollinators and wildlife. But that was just the beginning! With so much untapped potential, we’re working toward transforming Chamberlain Path into a vibrant, year-round community gathering space.

The Parks & Recreation Board and Downtown Development Authority (DDA) are leading this initiative together—our first major collaboration that unites economic development with environmental stewardship.

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we have great ideas for this space!

Why Now?

The DDA’s role is to drive economic growth for Three Oaks businesses, while the Parks & Recreation Board focuses on enhancing our public spaces. The rain garden installation sparked a bigger vision for how we could better use the surrounding area—a space that was underutilized, in disrepair, and not contributing to the vitality of downtown. By working together, we saw an opportunity to enhance both economic and environmental sustainability, benefiting residents, visitors, and businesses alike.

This project is more than just aesthetics—it’s about making downtown more welcoming, accessible, and engaging. Our hope is that this will be the first of many collaborative projects that benefit the entire community.

Why Focus on Chamberlain Path?

Chamberlain Path is already a key pedestrian corridor, linking Three Oaks’ eateries and shops with entertainment spaces. While the path itself is inviting, the adjacent driveway was largely unused, the parking lot behind Village Hall is in disrepair, and the surrounding area lacked a cohesive identity.

The drive connecting Elm St and Generations was removed, then rain garden added but there were no plans to continue to renovate the other half off the road.

By revitalizing this space, we can create a destination that enhances the overall downtown experience, providing both functional improvements (like public restrooms and better lighting) and interactive elements (like seating, games, and events). A more engaging Chamberlain Path will encourage foot traffic, boost local businesses, and create more opportunities for community connection.

How Has the Community Been Involved?

Community feedback has been at the center of this project. In fall 2024, we launched a community engagement campaign to gather input on the types of activities and amenities residents would like to see.

Ways We Collected Feedback:

Trick or Treating Event: Residents (including kids and families) voted for their top five activity preferences using a points-based sticker system.
Online Survey: Residents could complete the survey at strollthreeoaks.com.
Paper Surveys: We also distributed surveys at the library and Village Hall.
Community Promotion: Social media posts, a press release, and posters in local businesses helped spread the word.

Thanks to these efforts, we received feedback from over 200 residents, ensuring that community voices are shaping this project.

What does the Community want?

Based on the feedback collected, the top-prioritized amenities for the Chamberlain Path expansion are:

Public Restrooms – Multiple restrooms, including an integrated janitor’s closet for maintenance.
Activities Venue – A small covered stage with seating for performances, workshops, fitness classes, and community gatherings.
Walk/Bike Amenities – Bike racks, a water bottle filling station, a dog-walking station, and improved lighting throughout.
Year-Round Seating – A mix of artistic seating and a fire pit to encourage use in all seasons.
Games – Tabletop and oversized yard games to encourage interactive engagement.
Artisan Market Stalls – Open-air vendor stalls with overhead shelter to support local artisans and makers.

Additionally, we plan to add at least two designated handicap parking spaces in the lot behind Village Hall, while increasing amount of lined parking spaces as much as possible. .

Since space is limited, not all amenities may be possible, but we will prioritize based on community preferences, available funding, and infrastructure feasibility (such as water, sewer, and electrical access).

An engineering firm is currently reviewing community engagement data, property schematics, and the ranked list of priorities.

They will develop preliminary engineering designs and cost estimates to determine feasibility.
Simultaneously, we are exploring funding options—including local, state, and federal grants, as well as potential crowdfunding efforts.
The Parks & Rec/DDA committees will take recommended amenities and budget to the Village for approval.

what are the next steps...

Project Timeline

Completed:

✔ August 2024 – Project proposal presented to Village Council, approved to move forward with developing preliminary plans.
✔ Oct–Dec 2024 – Community engagement surveys collected.
✔ Jan 2025 – Community feedback compiled and presented to the Chamberlain Path Committee.
✔ Feb 2025 – Plans reviewed and unanimously approved by the Parks & Recreation Board and DDA.
✔ March 2025 – Ranked list of amenities and property schematics shared with the engineering firm to begin design work.

What’s Next?

Spring 2025 – Engineering firm finalizes a preliminary design and cost estimate. Plans reviewed by the Chamberlain Path Committee, DDA, Planning, & Village Council to determine final steps.
TBD – Implementation timeline will be established once funding and engineering plans are finalized.

What Other Questions Do You Have?

We know that transparency is important, and we’re committed to keeping the community informed. Here are a few additional common questions:

1. How will this project be funded?
The Chamberlain Path Committee is actively pursuing multiple funding sources, including grants, crowdfunding, and other creative financing strategies. The goal is to minimize any financial burden on taxpayers while maximizing available resources.

2. How will parking be affected?
The project aims to preserve as many parking spaces as possible while incorporating necessary improvements. Additional handicap-accessible spots will be added.

3. Will this project take funding away from other parks in town?
No. Chamberlain Path is funded separately from other parks, and improvements at other locations (like Dewey Cannon and Carver Park) are still moving forward.

4. When will construction start?
Construction will not begin until funding is secured and engineering plans are finalized. The timeline will be shared as soon as we have more details.

5. How can I stay updated?
Visit strollthreeoaks.com/chamberlain-path for the latest updates, renderings, and ways to get involved. Follow us on Facebook and instagram

5. What's happening in the other parks?

Watkins Park: A request for bids on repairing and refurbishing Timber Town has started. And there are plans to apply for DNR Recreation Grants in 2026 for 3 pickleball courts.

Dillard Park: A catalpa tree was recently planted to replace a very old one taken down. Purchasing 2 new benches are planned.

Dewey Cannon Park: Plans are underway for installing a permanent restroom. Plans to install environmentally responsible permanent lights on the gazebo are also underway. And two large sized Tulips tree were recently planted in the park. Also, all the trees were mulched for the first time in 2024!

Carver Park: New native shrubs and perennial grasses were planted around the pavilion in 2024. And the Farmers Market is relocating there this season. There are plans to mulch all the trees in the park this year.

Finally, the large green space between the elementary school parking lot and Community Garden was acquired in 2024, and plans are underway to plant several significant trees in the space.