GLEN ELLYN — Glen Ellyn residents who live near Lake Ellyn Park have responded to proposed changes to Lenox Road, which borders the park on its west side, by starting a petition against widening the road or adding diagonal parking near the park. The petition now includes about 150 signatures.

"They're paving our paradise and making it into a parking lot," said Carolyn Oesterle, one of the residents leading the drive for signatures.

The village's Capital Improvements Commission is charged with recommending capital projects to the Glen Ellyn Village Board. Right now, the commission is looking at the possibility of widening Lenox Road from 25 to 28 feet and maintaining the parallel parking there currently or narrowing the road to 21 feet to make room for diagonal parking, which would require additional green space from Lake Ellyn Park, said Bob Minix, the village's professional engineer.

Oesterle, who lives on Lake Road near Lenox Road, said she doesn't see a reason for widening the road. Because of the parallel parking now present on the road, drivers have to slow down to pass each other, but she said that's a good thing.

For the Jan. 8 Capital Improvements Commission meeting, Oesterle made a video that showed how Lenox Road's width is comparable to that of other, busier streets in the city.

If anything, she said maybe the village could widen the road by a foot, but overall, those who have signed the petition do not see a reason to change the road.

As for adding diagonal parking, Oesterle said that type of parking can be a safety concern, since visibility is limited when drivers attempt to see oncoming traffic as they pull out of a parking space.

At the commission's next meeting, which will take place 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Civic Center, 535 Duane St., the commission will discuss the proposals to widen the road or add diagonal parking, said Minix, who serves in an advisory capacity on the commission.

The commission will discuss safety issues, costs, the impact of the proposals on area trees and more, with the hope of finalizing a recommendation to the Village Board, Minix said. The recommendation could include one of the options that have been proposed, a combination of them, or no change to the current road, he said.

If the commission votes to recommend a plan at its February meeting, a proposal likely would appear before the board within the next month or two, with potential construction to begin after the Lake Ellyn Park festivities of July 4, Minix said.