Now that a sidewalk connecting Timber Trails and the Ridgewood subdivisions is closer to becoming a reality, Western Springs residents from both subdivisions have mobilized efforts to make the project go away.

Meanwhile, the Western Springs Village Board is following through with a decision made by the former board three years ago to connect the two neighborhoods.

At Monday’s Village Board meeting, residents voiced their opposition to the plan to build about 150 yards of sidewalk that begin on Linden Avenue in the Ridgewood subdivision and end on Pin Oak Drive in Timber Trails.

The issue stems from an annexation agreement with Timber Trails developer, Dartmoor Homes, made in 2005. The plan was to build a connecting route that could be used by children traveling to and from La Grange Highlands Middle School.

Ridgewood homeowner Arthur Poletti presented a petition of nearly 300 signatures to the board in May opposing the sidewalk plan, prompting trustees Marcia Buell and John Madell to reopen discussions.

Village President Jack Lynch said the issue was thoroughly discussed in public hearings on the annexation agreement.

“It wasn’t really controversial at all,” Lynch said. “It was more the sidewalk that got the attention. Ridgewood was well represented at those hearings.”

Poletti, whose property runs just west of the proposed sidewalk, said Wednesday most people in the area knew nothing about the fact a sidewalk was gong to be cutting through their property.

“Now they are trying to make it sound like everyone knew about it; that’s a bunch of baloney,” Poletti said

Realtor Dave Ricordati, a former Westchester trustee, said while he appreciated the fact Village Board members had a thankless task ahead of them, he was convinced the sidewalk would have a severe impact on property values to those homes closest to the proposed sidewalk site.

“I don’t know anybody here; I just sell homes,” he said. “If the sidewalk impacts homes in a negative real estate value, which I believe it will, it’s a problem.”