Shorewood to Pilot Street Closure for Trick-or-Treat 2025

Halloween in Shorewood may look a little different in 2025. After months of discussion, the Village Board has approved a pilot program to temporarily close a stretch of North Morris Boulevard during trick-or-treat hours, giving kids a safer and more festive space to collect candy.

Why Morris Boulevard?

Neighbors and trustees alike raised concerns about traffic on Morris during past Halloweens. Cars often line both sides of the street, leaving little room to maneuver, and drivers frustrated by congestion sometimes get impatient. Trustees Arthur Ircink (a Morris resident) and Jon Couto (a former Morris resident) both noted the danger, suggesting that a temporary closure could make the street safer for trick-or-treaters.

What the Pilot Program Includes

The Village Board approved a one-year pilot that will follow Shorewood’s block party permitting process, but with special conditions since Morris is a busy arterial road.

Key features:

• Street closure between Capitol Drive and Olive Street, with barricades and heavy vehicles placed at designated intersections.

• Resident-led planning — a block party “captain” must apply for the permit, organize logistics, and coordinate with neighbors.

• Safety protocols — the captain will meet with the police chief before the event, and vehicle keys must be accessible in case of emergency.

• Neighborhood notification — residents along Morris and nearby connecting streets will be informed in advance, with signatures required to confirm support.

Community Input and Concerns

Some neighbors supported the closure as a way to keep kids safe and bring the community together. Others worried about traffic being diverted to nearby streets like Woodburn, which is also popular for trick-or-treating. Trustees emphasized the importance of balancing safety with logistics and ensuring the event doesn’t become an unmanageable “festival.”

What Happens Next

The program will run only if a neighborhood organizer steps up to file the permit by October 1, 2025. If approved and successful, the pilot could pave the way for more multi-block closures in future years, giving Shorewood families safer, more walkable spaces to celebrate Halloween.

For now, families can look forward to a unique, community-focused trick-or-treating experience on Morris Boulevard — a chance for kids to run from house to house without dodging cars, and for neighbors to turn the street into a pedestrian-only Halloween zone.

Pedestrian safety has been an important topic in Shorewood. Shorewood’s new Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, adopted in March 2025, focuses on making Shorewood safer and more connected for non-motorized transportation. The plan recognizes that streets aren’t just for cars—they should also support pedestrian-friendly, bike-friendly, and transit-friendly infrastructure.