Visitors to Breidert Green in downtown Frankfort will soon have access to free public wireless internet. The Village Board on Monday approved the purchase and installation of Wi-Fi equipment to enhance connectivity at the central community gathering space.

The board authorized the expenditure of $18,965 for the project. The new equipment, including routers and antennas, will be installed on the historic Grainery building to provide strong and reliable coverage across the green.

“The project is intended to enhance connectivity for residents and visitors while providing reliable, high-capacity, and secure public internet access during scheduled community events,” said Trustee Maura Rigoni, who presented the proposal.

The village will utilize Urbancom for the hardware, integration, and ongoing maintenance. According to a village memo, the system will feature three separate networks: a time-restricted public access VPN for general use, a secure VPN for municipal operations, and a temporary, high-capacity “Event VPN” for vendors during special events like Fall Fest. The purchase was a recommendation from the Committee of the Whole.

–