EDGEWATER — The plan to build a boardwalk connecting Edgewater and Rogers Park along the lakefront failed to garner enough signatures to be considered in an advisory referendum in November, its organizer said.

But Morry Matson, who launched the campaign, vows to keep fighting.

"Watch for our 2015 petition," he said.

Matson's plan is to build the pathway in four sections over about a mile, beginning with a short promenade from the Kathy Osterman Beach House to the end of the lakefront bike path at Ardmore Avenue. Then it would stretch across the sand to Lane Beach Park at Thorndale Avenue.

Ben Woodard discusses the boardwalk plan:

That much has been proposed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) — and has gotten mixed reviews from protective condo dwellers, even though the city already has set aside $1.5 million for the $4 million project.

Supporters of a plan to build a boardwalk and promenade connecting Edgewater and Rogers Park rally outside politicians' offices last week. View Full Caption Morry Matson

Matson's idea goes beyond that of the city's.

The lighted pathway — split by a median of small shrubs, with one side for pedestrians and the other for bicycles — would continue as a raised boardwalk from Thorndale to Berger Park, then to Devon Avenue Park and the "Jesus Statue" on Loyola University's campus.

About a dozen people attended a public meeting, hosted by Matson, earlier this month. Last week, Matson led a rally outside of politicians' offices on North Broadway.

Matson submitted 1,483 signatures to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, said Jim Allen, the board's spokesman. An additional 151 names, collected online, also were submitted, but they did not count toward the total because they didn't include signatures, Allen said.

Matson's application and petition also were not submitted properly, Allen said. He said it was unclear whether the actual question was posed to those who signed the petition.

Matson would need "well over" 1,500 signatures to be placed on a ballot, he said. The number of signatures needed are calculated by taking 8 percent of residents in the area who voted in the most recent gubernatorial election.

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