Golden Meadows Stormwater Detention Project Approved by Park Board

At the Park Board meeting on July 25, 2016 the Board unanimously approved Resolution R-02-16 to approve the terms of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City of Elmhurst and the Elmhurst Park District for the construction, operation and maintenance of stormwater improvements in Golden Meadows Park.

Previously, on July 12, 2016 the Park District received verbal approval from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to the proposed concept plans and terms of the IGA for Golden Meadows Park. This approval was vital for the project to move forward as the Golden Meadows Park property was purchased with the help of IDNR funds which prohibit land use for stormwater detention. Following this, on July 18, at the request of IDNR, the District sent a formal written request regarding the Golden Meadows project.  Later that same day, the City Council approved the Golden Meadows Park IGA by a unanimous vote of 11-0.

Now that an agreement has been reached, appraisals will be completed for the property and the process of deeding the land to the City of Elmhurst will follow.  The Park District will also begin to look for suitable replacement park land. 

“We are pleased that the agreement has been reached and that the residents in this area of the community will have forthcoming flood relief.  When you couple this with the IGA approved for York Commons Park on February 22, 2016, 58 homes will be protected from future 100-year flood events.  It has taken many months to reach agreement but the Park Board has remained committed to helping the City of Elmhurst with resident flooding problems and believes that both agreements reflect both parties’ commitment to the residents of Elmhurst,” stated Executive Director Jim Rogers. 

The City of Elmhurst is planning to break ground at York Commons in August of this year with completion of the project by yearend. The exact timeline for completion of the Golden Meadows Park stormwater detention project will be determined in the weeks ahead with work expected to begin this fall.