In November 2024, voters approved an Elmhurst Park District referendum to fund a series of park improvements designed to serve the community for generations to come. Among those projects is a bandshell in Wilder Park, intended to bring the community together for musical performances, theater productions, events and more—along with a permanent restroom building to better support park use and events.
Over the past nine months, Board and staff have engaged in a thoughtful and deliberate planning process to develop the Wilder Park South Master Plan, a long-term vision for the southern portion of the park that looks at the overall functionality, accessibility, and future of this historic space. In addition to the bandshell and restroom building, the Board has been considering other elements of the plan, including accessibility, landscaping and future use of the former Lizzadro Museum site, which housed a large privately owned building in the park for decades and now sits vacant.
To ensure decisions were well-informed, the Board considered extensive community input gathered through open houses, public comments shared at Board meetings, surveys, and feedback received throughout the referendum education process. These insights were weighed alongside operational needs, event logistics, accessibility requirements, environmental impacts, and long-term park sustainability.
At the January 12 Park Board meeting, the seven-member Board voted on nine elements of the master plan, including the bandshell location. In a 4–3 vote, the east lawn area – the site that had been proposed during referendum planning – was selected. This decision was made in the context of the entire master plan, reflecting the Board’s responsibility to balance community input, expert analysis, and the overall vision for Wilder Park South.
With key master plan components now confirmed, Park District staff and design teams are developing preliminary designs and cost estimates. These materials will be presented to the Park Board on January 26. Once finalized, the community will have an opportunity to view the complete master plan at the Wilder Park South Master Plan Informational Open House on Thursday, February 5, from 5:30–7:00 pm at Wilder Mansion before the Park Board is scheduled to vote on the plan on Monday, February 9.
For more information about the referendum-funded projects, visit epd.org/referendum.
