At their January 10 meeting, the Park Board approved payments toward the replacement of the roof at the City of Elmhurst's Maintenance Facility at 985 S. Riverside Drive, based on an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) which exists between the Park District and the City.

Learn about District projects, accomplishments and future plans at the upcoming Virtual State of the Park District Address at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17.

Presented by Park Board President, Vince Spaeth and  Executive Director, Jim Rogers, the address will also highlight the impact of the pandemic on the District and progress on the Vision 2020 comprehensive plan, including DEI initiatives such as the Inclusion Vision Stand and Gender Data Collection Inclusivity.

At the July 26 Park Board meeting, the Board approved the purchase of playground equipment for Centennial Park. The Master Plan for the park was approved earlier this summer and staff intended to purchase equipment in October. However, equipment vendor Landscape Structures, announced an 8% increase in pricing effective the week of July 26, 2021. In light of this, staff recommended ordering equipment now, prior to the price increase.

The Elmhurst Park District Board of Commissioners has reached unanimous consensus to pursue eminent domain against a developer who is attempting to force the Park District to relocate a section of the Salt Creek Greenway Trail in the Pick Subdivision. As part of the DuPage County trail system, this path has been operated and maintained by the Park District for public use since 2010.

Retiring Park Board Commissioner, Doug Ennis, was recognized at the April 26, 2021 Park Board meeting for his six years of service to the board.

During his tenure, Ennis served on the Board of the Elmhurst Art Museum and People for Elmhurst Parks, as well as committee and liaison roles in Finance, Policy and Registration Management Software Ad hoc.

The Park District’s 2021 Budget reflects a year of transition as part of a slow and gradual recovery including the reopening and expanding of facilities, programs and services as the COVID-19 vaccine becomes wider-spread, mandated capacity and social distancing restrictions are lifted, and more participants become comfortable to return to indoor programs and services.

This week, Elmhurst Community Unit District 205 and Elmhurst Park District finalized plans for the purchase and sale of the property at 407 W. St Charles Road, commonly known as The Abbey. The $1.6 million deal makes room for the eventual relocation of the Park District’s senior center and a permanent solution for the York High School Transition Center. Both entities have long identified the need for larger space for the respective programs. Closing will take place in February 2021.

Two recent decisions by the Board of Park Commissioners will assist in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 related expenses on the District.

At the September 14 meeting, the Park Board approved entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement with DuPage County to have the opportunity to receive reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses.

Plans are coming together for the redevelopment of Eldridge Park’s east playground, which Elmhurst Park District intends to replace in 2020. The Park Board approved playground concepts at the Monday, January 13 Park Board meeting.

In order to gather feedback and engage the community in the playground’s concept, the Park District performed in-person surveys at Eldridge Park during the spring and summer of 2019 and held a Party in the Park Input Meeting last August to see what changes the community was interested in seeing at the park.