This year, the Park District has made addressing its registration software issues a top priority. In July, the outside IT consultant, Noventech, Inc., was hired to help the District select a new software vendor that is capable of meeting the community’s needs.
April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election for Park District Commissioner
Prospective candidates seeking the office of Park Commissioner for the Elmhurst Park District for the Consolidated Election to be held on April 4, 2023 may pick up packets at the Elmhurst Park District Administrative Office at 375 West First Street, Elmhurst, IL beginning September 19, 2022 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. for the office of Park Board Commissioner. Candidate packets are provided as a courtesy of the Elmhurst Park District. Each candidate is urged to seek legal counsel to determine individual requirements for running for elected office.
Potential candidates can begin circulating petitions on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
Candidate petitions or certificates of nomination will be accepted beginning December 12, 2022 through December 19, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
At their August 8 meeting, the Park Board approved the planting of sixty trees this fall. Fall is a great time of year for planting because it gives plants a long time to establish their root systems before the hot summer returns.
This year, the plantings will include shade and evergreen trees. Trees, of course, can provide shade, but they also provide other environmental benefits. Trees that absorb and store a large amount of water, such as the Bald Cypress, will be planted in areas in need of assistance with water absorption.
Sugar Creek Golf Course draws its name from the creek which runs through the property. The creek is an extremely valuable resource that provides open space, aquatic habitat, flood storage, runoff conveyance and recreational opportunities for Elmhurst and Villa Park, which own the golf course jointly.
Centennial Recreation Center (CRC), located at 155 E. St. Charles Road, opened earlier this month and is the new home for senior programming at the Park District. It also is the new home for Metropolitan Family Services DuPage, increasing the visibility and access to this valuable program for seniors in the community.
Several capital projects received the approval to more forward at the Monday, March 14 Park Board meeting, with projects at Eldridge Park, Courts Plus and the Wilder Park Formal Garden scheduled to be completed this year. Together, these projects are a sign of the Park District’s commitment to maintaining current assets and meeting the outdoor amenity needs of the community through maintenance and stewardship.
Upcoming maintenance work at Courts Plus will include the replacement of the roof over the Courts Plus café area, with the project receiving approval at the January 10 Park Board Meeting. Infrastructure projects such as this are a critical part of maintaining the Park District’s existing facilities.
In 2021, the majority of Courts Plus’ roof was replaced, with the plan to complete the project in smaller second and third phases in 2022 and 2026, respectively.
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.
The Park Board recognized and honored the 150th anniversary of Elmhurst University during its December 13, 2021 Park Board meeting, passing a resolution commemorating the milestone. The University was founded on December 6, 1871 and has expanded its impact across the region, the nation and world.
Given the proximity of Wilder Park to the campus, the Park District and University have been next door neighbors for decades and have worked cooperatively in many ways to enhance the lives of students and residents.
Due to severe weather, the Park Board meeting planned for Monday, August 9 has been cancelled.
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.
Master Plans for the expansion of Glos Memorial Park and the development of Centennial Park were approved at the June 28 Park Board meeting. Open houses and surveys were conducted in spring 2021 for both projects, requesting feedback from the community regarding initial concepts. Another round of open houses were offered to give the community a chance to see the Master Plans before they were presented to the Board.
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.
At the Monday, May 10 Park Board meeting, incumbents Kevin Graf and Carolyn Ubriaco were sworn in along with new Commissioner, Meghan Scarsella.
Scarsella’s interest in joining the Board stemmed from her family’s many years of participation in Park District programs, including Sunbeams & Rainbows Preschool, swim lessons at East End Pool and participation in the Impact Dance Company.
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.
Glos Memorial Park has provided open space and formal gardens in downtown Elmhurst, the community’s most densely populated area, since the 1970s. In 2017, the District acquired 135 Palmer Drive, a building adjacent to Glos Memorial Park. This year, the goal is to demolish the building and parking lot, which are in poor condition, and return the area to open space for the community.
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.
Improvements at the newest District park and expansion of green space are just some of the proposed capital projects District staff is planning for in 2021.
Details about potential capital projects were presented at the January 25 Park Board meeting as part of an overview of the 2021 proposed budget.
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.
The Elmhurst Garden Club announced a donation of $1,000 to the Elmhurst Park District at the November 9 Park Board meeting.
The Garden Club has made donations to the Park District for several years, using money raised at their annual Garden Walk and Faire fundraiser. The Garden Walk also funds the club’s scholarship program. However, due to the pandemic, the Garden Walk was cancelled this year, making the Garden Club's donation especially significant given this year's challenges.