Two seats for a six-year term on the Elmhurst Park District Board of Commissioners are up for election in the Consolidated Election on April 2, 2019. Candidates may pick up packets at the Elmhurst Park District Administrative Office at 375 W. First St., from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Candidate petitions or certificates of nomination will be accepted beginning December 10, 2018 through December 17, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Monday, August 13, Elmhurst Park District and Elmhurst College representatives came together to celebrate the completion of the recently renovated turf fields at Berens Park. The fields have proven themselves to be mutually beneficial to both organizations and the Elmhurst community as a whole and are a great tribute to the partnership between the two entities.

“The Elmhurst Park District Board and staff look forward to continuing to work with Elmhurst College in the future as we identify additional opportunities to partner,” said Park District Executive Director Jim Rogers.

The Berens Park Synthetic Turf Project is completed and the fields will reopen the week of July 9, allowing summer camps and team programs to again make use of the fields. The project, begun in early June, moved swiftly and was completed ahead of schedule.

After ten years of use, replacement was necessary to continue to provide a safe and functional surface for play and to meet the high demand for field usage, by both the Park District and affiliate athletic groups.

Based on feedback from residents during the Vision 2020 process, one of the amenities most desired is a dog park. And now is your chance to tell us what you'd like to see! You're invited to a planning open house on Thursday, July 12 from 5-8 p.m. at The Abbey, 407 W. St. Charles Road. It will be an open house format so drop in any time and let us know what you'd like to see in a dog park!

At the March 12, 2018 Park Board meeting, Park District staff and the Board’s ad hoc IT committee provided updates regarding the District’s registration software, RecTrac from Vermont Systems, Inc. (VSI). The software ran at an unacceptably slow rate of speed during registration on February 24, 2018, causing concern amongst residents trying to sign up for programs.

As the home to many Park District programs, including dance, preschool and gymnastics, it’s important that Wagner Community Center is maintained to ensure a safe recreation space for the community. An upcoming roof restoration project will contribute to keeping the building properly maintained. At the March 12, 2018 Park Board meeting, the Board approved restoring the existing roof system over the registration and staff offices, classrooms and Multipurpose Room A at the Wagner Community Center.

Visitors to the Salt Creek Park softball field will soon have a new way to practice their swing, as the Park Board approved the installation of batting cages in the park at the February 24 Park Board Meeting.

This spring, residents can look forward to new trees coming to Park District parks. As the Park District works to maintain and update existing parks, open space and amenities, it realizes that the shade, beauty and environmental benefits trees provide are an important part of a park visitor's experience. At the February 12, 2018 board meeting, the Park Board approved a bid of $22,702 to plant 82 trees throughout the parks.