One of the values the Park District emphasizes is being Community Focused – at the end of the day, it’s all about the community we serve. Improving the accessibility of our parks and facilities for all community members is an important part of maintaining that focus.
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.
Plans for the redevelopment of Conrad Fischer Park playground moved forward at the Monday, February 26 Park Board meeting, with the Board approving the Playground Redevelopment Project and Safety Surfacing Project. The playground plan includes replacing the existing playground with new equipment which allows for more climbing opportunities, providing additional seating, replacing the wood chips with a new unitary surface and constructing a barrier around the playground. Modern, green and blue equipment will be installed and be designed for the 2-5 age group.
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.
Installed in 2008, the two existing synthetic turf sports fields at Berens Park are popular sites for soccer, football and lacrosse. However, after ten years of use, replacement is 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.
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.
Maintaining the parking lots and paths at District parks helps visitors access the parks safely and is an important task that aligns with the District’s goal of maintaining amenities.
At the February 12, 2018 board meeting, the Park Board approved a bid of $195,415 for a paving, seal coating and striping project for the west parking lot of Berens Park as well as the parking stalls along Oaklawn Avenue. The work will also entail repaving deteriorating paths at Conrad Fischer Park.
The Bicentennial Fountain and its surrounding area in Wild Meadows Trace, will receive some improvements in spring 2018, just in time for residents to enjoy the space this coming summer.
In an effort to make accessing Park Board documents more streamlined and user-friendly, Park Board meeting agendas, minutes and related material will now be available electronically through Board Docs.
This cloud-based service improves the District’s governance processes and its communication with the community, while saving staff time and taxpayer dollars. The easy-to-use service allows immediate publishing of Board meeting documents and policies, giving community users quick access to the most up-to-date information.
At the Monday, November 14 meeting of the Elmhurst Park District Board of Park Commissioners, members of the Elmhurst Garden Club presented a check to the District for $3,000 raised during the annual Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire. The money will be used for plantings at park signs throughout the District with additional funds being used for the Recreation Assistance program which allows disadvantaged Elmhurst families to participate in recreational programs.
On Saturday, November 4, members of the Elmhurst Park District Board of Park Commissioners gathered to officially welcome the community to the new Plunkett Park playground. Unfortunately, due to storms, the grand reopening was moved inside to Courts Plus where the Board along with Executive Director Jim Rogers cut the ribbon with view of the new playground behind them.
Visitors to Berens Park and East End Park will soon have more room to run, play and picnic. Green space will be added to both parks this fall as part of the Park District’s goal to improve and maintain open space for Elmhurst residents.
Two single family properties recently acquired by the Park District, 447 W. Armitage Avenue (located adjacent to Berens Park) and 207 N. Hampshire Avenue (located northeast of East End Park), will be demolished and restored to open space during the week of October 10, 2017.
The Park Board approved a plan to ban tobacco use on all District property at the Monday, August 28, 2017 Park Board Meeting. Sugar Creek Golf Course and paid rentals at Wilder Mansion are exempt from the ban.
The approved ban comes after discussion at the March 13, 2017 Park Board Meeting, where Board Members directed staff to draft an amendment to the District’s Park and Facility Use Ordinance and to create an implementation and enforcement plan for a potential ban.
If you've strolled the Illinois Prairie Path in Elmhurst recently, you may have noticed a construction project underway at The Depot. This fall, the old pavers, which were uneven and beginning to chip, are being replaced with new ones, which will provide a continuous, smooth surface and improve ADA accessibility.
The Elmhurst Park District held a public meeting on Thursday, July 27 to welcome feedback from the community on the conversion of property related to Golden Meadows Park. Recently, Park District commissioners approved the purchase of the former trailer park property at 0S761 Old York Road that would replace the portion of Golden Meadows Park deeded to the City back in April to assist in the City’s stormwater management efforts. A smaller portion of land at 207 N. Hampshire Ave. would also be part of the conversion process.
This past April, the Elmhurst Park District deeded a portion of land at Golden Meadows Park to the City of Elmhurst as part of an Intergovernmental Agreement to assist the City in its efforts to address stormwater detention. Two properties recently considered for purchase by the District will be used for public outdoor recreation as part of a conversion process required by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources related to the agreement.
From fall 2016 to early summer 2017, the Elmhurst Park District undertook the Vision 2020 process to update its current Comprehensive and Strategic Plans, which conclude at the end of 2017. Led by The Lakota Group, the planning team for the Vision 2020 process completed the Vision 2020 Plan key findings and draft final document based on the outcomes of the engage, analyze, envision, and implement phases of the process.
At the June 12 Park Board meeting, the financial audit for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 was approved. The financial activity is presented in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles and has been audited in accordance by Lauterbach & Amen, LLP. The Elmhurst Park District continues to maintain sound financial position with $43.4 million in total assets at the end of 2016. Further details of the District’s net position and statements of activity can be found in the 2016 Comprehensive Financial Report.
At its June 26 meeting, the Elmhurst Park District Board of Park Commissioners passed a resolution to formally commit the District’s continued practices of working with the DuPage Monarch Project and being a leader in the maintaining and promoting of monarch habitats throughout Elmhurst.
The decline of the monarch butterfly has raised public awareness in calling for organizations to help protect these species and foster habitats for monarchs and other pollinators.