The Elmhurst Park District Board and staff would like to thank everyone who has participated in ongoing engagement activities as part of Elevate Elmhurst Parks planning. Extensive feedback was collected to guide the District’s strategic planning efforts to shape the future of the District and create the Elevate Elmhurst Parks Plan. Whether you took part in the voter survey, attended open houses, submitted a comment card, or are a part of the Elevate Elmhurst Advisory Committee, your feedback has been invaluable.
After collecting responses from more than 1,000 registered voters via a survey, aQity Research is drafting a full report of the findings, which will be presented to the Park Board at their July 22 meeting at 7 p.m. at Wagner Community Center. The public is welcome to attend. The results will then be presented to the Elevate Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from various community groups and demographics.
These results, along with the feedback gathered during other Elevate Elmhurst Parks engagement activities, will help the Park Board determine the next steps in the District’s planning process, including whether to place a referendum question on the November 5 election ballot for voters to decide if they support funding the proposed projects. The deadline to pass this resolution is August 19.
The Elevate Elmhurst Parks Plan, crafted after extensive community input, outlined six key priorities that address areas such as parks, facilities, and programming. Among the recurring themes was the pressing need for modern indoor recreation spaces that reduce program waitlists (over 5,600 people left on a waitlist in 2022). Wagner Community Center, built in the 1950s, was the District’s lowest rated facility and has been repurposed from its original use as an elementary school to accommodate the community’s recreational needs.
To address community priorities, the District proposes a number of projects, including building a new Wagner Community Center with a free indoor walking track, multi-sport indoor turf, indoor courts (for pickleball, basketball, and volleyball), larger gymnastics and dance spaces, and more multi-purpose rooms to address demand for programs and reduce waitlists (in addition to providing community meeting spaces). Other proposed projects include constructing a bandshell in Wilder Park, year-round heated restroom buildings at four locations, and converting a grass field to turf at Berens Park.
Despite being lauded for its financial stewardship, with consecutive accolades including the Government Finance Officers Association’s Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the District faces the challenge of meeting escalating community demands with limited financial resources. With a property tax rate comprising only a nickel of every dollar, the District has one of the lowest rates as compared to other park districts in DuPage County.
To learn more, please visit Elevate Elmhurst Parks.
