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.
Monday, July 13 was a historic moment for Elmhurst Park District, as the District unveiled and dedicated Elmhurst’s first new park in more than three decades. The Park Board and District staff hosted a Virtual Park Dedication on Facebook to celebrate and reveal the park's name.
This being the year of the District's 100th anniversary, the name, Centennial Park, reflects back with pride on the last 100 years of the District while looking ahead toward the future with hope and optimism.
The public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Park District operations and its ability to provide programs, facilities, and services to the community. These short-term effects will likely have long-term implications for the District and the Elmhurst community. Therefore, the Park Board is refocusing its current strategy to address the Vision 2020 large-scale project priorities identified by the community as high priorities.
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.
At the November 25, 2019 meeting of the Elmhurst Park District Board of Park Commissioners, the Board heard results of a voter survey conducted by aQity Research & Insights regarding the District’s Vision 2020 large-scale projects.
Thank you to everyone who attended one of Elmhurst Park District’s recent Vision 2020 Open Houses and offered feedback regarding the six large-scale projects.
On Monday, November 25, discussion of Vision 2020 will continue during the Park Board Meeting. The Board will review the results of a voter survey regarding a possible referendum. The public is welcomed to attend the meeting, which takes place at the Administrative Office boardroom, 375 W. First St., at 7 p.m.
On October 21, 2019 Park Board President Vince Spaeth, along with Executive Director Jim Rogers, gave the State of the Park District address to highlight 2019 accomplishments. View the presentation, which gives an overview of Vision 2020 as the District heads into its 100th anniversary next year. Visit the Vision 2020 website to learn more.
Drop-in at our Vision 2020 Open House and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
This time and location of this Open House is:
Drop-in at our Vision 2020 Open House and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
This time and location of this Open House is:
Tuesday, November 5
6-8 p.m.
Wagner Community Center
Drop-in at our Vision 2020 Open House and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
This time and location of this Open House is:
Tuesday, November 5
9:30 a.m.-Noon
Wagner Community Center
Drop-in at our Vision 2020 Open House and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
This time and location of this Open House is:
Monday, November 4
5-7 p.m.
Courts Plus
Drop-in at our Vision 2020 Open House and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
This time and location of this Open House is:
Monday, November 4
9-11 a.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Courts Plus
Drop-in at our Vision 2020 Open House and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
This time and location of this Open House is:
Saturday, November 2
8-10 a.m.
Courts Plus
Drop-in at our Vision 2020 Open House and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
This time and location of this Open House is:
Friday, November 1
10 a.m.-Noon
The Abbey
At the October 14 Park Board meeting, the Board approved a contract with V3 Companies Ltd. to perform additional assessments at 837 S. Riverside Drive. The property located at the intersection of Route 83 and Riverside Drive, also known as the Kieft Brothers property, is 16.4 acres divisible over two adjacent lots and is the planned location of a potential indoor sports facility.
Drop-in at one of the Park District's upcoming Vision 2020 Open House dates and give us your feedback! Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Park District used your input to shape six potential projects. During the Open House, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the six potential Vision 2020 large-scale projects and ask questions.
"Input from the community is the foundation of the Vision 2020 Plan," says Executive Director, Jim Rogers.
Addressing park drainage and standing water issues is a project Elmhurst Park District intends to tackle in 2020. Steps toward achieving that goal were made at the most recent Park Board meeting.
Community feedback gathered in 2016 and 2017 rated District parks in “fair” condition overall on maintenance and upkeep. The District’s Vision 2020 Plan, formed based on that feedback, includes improved condition and maintenance of parks and amenities as one of its primary goals. The improvement of drainage would substantially improve park conditions for visitors.
At the September 23, 2019 meeting of the Elmhurst Park District Board of Park Commissioners, the board approved a contract to purchase a 16-acre site located at 837 Riverside Drive as the potential home of a new indoor sports facility as part of Vision 2020. The purchase price is $15 million, and the contract is contingent on a successful March 2020 referendum. Park District staff will now begin the due diligence process.
At the September 9 meeting of the Elmhurst Park District Board of Commissioners, staff presented the implementation plans and financial options for addressing Vision 2020 large-scale projects. The six projects, which can be viewed at vision2020.epd.org, were a direct result of community feedback. After reviewing the financial plans, the Park Board decided to pursue a voter survey that will determine the level of community support to fund the six projects through a referendum.