The West Chicago Park District is nearing the end of formulating its new master plan, the first in 15 years, and wants the community to help in the project.
The district will host two public forums in the coming months to help gain feedback about what residents want from the district. Previous forums and surveys have already identified several areas in need of improvement and the district plans to move forward with up to $1.5 million in renovations, including aquatic center improvements, a skate park, a splash pad and playgrounds.
“We have a lot of things on the front burner,” Park Board President Frank Lenertz said.
District officials began looking into updating the master plan shortly after new Park Director Gary Major came on board in late May. The new plan will outline the direction and goals of the district for the next five to eight years.
“Like any business we need a picture of where we’re going to go,” Major said. “Our mission here is to identify some of the leisure needs in the community and determine how we can fill those needs.”
Lenertz said the board has already approved $1 million for upgrades and new construction called for in the plan and could approve up to $500,000 more at its Tuesday, Nov. 13, meeting.
Improvements include a major overhaul of the Prairie Oaks Family Aquatic Center, including doubling the size of the concession stand and adding recreational features, building a $40,000 play area at Reed-Keppler Park, constructing a skate park and splash pad and replacing a tennis court at Pioneer Park with a three-on-three soccer field.
Most of the funding will come from a combination of grants and district refinancing, Lenertz said, and should not require a tax increase.
“We want to get everything done rather than piecemealing it,” he said.
The master plan, expected to be completed early next year, will also identify pieces of land the district could purchase in the future and lay out tentative plans for an extensive outdoor recreational center.
“By this time next year, we’ll probably be finalizing go-ahead plans for the (recreation) center,” Lenertz said.
