Here’s what’s happening at the Elmhurst Park District
By Chris Fox
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst Park District Board held a regular meeting on September 10 at the district’s administrative office at 375 W. First Street. All seven board members attended the meeting, with Commissioner Doug Ennis participating via telephone.
Five residents spoke during the public participation segment at the beginning of the meeting. The residents urged the board to consider going pesticide-free. The district currently does not use pesticides at Van Voorst Park. At the end of the meeting, board members said they would have continued discussions about the use of pesticides on district property.
More talk about registration software
The meeting included a discussion about the district’s registration software—RecTrac—from Vermont Systems, Inc. (VSI). The system ran at an unacceptably slow rate of speed during registrations in February and August. According to the district, it is now readily apparent that VSI is not currently capable of meeting the needs of the Elmhurst community. The district is working to identify a different way to process the first day of registration.
Elmhurst Park District Executive Director Jim Rogers stated during the meeting that the district is reaching out to other park districts to learn how they handle the first day of registration. Rogers also said that several residents have suggested staggering registration dates for different programs. Rogers said the district continues to seek feedback from the community. The district, he said, is also drafting a message to the community about the issue.
Board weighs future of Lizzadro Museum bldg.
The meeting also included a discussion about the district’s plans for the Lizzadro Museum Building. In September 2017, the Lizzadro Museum announced its intent to vacate Wilder Park to move to Oak Brook in the fall of 2019. According to terms of the district’s 1961 agreement with the Lizzadro Family Foundation, if the building ceases to serve the purpose for which it was intended, the building shall become the property of the park district.
The board discussed its potential options for the property at a meeting in April. Those options include demolition and returning the area to open green space, demolition and construction of a new building for district purposes, reusing the current building for district purposes, or reusing it for non-direct district purposes, such as allowing a community group or non-profit organization to use the building.
After expert analysis, building deemed unusable for park needs
Following the April discussion, the district contracted with an architecture firm to provide an analysis of the museum building, which is nearly 60 years old. According to that firm, a total cost for remodeling and improvements, including life safety improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance measures, is estimated at about $1.7 million.
Because of that cost, staff recommends that it is not in the community’s best interest to consider a capital investment in the building. Staff recommends eliminating the option of redeveloping the building for district purposes.
Spaeth: residents should be involved in process, decision
Board president Vince Spaeth stated during the Sept. 10 meeting that the museum building will probably be torn down, but the district owes it to the community to go through a process of examining all options for what to do with the building. Board members noted that they still have time to consider their options, as the building won’t be vacated for about one year. Rogers said he has not heard from any outside agencies who had expressed an interest in using the building.
Funds for final engineering at Sugar Creek approved
Board members voted unanimously during the meeting to approve spending $60,000 for final engineering services for the restoration of Sugar Creek—the body of water that runs through the Sugar Creek Golf Course, which is jointly owned by the district and the Village of Villa Park. According to the district, the creek has been affected by several problems, including shoreline erosion, sediment deposit accumulations, degraded water quality, carp populations and algae bloom. The shoreline retention wall is also failing in many areas. Additionally, the creek serves as an irrigation source to the golf course, which opened in 1975. Failing to address the creek’s current problems could result in the need to pay for irrigation.
The total cost for restoration of the creek is expected to be about $1.5 million. There are reportedly grant opportunities that could potentially fund a large portion of the cost.
The total cost for engineering services with Living Waters Consultants, Inc. is $120,000. The district’s portion of that fee would be half of that amount—$60,000. Rogers said the Village of Villa Park is on board conceptually with the plan to obtain the engineering services, and to pursue grant opportunities.
Election in 2019 coming soon
Near the end of the meeting, Rogers noted that packets are available for residents interested in running for the two seats available on the board in the election of April 2, 2019. The six-year terms of Spaeth and Commissioner Patricia Morissette-Moll expire next year.
The board will hold its next meeting on Sept. 24.
