Voters on Nov. 5 approved a referendum for nearly $90 million for upgrades and improvements to Elmhurst Park District facilities, and construction of a brand-new 127,250-square-foot Joanne B. Wagner Community Center building—which is currently 32,000 square feet.
Park district Executive Director Jim Rogers said the unofficial tally shows that 57 percent of voters cast “yes” votes, with 43 percent casting “no” votes, adding that official results will not be available “until the county completes their canvass, 21 days after the election date.”
According to the park district, the last referendum was held in 1971—when voters approved a $3.9 million bond referendum for land acquisition and development—and now park district facilities are in need of modernization to meet the needs of the Elmhurst community.
Currently, nearly $85 million is earmarked for the Wagner Community Center, in part because “Our current community center is a 1950s-era school building,” Rogers pointed out.
The park district’s website noted that there is a need for modernization and for increased waiting, viewing and lobby space, as well as improvements to exterior areas and also for accessibility.
According to a post-election release issued by the park district, the proposed community center would contain a free three-lane walking/jogging track; a gymnasium for pickleball, basketball, volleyball and other sports; an artificial turf field for soccer, football, baseball and other sports; larger spaces for dance and gymnastics programs; flexible multi-purpose spaces for programming and community events; an indoor play area for children; and dedicated early childhood and preschool spaces with a secure entrance.
In addition to a new community center, the release indicates that other upgrades include improving, equipping and maintaining the park district’s parks and facilities; constructing a community band shell at Wilder Park; adding permanent heated restrooms at three parks and along the Illinois Prairie Path; and converting a grass field to artificial turf at Berens Park.
Broken down, the figures are:
• New Wagner Community Center ($84,950,000)
• Wilder Park: Community band shell with year-round heated restrooms ($2,500,000)
• Crestview Park: Year-round heated restroom building ($500,000)
• Eldridge Park: Year-round heated restroom building ($500,000)
• Prairie Path: Year-round heated restroom building ($500,000)
• Artificial turf at existing field in Berens Park ($1,000,000)
“We went through an extensive planning process,” Rogers recounted, adding that the park district spent over a year collecting input from the community.
He pointed to the Elevate Elmhurst Parks initiative which, according to the district, is “a collaborative community-wide effort to define Elmhurst Park District priorities and guide future planning efforts. In 2023, the district engaged the community in a comprehensive and strategic planning initiative seeking to update the district’s previous plan and guide decision-making for the next five years.
“The final Elevate Elmhurst Parks plan was approved at the Feb. 26, 2024, park board meeting.”
Also before the referendum, the park district conducted a voter survey back in April, held several referendum open houses, and created a list of frequently-asked questions for the public.
In the release, park board President Kevin Graf remarked: “Our residents have been an essential part of this process from the beginning, sharing their vision during the Elevate Elmhurst Parks planning, providing feedback on projects during multiple open houses, answering our voter survey and then voting.”
“We are pleased to be able to deliver their vision,” he added.
The park district timeline includes temporarily relocating programs and services from the Wagner Center, and starting construction on the new center beginning in 2026. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027.
The new band shell, heated restrooms and artificial turf are slated to be completed from 2026-28, according to the park district.
Park district figures show that with the passage of the referendum, the owner of a $500,000 home will pay roughly $317 more a year.
“We’re very excited, we’re very pleased with the results, that the community has made this choice,” Rogers commented. “This is all driven by the public and our efforts to meet the community’s needs.”
Visit www.epd.org for more information.
