After voters on Nov. 5 gave an overwhelming thumbs-up to the La Grange Park District’s $13.86 million referendum, many of the district’s facilities will be getting some upgrades.
Officials said they were glad residents care about open space and recreation in the La Grange area.
“It tells me the community’s behind it,” said Park Board President Brian Opyd. ” That was exciting, because it was a long process — 18 months, two years — going through all the planning, coming up with something we could propose.
“To see that we got overwhelming support tells me that we really met the needs of the community.”
A series of public forums hosted by the district seemed to ease residents’ concerns, and preliminary results from the Nov. 5 election indicate 74.4% of voters answered yes to the Park District’s ballot question.
“To me, that’s a signal that it’s something the community really wanted,” Opyd said.
Next, he said, district officials will start implementing the proposals outlined in presentations leading up to the election and on the district website at pdlg.org.
Opyd said that the District intended to adhere to specific details of the proposed plan.
“That’s largely what we’re going to do, but obviously when we go through the actual execution, there might be some minor adjustments,” he said. “But the plan is to do as close as we can to what was presented.”
The planned work includes more than 50 new trees to be planted at area parks and the Community Center, which is also getting a new pergola.
At Denning Park, new restrooms will be added along with fencing for the soccer field along Willow Springs Road and expansion of the disc golf course.
Gilbert Park plans include adding a “multi-generational game space,” ping-pong table and plantings in and around the parking lot.
A new shelter and plantings are planned for Rotary Park, a new restroom building with four stalls and fencing are planned for Sedgwick Park and more playground equipment is set for Spring Park.
A proposal for synthetic turf playing field for Gordon Park, the subject of criticism from members of the community due to environmental concerns, has been eliminated.
Opyd said none of the plans call for trees to be removed, and a timeline for work to begin is fluid, though some is planned for 2025.
“Obviously we want to start as quickly as we can,” he said. “We will start on Waiola Park in 2025, and at our upcoming board meeting, we’ll probably start talking about the schedule.”
Park District Executive Director Jenny Bechtold was happy with the vote.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “I’m really happy that the residents trust us with the investment in the parks, and it’s exciting that we will be able to update everything so that everybody can play in our parks.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
