The Lake Forest City Council has approved a master plan for a redesigned Northcroft Park, but it may still be years before any changes are made.
On Sept. 16, the City Council signed off on a master plan set to serve as a template for future changes at the park near the intersection of Old Elm Road and Route 41.
Lake Forest officials started considering improving Northcroft in 2019 when a comprehensive plan for all city parks was released indicating some perceived deficiencies at the approximate 30-acre space.
Director of Parks and Forestry Chuck Myers told the City Council the park’s path system was not connected to amenities, describing it as “disjointed.” He added there was also a discontinuation of the ice rink and baseball diamond in recent years.
“There is not a lot that people can do out there,” Myers said.
The City eventually hired a private design group to assist with the redesign process and in the spring of 2023 started hosting a series of public meetings (followed by an online survey) on what residents want to see at Northcroft.
“A lot of people love this park and they were really interested in making improvements,” Myers said.
Myers noted the feedback often focused on a need for improved walking paths, additional parking, better access to amenities and moving the playground that is on the other side of the parking lot from the park’s pavilions and bathrooms.
“There was concern kids were crossing through (the parking lot) all the time,” Myers said.
Based on the community feedback, eventually a master plan of changes was created based on features from two separate concept plans.
City staff envisions the northern section of the park with features including a full-size soccer field with improved drainage, a splash pad, a shade structure/gathering area and better pathways and a new playground.
The southern portion of Northcroft would have dedicated tennis courts, a smaller soccer field, a new disc golf course and improved walking trails.
In addition, this section would also feature dedicated pickleball courts (the existing courts are now shared for pickleball and tennis) away from the neighbors due to the noise associated with the popular sport. There would also be the debut of handball courts in Lake Forest with Myers saying there is a possibility of a private donation to pay for that proposed feature.
Myers said there would also be a reconfiguration of the existing parking lot and the number of spaces would go from 58 to 107.
City Council members appeared to support the plan with Alderman Eileen Looby Weber, 4th, encouraging a shorter pathway to the bathroom from the playground.
“That would help out all those moms with little kids,” she said.
However, Myers cautioned the proposals were a starting point noting construction could still be years away.
“This is a first step,” Myers said. “We use this for planning.”
Moreover, the city might have to look elsewhere for the likely millions of dollars to finance the makeover.
Myers said the city received a State of Illinois Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fund enhancements at South Park and that could be an option at Northcroft as well.
City spokeswoman Dana Olson said completion of the master plan is the first step in applying for an OSLAD grant.
Olson added some of the aspects of plan including a new playground could be funded internally.
“In alignment with the city’s tradition of long-term planning,” Olson explained. “The Northcroft Park Master Plan will act as a guide as elements from the plan are incorporated into capital planning over the next three to ten years.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter fo Pioneer Press.
