The Lake Zurich Village Board approved two spending plans to improve local parks which will be paid for through a combination of grants and tax revenues.
The projects include renovations at Paulus Park and ongoing tree trimming and replacement efforts around the village, officials explained at the April 15 board meeting.
The first improvement project is part of a development project at Paulus Park that has been in the works for years. It has been led by community suggestions for improvements. The work is estimated to cost $329,300 and is expected to improve many of the attractions at the park as well as add a few features. The improvements will be paid for by grant funds.
“The park enhancement includes shoreline restoration with an overlook, renovation of the water splash pad, the creation of a new gathering space with game tables, the addition of a bandshell on the stage, more baggo courts and site landscaping,” said Trustee Greg Weider.
Mayor Tom Poynton told the board he had seen on social media where someone asked whether the town could install pickleball courts instead of more baggo courts. The mayor said the increasingly popular pickleball courts could be added, just not under the terms of the grant. The town would have to pay for that.
Poynton said a baggo court costs about $200 and a pickleball court is $30,000. Also, even if the costs were more comparable, the grant can only be used to pay for what the town specifically applied for, officials said.
Trustee Marc Spacone asked if the enhancement project would also mitigate flooding, a perennial issue in parts of the park.
Public Works Director Michael Brown said the village has already done some flood mitigation, but he said he would continue to address the issue.
Also at the meeting, the board approved an agreement with Bluestem Ecological Services for the year at a cost not to exceed $174,814. Their work would be part of the village’s open spaces maintenance program, an ongoing five-year project. This year, the village plans to work on 17 areas, including Oak Ridge Marsh Nature Park, Breezewald Park, Kildeer Creek and Whispering Creek.
Brown said in years past the program had not gotten the funding it needed. But this year, though, the village is taking from the $100,000 annual emerald ash borer tree program budget and applying it to more general enhancement and restoration of the town’s open spaces. The emerald ash program wrapped up last year.
Spacone said residents can alert Public Works for trees that look dangerous and they will be considered for trimming or replacement.
Also at the meeting, Recreation Director Bonnie Caputo urged area parents to tell their teens the village still has some aquatic summer jobs available.
“If you have a teen at home looking for a fun summer job working with a bunch of wonderful people, please send them our way,” she said.
Some of the jobs could be filled by people as young as 14 and Caputo said any skill level is welcome to apply.
“No experience is necessary, we’ll train you,” she said.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.
