The Park District of La Grange Board of Commissioners Monday put the final touches on its plan to refurbish District parks.
The project depends on passing a $13.86 million referendum to be placed on the November ballot, and will not include a previous proposal that drew heated opposition from many residents.
“For Gordon Park, the synthetic turf has been eliminated, and we’ve added in an irrigation system,” Jenny Bechtold, park district executive director, told the Board and residents gathered at the regular meeting.
The proposed synthetic turf field, originally proposed because of the ease of maintenance and increased usage, had been the subject of passionate opposition from several residents.
The referendum, which has been discussed at several recent commissioners’ meetings — drawing spirited feedback from residents — will be on the agenda for final approval at the Board’s August meeting.
The updated plan includes the following additions:
—The Community Center will get a pergola (shade structure) and eight new trees.
—Denning Park will see restrooms — two stalls — added to the plan, fencing will be added to the soccer field along Willow Springs Road, disk golf will be expanded to nine holes, and eight shade trees will be added.
—Gilbert Park will see many additions to the original plan, including shrubs along the parking lot, a multi-generational game space, bioswale added to the parking lot, a pollinator garden, and a ping-pong table.
Moreover, four shade trees and 75 shrubs will be added to Gilbert.
—In addition to the synthetic turf being eliminated from the plan for Gordon Park, an irrigation system will be added, backstops will be replaced with 20-foot-high backstops, 22 shade trees, and 100 deciduous shrubs of various sizes will be added.
—Added at Rotary Park will be a shelter, three shade trees, ornamental trees and evergreen shrubs.
—Sedgwick Park will have the parking lot remain the same footprint, a restroom building with four stalls added to the plan, along with prep field fencing.
—Spring Park will get increased playground equipment.
The final plan does not call for any trees to be removed and calls for 48 trees added to various parks.
Rose Naseef has been a regular speaker at various public meetings concerning the plan, strenuously objecting to the planned synthetic turf at Gordon Park, and regularly pointing out the environmental dangers of replacing natural grass with synthetic turf.
During public comment, Naseef warned of potentially dangerous chemicals used to protect plants and trees.
“The pesticides … I think they should be marked, any time there’s pesticides or herbicides,” she told the Commissioners.
With the deadline for ballot access on August 19, the ordinance approving the referendum proposal will be voted on at the next Park District Board of Commissioner’s meeting, August 12, at the District Administrative Office, 536 East Avenue.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
