The decision-making processes that led to the development of the Ackerman Park Multi-Use Facility is one key issue at the core of the park district board election debate.

I've attempted to reveal some of the facts surrounding the candidate's alleged claims of experience or lack of experience that have been circulating amongst Glen Ellyn voters.

The GEPD posted an overview of the Ackerman Park fieldhouse project on their website in response to our open letter from March 27, 2009 to the Executive Director and board. The overview answers some questions, but many key questions remain unanswered.

They are listed here.

For reference purposes: here are some important facts about this project:
- the referendum funding request for this project was $7.4 million (the project total cost is close to $9.2 million)
- the final cost of the facility will exceed the Village's streets improvement project (approx $7 million allocated from the Village's $10 million reserve fund)
- this project is one of the largest capital improvements projects in recent years funded with taxpayer money
- it's unknown what projects were completed based on the 2005 resident survey

Click here to review the Glen Ellyn Park District's Overview of the Ackerman Park Multi-Use Sports Facility project.

Read the full article here.

Thanks for the detailed information on this issue. My son played soccer for the first time this past fall. With the parking challenges that existed then, I can only imagine what it will look like this spring/fall. I was told they would fit the fields that were lost around the other fields east of the parking area. I do not know if they are expanding the parking, but if they don't, it is going to be just as bad as parking at Jewel, with soccer moms playing bumper cars with minivans as they fight for spaces...

The whole Ackerman multi-use facility became a hot topic. When the PD decided to chop down some three hundred trees. This was being done the PD announced because the new facility would take away several outdoor fields.

Any one who saw the original plans could have seen that. But the PD did not mention that in its referendum request. So the feeling was that the PD played fast and loose with the facts.

So much for the benefit of experience.

Unnecessary, repetitive and redundant quote removed. --Ted E.

GEL BIG PICTURE: Questions about Glen Ellyn Park District Board Role in Ackerman Park Facility Unanswered

erpelumin -

Good attempt to shed some light on a murky topic! I would be interested in the answers to the questions you've raised. Have you posted this info on the elections thread as well?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ted E.,

quote:
Posted April 05, 2009 12:44 PM Hide Post
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Posted April 05, 2009 08:43 AM Hide Post

quote:
Originally posted by marty j:
Camdenmarie --Urock !!! my family voted for the referendum in 06 and we are are excited about the sports complex
Glen Ellyn has needed this for a long time thank You for ur support of the commissioners who made this possible



Actually, my beef is more with the process - which I thought stank - and the siting of this building, than the building itself.

Once this new building is up, will the PD still need to hang onto SARC? And MSRC? Seems like SARC might be able to help D41 out in their perennial claims of overcrowding. Sure seems to be underutilized in terms of programs/activities. And ISTR D41 essentially gave it to the PD.

Unfortunately, it seems like neither the PD nor D41 is interested in any options that involve cooperation and do not involve building from scratch! Roll Eyes]



Geez Dins, sorry that you have such a beef with the process:

cms.dupageelections.com...

Glen Ellyn Park
Total
Number of Precincts 40
Precincts Reporting 40 100.0 %
Times Counted 13409/22544 59.5 %
Total Votes 12974
YES 7004 53.98%
NO 5970 46.02%

Your beef is really with your 7004 fellow community members that voted for this. Please don't tell me that we didn't know what we were voting for. We knew darn well that we were voting for the Sports Complex at Ackerman, renovating the MSRAC and Land Acquisition.

Why are you beefing about this now? We voted for this in 2006. MSRC was renovated in record time, we got more land at Ackerman and at Churchill & now we are getting the building. They had public hearings all over town: there was a big white public hearing sign at Ackerman facing the road. They had hearings at the library, the Civic Center & SARC. How come you did not campaign against the project then? Why did you not attend the hearings? It is a little disingenuous to rally so hard now.

Wow. 7004 Glen Ellynites voted for the Ackerman Sports Complex! We want it. We need it. Just because your kids may be old for this or they may play baseball instead of basketball, or whatever - I really wish you didn't sound like you want to deny my kids this opportunity.

We are not a baseball family but we are thrilled with the improvements at Village Green over on Lambert. All of these opportunities contribute to all of our kids and make for a better community.

We fought for the Sports Complex. We voted for the Sports Complex. We won the Sports Complex. Yeah Dins...Democracy stinks sometimes!

Oh & the PD bought this from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. D 41 gave it to the Forest Preserve. Just another example of how D41 lacks the vision & foresight to anticipate the needs of their community, but I digress...



Thank you Johnny........couldn't have said it better myself.

It sounds to me like Missy Creech, Jay or jomble, & that crabby massage therapist across the Great Western from ackerman really just want to deny our kids the Sports Complex that we voted for in 2006. It sounds like she is getting her people to tell us that her potential future electorate is too stupid to read a ballot.

Oh well, she must know she is on shaky ground. She spent the weekend throwing her running mates under the bus. She spent the weekend calling voters in GE & telling them just to vote for her. She told them NOT to vote for Jeff Jourdan.

BTW Jeff Jourdan is the ONLY PD guy on the ballot who lives south of Roosevelt & has NEVER missed a meeting.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: camdenmarie, April 06, 2009 08:53 AM

Posts: 19 | Registered: January 22, 2009 Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Ignored post by camdenmarie posted April 06, 2009 05:45 AM Show Post
SoEllynGuy
GlenEllynite

Posted April 06, 2009 12:27 PM Hide Post
A couple of notes

A. Jeff Jourdan is a good guy. He’s a Southie that gives a lot of his time to the community in a number of activities. We need guys with his commitment and character on the board. He definitely has my vote.

B. When I look at the state of our parks, I love what I see. I love the improvements at Village Green. With the paved parking lot and new concession stand, the PD has taken what was a hole in the ground and made it a facility you could be proud to host tournaments at, to show it off to other communities. I love the improvements made to Newton in the last 5-8 years. I’m not a big fan of Holes n’ Knolls or paddle tennis, but they seem to serve a segment of the community.

C. I don’t think it is unreasonable for a PD to have a field house, like the Sports Complex being built at Ackerman. I’ve lived through basketball games at Main St. and Churchill. The Sports Complex will be a big improvement and a great asset to the community.

D. There’s a difference between parks that are meant to be used (eg. Ackerman, Newton), and parks that are meant for quiet enjoyment (eg. Churchill Park, Gault Bird Sanctuary). If you live next to Ackerman, don’t have Gault Bird Sanctuary expectations.

E. I could give a rat’s a** about the junk trees in “Ackerman Woods”. I went through there to see what all the fuss was about. It just looks like any other piece of FP. I did not see any oaks or maples or any other significant trees. It’s just an overgrown patch of woods.



Just some more info to make this a more balanced thread!!!