Park District 6-Year Plan?

quote:

Glen Ellyn Park District officials are looking at a $19.5 million six-year comprehensive capital improvement projects plan.

Projects are looked at every several years with the intention to plan ahead.

Major projects might include the Ackerman Sports Complex that will cost $7 million, a Nature Center at Churchill Park for $400,000 and the renovation of Lake Ellyn Boathouse's entrance for $300,000.

Additionally, officials hope for a safety village, amphitheater and education garden at Maryknoll Park for $785,000, a refrigerated ice rink and new program facility and parking lot at Newton Park for $2 million and $4 million for land acquisition.

Hold on a second! Despite the fact that I was against the referendum, I thought the voters voted for the Ackerman Sports Complex. What has changed to make is merely a possibility? Did we have a plan when we floated the referendum or was this just a money grab?

Capital Projects

quote:

Anyone who has ever played indoor sports in this community can attest to the lack of “accessible” gym space in the community. The park district provides 2,000 program offerings each year bringing in over 30,000 people of all ages through our recreation center doors. With funds from an approved referendum, the park district plans to build an indoor multi-purpose facility at Ackerman Park. This facility would include three full-size basketball courts, a three-lane walking track, locker rooms, small meeting area and a multi-purpose area for a variety of different sports.

That being said, since we are back to square one on spending designations, please modernize the boathouse to make it a fully functional facility. It is one of the "gems" of Glen Ellyn.

quote:

Originally posted by JRPotts:
Did we have a plan when we floated the referendum or was this just a money grab?

You know the answer to that question...

I don't remember exactly where they planned to site the center at Ackerman, but it may be a "possibility" because it may depend on if/when they can acquire the other properties by Mom and Dad? Even if not sited where those houses are, I would think they would at least want to use Lenox road as a way to get to it.. which I would think would mean some fairly significant upgrade to that street and intersection.

Just conjecture, but seems fairly logical, at least to me.

The Park District employees can't even manage to shovel snow off a haphazardly flooded rink (caution, if you plan to walk on the path at Newton Park that leads from the playground to the skateboard park, it is one solid sheet of ice after flooding of the rink) during Mother Nature's best weekend of the year. Hundreds were up at the Sledding Hill, and dozens were looking to skate outside..... How can we expect them to manage:

Ackerman Sports Complex
Churchill Nature Center
Lake Ellyn Boathouse
Safety Village & Amphitheater
Maryknoll waterpark
Maryknoll Platform Tennis and Tent
Frank Johnson Park Headquarters Office
Spring Avenue other Park Headquarters Office
Main Street another Park Headquarters Office
Holes n Knolls 36 hole putting golf course
Sunset Pool Improvements

Attention to detail.....

MS
I think that there may be an opening or two on the Park District Board come the next election.
What do you Think?

quote:

Originally posted by Candidate:
MS
I think that there may be an opening or two on the Park District Board come the next election.
What do you Think?

I'd vote for Mainstreeter, but I know he is all bark and no bite! I know he even places misleading information in his posts so as not to be recognized. It is a shame, because I think he would be an asset to the Park District.

Can/Would someone please explain to me what is a "safety village"?

Where is the demand for whatever this is?

I never heard anybody say "GE realy needs a safety village".

Why are they building one at Maryknoll?

A "Safety Village" is a curriculum to prevent childhood accidents and injuries. Typically held in a “miniature city," it provides children with a realistic approach in recognizing safety hazards found in everyday life. The “city” includes miniature buildings with paved streets, sidewalks, a functioning traffic light, a railroad crossing, a fire safety house, and a water safety complex. Children learn how to practice safety through hands-on exercises, role-playing activities, and other participatory techniques. Studies prove that children who experience hand-on safety instructions have significantly fewer accidents.

As to the demand, who would use it and why build it? The Park District has offered "Safety Village" each summer and it is ALWAYS sold out. It is a very popular program for those of us with young children. Hope that helps.

quote:

Originally posted by shrugged:
A "Safety Village" is a curriculum to prevent childhood accidents and injuries. Typically held in a “miniature city," it provides children with a realistic approach in recognizing safety hazards found in everyday life. The “city” includes miniature buildings with paved streets, sidewalks, a functioning traffic light, a railroad crossing, a fire safety house, and a water safety complex. Children learn how to practice safety through hands-on exercises, role-playing activities, and other participatory techniques. Studies prove that children who experience hand-on safety instructions have significantly fewer accidents.

As to the demand, who would use it and why build it? The Park District has offered "Safety Village" each summer and it is ALWAYS sold out. It is a very popular program for those of us with young children. Hope that helps.

There's a demand. When my kids were younger, this was set up at Glenbard West by the tennis courts. They incorporated it with bicycle safety.

The structural steel portion of the ackerman project is currently out for bid.

ACKERMAN PARK SPORT COMPLEX (New) 1000813810-02
800 St Charles Road Value: $700,000 BIDS: 03/20/2008, 11:00 AM
Glen Ellyn, Du Page Co IL

Size 1 building
Scope Community Center
Structural Steel Frame
Ackerman Park Sport Complex Structural Steel
Notes 1. Pre-Bid Conference 03/05/2008 10:00 AM

Safety Village was a HUGE draw when my kids were small, so much so it was hard to get the week you wanted and the classes always sold out. My teens still talk about taking it by the tennis courts.

However, the PD managing anything else scares me! Let's not forget the 4 port-a-potties for the boat regatta.

Couldn't help but notice during the meeting a few weeks back where the Village Board was voting on the project at Village Green...that there would be another baseball field constructed. Also couldn't help but notice that it appeared to be right where the lacrosse team plays. Now...I realize my thinking that kids really aren't playing all that much baseball these days must be flawed, but why take space away from a sport that is growing by leaps and bounds?

I took it personally.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Now...I realize my thinking that kids really aren't playing all that much baseball these days must be flawed.

It is flawed.....

Yeah, you're an idiot.

Plus, the 49ers played on part baseball field for a long long time..I'm sure the Glen Ellyn boys lacrosse team can do the same.

And, as a representative of the lacrosse organization, maybe you should have come and spoken up in support of your sport at the Park District meetings, Plan Commission meeting and Village Board meetings....lazy idiot.

A different representative did. Idiot. I think it is evident that GE Fan hates children and children that play sports. Hope your back breaks again.

Did anyone else notice that the Park District now has their own Park District Police Fleet, and I assume their own Barney Fife's (at least there was one uniformed officer driving the car marked "Glen Ellyn Park District Police)?

I have a question about jurisdiction that some of you legal eagles may have insight on. Who is in charge? Illinois State Police, Dupage County Sheriff, DUpage COunty Park District Police, Glen Ellyn Village Police, now Glen Ellyn Park District Police...Is there a Milton Township Police? D87 police? Can't the Glen Ellyn Police patrol, arrest, and press charges against criminals that are on Park District property?

I have been concerned in the past about the Park Districts inability to properly manage their huge number of headquarter buildings, programs, parks, pools, and excessive taxation for the 27,000 that live here....now I have to be concerned about some newly armed Park Police slipping on the ice in the park that my teenager is tossing the frisbee at? Who do the Park District Police report to...Dave Scarmado? Cory Atwell?

I clicked to read the minutes of recent Park Board meetings, but the last meetings that were on there were from November....more than a quarter of a year ago....

Are they trying to find more ways to spend the money so there is nothing left in the budget at the end of the year? Reminds me of the school administrator mentality....

My guess is that they are not armed...or are they? Is this just a situation where the village had a worn out car that the Village Manager didn't want and they just turned it into a PD police car? I hope they are keeping an eye on Spicely Park.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
My guess is that they are not armed...or are they? Is this just a situation where the village had a worn out car that the Village Manager didn't want and they just turned it into a PD police car? I hope they are keeping an eye on Spicely Park.

I seem to remember from a post months ago on another subject that they were moonlighting GEPD. I do remember seeing Officer Ricky (don't mean to pile on him) driving one of them.

Never seen one. But I will say the new graphics on the GEPD cars looks pretty nice. Probably would have looked just as good in green rather than blue. But looks nice nonetheless.