Ice rinks, a splash pad and a miniature golf course are among the ideas on the table as the Western Springs Park Board embarks on a five-year capital improvement plan.
“It comes down to what major improvements we want to make with our capital during the next five years,” John Robinson, executive director, said about the planning process. “There are all sorts of ideas.”
The district has sent out a request for proposals, seeking professional assistance in crafting an improvement plan for its facilities. Those proposals will be submitted to the district in October.
“Most park districts that go through this process see it as an asset to have an outsider come in,” Robinson said.
The director said that a master plan creator will help the district determine where it wants its park facilities to be in the future.
Among the wish list ideas are a miniature golf course, a splash pad and sledding hill at Spring Rock Park, ice rinks and hot houses at park facilities to increase winter use of parks, and increasing the number of parking spaces at Springdale Park
Board President Walt Knake said he expects the planning effort to be “a fluent process,” with ideas continually being tossed about and plans and projects being reshaped.
“We have not done this in the history of the park district,” Knake said. “But like with any consultant, we are going to need to do a substantial amount of work.”
Board members Christopher Dallavo and Nicole Chen will join Robinson in an initial screening of the planners that submit proposals.
Board members noted a community survey conducted in Summer 2013 will also be examined when improvements are considered. One of the overwhelming responses from that survey, they noted, was having rest rooms in the parks.
While portable toilets now are at most park facilities in Western Springs, creation of permanent bathroom facilities will be considered at some parks as part of the master plan. Portable toilets will be considered for those park facilities still without rest room facilities.
Board member Art Frese said rest rooms, water fountains and picnic facilities are part of the standard setup he would like to see for every park. He favors establishing a criteria for items that every park in the system would have, giving the parks more of a uniform approach.
“Our parks should all have a certain look,” Frese said. “There should be a standard level of what you can expect to be available at each park.”
Board member Angelo Velliotis said it would be nice if the district’s parks were all patterned after Timber Trails, one of the district’s newest parks.
Board member Dicy Burton said it would be good to get residents’ expectations of the parks. She said she would not want to spend $40,000 or $50,000 on permanent bathrooms at a park when residents feel that portable toilets would do.
To start the process of standardizing the parks, a matrix will be created showing the amenities at each park, according to Knake.
Robinson said the number of requests for use of park picnic shelters was up significantly this year and he expects that trend to continue, triggering a need for more picnic facilities in the parks, something that will be part of the master plan.
Frese said that items deemed to be safety concerns should be put at the top of list of capital improvements to be tackled.
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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