Skokie voters may decide this fall whether to fund the development of a brand new park alongside the North Shore Channel and additional recreation projects through a proposed $53 million bond referendum.
The Skokie Park District is considering placing a referendum on the Nov. 3 election ballot for a 20-year bond to finance improvements to Sports Park East and transform a former industrial site on Oakton Street in Skokie into a brand new community park known as Channelside Park South.
If approved by voters, property taxes paid to the Skokie Park District would vary based on home market value beginning in 2027.
Residents with a $500,000 home can expect to see their annual property tax bill increase by $183, or $15.25 per month. The owner of a $1 million home would have to pay an extra $379 in annual property taxes, or $31.58 per month.
According to the district’s proposal, voters may apply for a homestead exemption based on how long they’ve lived in their home to lower their increased tax rate. Seniors, disabled residents and veterans may be entitled to further tax rate exemptions.
Voters can utilize the Park District’s tax estimator to review their expected property tax increases proposed in the referendum.
The Park District serves approximately 63,000 residents across the Village of Skokie, in addition to portions of Evanston, Morton Grove and Chicago. It operates as a government entity independent from the Village of Skokie, according to its website.
Based upon community feedback and surveyed responses from two upcoming public information meetings on June 6 and 7, the Skokie Park District’s Board of Commissioners will decide in July whether to place the measure before voters in November.
“Skokie, we’re a land block community and we always come up short on national standards on parkland,” said Michelle Tuft, executive director for the Skokie Park District.
“We have a lot of parks, but we have small parks,” Tuft told the Pioneer Press. “This is one way for us to actually add parkland. Those opportunities are very rare, so we’re really excited about that.”
According to district officials, the proposal stems from years of community engagement, public meetings and discussions identifying strong demand for increased walking, biking and jogging paths, accessible playgrounds and improved sports and recreation amenities in the area.
More Top Picks Best Document Scanners
While the Park District has limited funding for improvements, the proposed referendum would allow the district to address these community needs and execute long-term development goals.
The proposed enhancements to Sports Park East, an offshoot of Skokie’s Sports Park, one of the district’s most heavily frequented recreation areas, will include a new recreation center with multi-sport courts, flexible program and rental rooms, golf simulators, a shaded patio, rain garden and expanded parking spaces.
Based on resident input, a new walking path is also included in the plan, as well as a golf practice green, cricket and soccer field, relocated batting cages and a new playground course with outdoor fitness equipment.
According to Tuft, the district plans to add sports lighting on the new greens to allow residents to access fields once it gets dark.
“We have very limited sports lighting in Skokie, because most of our parks are in residential areas,” Tuft said. “This one, it is not a residential area, so the sports lighting will be less controversial and will also allow us to use the fields for a much longer time.”
What is currently a long, narrow stretch of asphalt and concrete along McCormick Boulevard in Skokie could also become the brand new Channelside Park South pending voter approval.
The Park District is proposing the former vacant industrial plant become a community gathering and green space, featuring an ADA-compliant playground for all ages with an attached zip line.
Paved walking and biking trails also plan to be added, with a bridge constructed over the channel to connect the park to Skokie Sports Park and the North Shore Channel Trail.
A renovated multipurpose facility with a patio and pergola, a band shell, stage and event lawn, outdoor fitness equipment and a children’s maze and splash pad are also in the plans.
According to Tuft, the Park District leases both proposed properties from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD).
The former lessee for the pending Channelside Park South site has vacated the property, Tuft said, and it has since become available for the Park District to build on.
Tuft said the district held off on improving Sports Park East for many years because MWRD planned on utilizing the property to expand a water treatment plant.
“We were on hold for a number of years, and now [MWRD] has decided they’re not doing it, they’re actually expanding their plant just south of there, where the O’Brien plant is, so they then gave us the go ahead to start planning.”
The Park District currently maintains 45 parks, including playgrounds, soccer fields, ballfields, courts, two golf facilities, outdoor shelters and restrooms, and a dog park, according to the district.
Tuft said if the referendum is ultimately included in the upcoming Nov. 3 election ballot and passes, the district hopes to begin construction “as soon as possible.”
“We would hope to start as early as the spring of 2027,” with an estimated year for development, she added.
“[The Park District] is doing it for the community, and we’ll get the input. Voters will get to decide if they want it, so we’re excited about it. I’m glad we’re finally able to move forward with these projects.”
The district plans to host community input sessions on the referendum June 6 at 9:30 a.m. and June 7 at 1 p.m. at Weber Leisure Center, 9300 Weber Park PIace, Skokie.