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Residents, committee press for accounting as Kennedy Park renovation advances with village dollars
Summary
Public commenters and Parks Committee members on Sept. 22 questioned why the Friends of Kennedy Park fundraising has lagged even as the village has invested taxpayer money and construction work proceeds. Staff reported some construction milestones and pledged ask letters would be mailed shortly; no formal policy change was adopted.
Residents and Parks Committee members pressed village officials on Sept. 22 about stalled private fundraising for the Kennedy Park renovation, asking for a clearer accounting of outside donations after the village advanced construction with public funds.
The issue matters because the renovation was presented as largely privately funded: the committee and the board approved a memorandum of understanding that said a community fundraising group, the Friends of Kennedy Park, would spearhead construction and maintenance funding. Committee members and commenters said that outside fundraising has not met expectations and that most money spent to date has come from village sources, including $766,000 in ARPA funds.
Public commenter Jim Pinsonal said the fundraising effort had not produced the results promised and asked the village to clarify exactly how much the Friends of Kennedy Park had raised. “Taxpayer money should not be called raised money,” Pinsonal said. He told the committee that the Friends group was formed after a…
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