Committee approves Recreation Department fall 2025 program list and vendor payments

The Committee of the Whole recommended the village board approve the Recreation and Parks Department’s fall 2025 program offerings and special events and authorized payment to contractual vendors and instructors based on actual session participation at the resident rate and the agreed percentage split. Trustee Reardon moved the recommendation and the committee approved it by roll call.

Staff presented highlights of the fall brochure and program list, noting the department issues three brochures annually (winter/spring, summer and fall). Programs include in-house classes and contracted programs where contractors supply labor and much of the equipment and receive a percentage of class revenue. The fall offerings will include fitness and athletic programs at the Sportsplex, a theater program, Special Rec activities, ice-rink New Year’s programming and heritage-site events. Planned special events mentioned for the guide include the concert series (August concerts), Centennial Park West Thursday events (including a market in September), the Veterans Golf Classic, a Civil War event at Stillwagon Farm, a Pumpkin Party, Thanksgiving-era turkey events and other holiday programming.

Staff also noted some programs are retired each year due to low participation. Trustees asked about dance programming; staff said some higher-level dance classes were discontinued after losing key instructors but general dance programming continues with new instructors as available.

The committee called the roll and recorded unanimous approval on the recommendation to send the fall program list and authorization to the village board for final approval and contract execution subject to the village attorney’s review.