Board approves intergovernmental agreement with District 96 to revamp Blythe Park playground and repurpose tennis court

The Village of Riverside Board of Trustees on March 6 approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with School District 96 to guide playground replacement and the conversion of the Blythe Park tennis court into a multipurpose court.

Manager Francis outlined the scope: the district will replace playground equipment on its property while the village intends to repurpose the existing tennis court as a multipurpose surface that can accommodate basketball and other activities. The IGA records that the village would have final approval of design details; engineering, bidding and any contracts for construction must still come back to the village for approval.

Trustees debated whether to table the IGA so an absent trustee could participate; Trustee Evans said she would vote to table as a professional courtesy, while Trustee Hapley and others argued for moving forward so the school district could consider the item at its March 19 meeting. After discussion the motion to table was withdrawn and the board took up the IGA for discussion and approval.

Several residents spoke during public comment. Jim Bernarski, who lives directly across from the project site at 371 Kent, said he supported the playground improvements but opposed construction of a new separate basketball court because of loss of open space, impacts to mature oak trees from construction equipment, stormwater/runoff concerns and potential noise and parking issues. He suggested portable hoops as an alternative for recess use.

Manager Francis told the board that village engineer Burke Engineering estimated water-retention measures would be required for a newly built 5,000-square-foot hardscape and that retention infrastructure would cost approximately $10,000–$12,000; however, repurposing the existing tennis court would avoid the need for separate retention measures.

Trustees who supported the IGA said the agreement preserves multiple review steps — including design review by village staff and commissions — and allows for further public input. Trustee Clarity called the agreement "a tremendous deal for the village and the school district," and the board voted to approve the IGA. Clerk Lehi Stenzel recorded aye votes from Trustees Mateo, Clarity, Evans, Coss and Gallagose.

If approved by District 96, next steps include engineering and design work, potential consolidation of the school’s parcels for clarity of title, bids for construction or a design-build contract, and subsequent board approvals for contract awards and final designs.