Hinsdale board advances parks master plan process after selecting Upland Design

The Hinsdale Village Board on Oct. 7 discussed a proposed comprehensive and strategic parks master plan and the selection of Upland Design as the village's consultant, with trustees and staff advancing the item to a second read.

Chair Possema introduced the item as the village's effort to create a 10-year guide for park improvements, programming and budgeting. The board heard that the village maintains 19 park sites over about 130 acres and that the plan will include public outreach, a resident survey, an assessment of community needs, and grant and capital-planning guidance.

Michelle Kelly, identified in the meeting as a partner with Upland Design, summarized the consultant's approach. “This plan will serve as a guiding light for our parks, making our parks work for families and making our parks work for our athletes,” Kelly said. She described the product as data driven with short- and long-term goals and a “working live document” to inform budgeting.

Trustees and commission members said the selection process began with seven proposals. The committee narrowed the field to three finalists — Hitchcock Design (bid listed in the meeting as $86,500), Design Perspectives ($98,880) and Upland Design (the transcript records Upland’s proposal at $114,500 in one place and $114,050 in another). The committee said it worked with finalists to reduce scope or operating costs while preserving a high-quality deliverable; committee members and staff concluded Upland offered the most thorough, adaptable plan even though its price was higher than the adopted $95,000 budget for the study.

Committee membership and project roles were discussed: staff participants included Mike Hayes, Andre Peterson and Alex Snyder; Parks and Recreation Commission representation included Chris Boroff and Steve King; and trustees Scott Behnke and Michelle (last name not specified in the transcript) participated on the selection committee. Trustees emphasized the plan should provide a flexible framework so future boards can respond to changing needs, citing examples such as emerging interest in pickleball.

No formal contract award or final authorization was recorded in the meeting minutes. Chair Possema indicated the item would proceed to a second read for further board consideration.

If approved in a subsequent meeting, the contract with Upland Design would fund development of the comprehensive and strategic master plan, public outreach and a prioritized implementation roadmap intended to guide capital budgeting and grant applications over the next decade.