Oak Park, Berkeley School District approve interlocal agreement to reshape Tyler Park

Oak Park City Council voted July 21 to approve an interlocal agreement with the Berkeley School District and a separate professional‑services contract to design and construct initial improvements at Tyler Park, a project the city budgeted at $724,000 for phase one.

The interlocal agreement assigns each party responsibility for work and funding on its own parcel while coordinating contractors and oversight. Deputy City Manager of Community Services Adam Ozarkzak told council the phase‑one budget includes grading, stormwater work and an 8‑foot asphalt multipurpose walking path. “In the budget, we have identified 724, thousand dollars for this project,” Ozarkzak said during the presentation.

The agreement also covers a relocation of the park’s practice softball field onto Berkeley School District property so the district can pay for the new game field and an on‑site restroom. City Manager Eric Tungate said the district will pay for construction and utilities for the restrooms while the city will maintain them. “Berkeley Schools is paying for the full price of that, and the bathrooms, they're paying for the full price of that. They're also paying for all the utilities associated with the bathroom,” Tungate said. “We will be maintaining the bathroom.”

Council members pressed staff on immediate neighborhood needs, including playground equipment and preserving the park’s sledding hill. Council Member Julie Edgar told council she is hearing frustration from neighbors that the park lacks play equipment and benches. “They're frustrated that there's no play equipment there,” Edgar said. She asked staff to pursue near‑term options for play amenities and shade as later phases are funded.

Project managers told council the phase‑one construction primarily addresses existing flooding and drainage issues through grading and stormwater improvements; staff said the work will substantially reduce but not fully eliminate flooding. Ozarkzak said the walking‑path work and grading will begin in spring 2026, with an overall contract completion date currently listed as Nov. 1, 2026.

Council also approved a professional‑services agreement with Stantec to provide project management, site design, landscape architecture and engineering services to produce construction documents for the phase‑one scope. Stantec will contract separately with the city and the school district due to bonding and purchasing requirements; staff said Berkeley School District is serving as the project lead on district‑funded work and that joint procurement is expected to produce economies of scale.

The council vote on the interlocal agreement was unanimous. The interlocal motion was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Sean Whitehead, seconded by Council Member Radnor, and carried on a voice/roll call vote. The Stantec professional‑services agreement was approved unanimously on a subsequent roll call.

Staff said a $2 million grant request submitted to Representative Weiss's office could fund later phases, but no award had been confirmed. Officials also said the city will seek fresh community input as phase‑two design decisions approach and that playground, pavilion and other amenity decisions will be vetted with neighbors before final selection.

Construction schedule and some design details remain subject to final contractor schedules and material lead times. City staff said the city and the school district will coordinate use of the relocated district field outside of varsity season so community groups can program it when available.