Cary reviews $14 million master plan for Cary Lake at Rotary Park and eyes OSLAD grant

The Village of Cary Committee of the Whole reviewed a draft master plan for Cary Lake at Rotary Park on Jan. 20, 2025, as consultants prepared materials for an application to the Illinois Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program. Elias Martin of Upland Design presented the plan and survey results to trustees and staff.

Martin said the project team received 400 survey responses that prioritized paved loop trails, more shade and picnic areas, and a mix of active and passive recreation including fitness stations, a challenge course and a pump track. “We had 400 total responses,” Martin said, summarizing community input and the elements the plan emphasizes.

The master plan preserves the main southeast entry and parking area while proposing paved loop trails, improved wayfinding and accessible connections to picnic shelters, restrooms and a kayak launch. It also includes proposals for fishing piers and boardwalk overlooks, habitat enhancements and educational signage. Martin told trustees the plan overall envisions about 2,000 new trees to increase shade and ecological value: “The plan overall has about 2,000 new trees,” he said.

Consultants proposed a two‑phase approach to align with OSLAD scoring priorities. Martin said phase 1 would focus on elements that typically score well—trail loop paving, accessibility improvements at the shelter, sensory and discovery gardens, a challenge course and a pump track—while later phases would implement broader elements in the full vision. He outlined a funding and schedule outline: preparing grant documents February–September, grants typically awarded in December or January, signed grant agreements around March and the earliest construction season targeted for 2027.

Trustees framed the master plan as a guiding document rather than an immediate $14 million construction proposal. One trustee urged caution that the plan represents an “all‑in” vision and staff are not proposing immediate construction of $14,000,000 of park improvements right off the bat; the plan is intended to guide the capital improvement plan and to create a competitive grant package. Several trustees said paved trails and additional shade should be top priorities given community feedback and OSLAD preferences for distinct project elements.

Board members asked about OSLAD match requirements and phasing. Consultant Elias Martin explained that the grant match “goes up to 600,000,” and that applicants generally need a matching local contribution for the full award; he advised structuring the application around a set of high‑priority elements rather than presenting the full master plan at once. Trustees discussed potential sponsorships (corporate sponsors, a buy‑a‑tree option) and asked staff for a detailed, itemized cost list so trustees could refine their top three or four priorities before the upcoming CIP workshop.

Trustees also raised liability and inclusivity concerns. Some expressed reservations about the pump track’s injury risk and suggested prioritizing more inclusive features—such as sensory gardens and fitness stations—that serve a wider range of ages and abilities. Staff noted the conservancy fund supports maintenance for Cary Lake and that potential partnerships or negotiated developer contributions would be handled on a project‑by‑project basis and are not guaranteed by code.

Next steps: staff will incorporate trustee feedback, produce itemized cost breakdowns to inform the capital improvement plan discussion next week, and the consultant will finalize grant materials for an anticipated OSLAD submittal window. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

The article is based on the Jan. 20 presentation by Upland Design and the committee discussion; formal grant requests, match amounts and construction schedules remain subject to grant award, budget approvals and further board action.