Park district to put $13 million community recreation center referendum on Nov. 5 ballot

Janie Herman presented the Park District's community recreation center business plan, describing a proposed facility sized to stay within the district's general-obligation bond limit "not to exceed 13 million." The design includes a 4,000-square-foot multipurpose space with a divider, an roughly 8,000-square-foot gym with a walking track and striping for pickleball, basketball and volleyball, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, a children's play area, customer-service desk, restrooms and outdoor event space.

The plan frames operations around a pricing strategy intended to balance accessibility, memberships and cost recovery; staff estimate a 1.6% net revenue contribution to a capital project fund for future repairs or expansion. Herman said the facility would expand programming months and accessibility for residents and listed the business-plan materials and renderings as available on the district website and via a QR code in the packet. She said the board has voted to place a referendum on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot.

Trustees asked about which parts of the facility fall inside the bond-funded scope (the design excludes administration offices) and about program demand, accessibility and how fees were estimated. Herman said the demographic and market analysis focused on a 20-minute radius and that the plan modeled revenues and expenditures by program type and fee structure.

The board did not take additional substantive action beyond the vote to place the question on the ballot; the packet materials include the business-plan assumptions and a pro forma revenue and expenditures model. The referendum is the next formal step; if approved by voters, staff would return with implementation details and timetables.