Trustees spar over proposed transfer of park properties to newly formed park district

Attorney Vince Kar described a five‑year intergovernmental agreement framework in which the Village of University Park would transfer property and operational responsibility for parks to the newly formed University Park Park District. He said the draft is a template and that Exhibit A (the specific list of properties to transfer) is currently blank and must be negotiated before any final approval.

Trustees and residents immediately pressed for clarity. Trustee Brooks and others asked which properties would be transferred; staff said potential sites under discussion included Regal Farm, Palmer Park, the four tot lots, Hickok Pool, Pine Lake and Craig Park. Multiple trustees objected to moving forward without a park‑district board in place and without community workshops to discuss commissioners, governance and which assets would be included.

Some trustees argued the village could restore a conventional parks-and-recreation department instead of creating a separate taxing body. Others emphasized respect for referendum voters who approved forming a park district and said residents expect programming and facilities. Trustee Jenkins moved to send the topic to a workshop and table further board action; several speakers noted the agenda item was for discussion and that formal tabling may not be procedurally available at that moment.

Trustees also raised fiscal questions: whether an independent park district would increase residents’ tax levies, how insurance and maintenance costs would shift, and whether recent state grants (for example funding referenced for Regal Farm) would be affected by a transfer. No final intergovernmental agreement or property transfer was approved during the meeting; trustees agreed to pursue further community engagement and a workshop to identify Exhibit A and membership/appointment processes.