Oak Brook Park District proposes license-plate recognition cameras and rolls out pickleball reservation plan

At the Feb. 20 meeting staff described two operational initiatives intended to support safety and recreation use: a license-plate recognition (LPR) system to assist police and a new outdoor pickleball reservation system.

Robert Pechous, Superintendent of IT and Communication, said the Park District plans to install LPR cameras at the Family Recreation Center and Tennis Center entrances to provide real-time information to Oak Brook Police. Staff discussed leasing versus purchasing the equipment and noted purchasing with planned replacement every four to five years would be fiscally responsible and easier to budget. Dr. Laure Kosey said the district has applied to the Village for a grant to help fund the program.

Deputy Director Dave Thommes described a first-come, first-served outdoor pickleball reservation system the district plans to roll out, with no fees for residents and a charge for participants who live outside the Park District boundaries. Thommes said staff will monitor satellite parks after court conversions to determine whether reservations are needed there as well.

Why it matters: the LPR system is intended to improve real-time communication with law enforcement; the pickleball reservation system responds to rising demand for court access while preserving in-district benefits.

Next steps: staff will pursue reimbursement or grant support from the Village for the LPR program, finalize procurement decisions (lease vs. purchase), and roll out the pickleball reservation system with monitoring to determine whether expansion is required.