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Resident presses Parks committee on Kennedy Park fundraising and meeting times
Summary
A Weston resident criticized the 4 p.m. meeting start as exclusionary and questioned Kennedy Park fundraising transparency, prompting staff to outline the project's timeline, fundraising goals and the role of Friends of Kennedy Park and the village.
A Weston resident and regular public commenter, Jim Pensan, used public comment at the May 26 Parks and Recreation meeting to challenge the committee’s scheduling and to press for clearer accounting of Kennedy Park fundraising.
"No public meeting should be held before 5:00 p.m. unless absolutely necessary," Pensan said, adding that the 4 p.m. start reduces public participation. He followed by questioning why Kennedy Park receipts and expenditures appeared to match exactly in the materials and said he would file a formal records request if needed.
Staff responded with a detailed update on the park’s history and fundraising. They said the master plan and related approvals date back several years and that the village approved the overall master plan process. Staff emphasized that the master plan is a guiding document subject to change, noting that some infrastructure work (for example, bathrooms and a rebuilt wellhouse) is planned but may wait until fundraising is complete.
On funding specifics, staff said some items cited by commenters were purchased or donated by outside partners — for example, Youth Baseball provided equipment and materials that the village does not list as direct expenditures because the groups purchased items themselves. Staff also said Friends of Kennedy Park plan a public check presentation at their June tournament to disclose funds raised.
Staff outlined a near-term fundraising goal of roughly $117,000 to install lights on the upper field and reported about $84,000–$85,000 currently held at a community foundation toward that goal. They said larger capital items for the broader master plan would depend on continued fundraising, grant applications and village capital planning; village staff estimated the village’s share of construction-related work at about half of a previously discussed total project figure.
Trustees encouraged community engagement and monthly status updates. "We’ll keep asking questions. We'll keep this on the agenda every month to see the changes that are happening," a trustee said. Staff urged residents to contact Friends of Kennedy Park directly to learn how to volunteer or contribute.
What’s next: Friends of Kennedy Park plan a public presentation of their fundraising at an upcoming community tournament; trustees will continue to receive monthly updates on fundraising and project progress.
