For the third time in as many weeks, members of Naperville’s Park District and Library District Boards met to hash out an agreement that would allow the city to build a joint recreational complex on the southwest side.
In a two-hour discussion Tuesday, both sides expressed frustration that the boards were merely spinning their wheels.
Although both sides are continuing to explore the idea of a 13-acre recreation campus near 95th Street, planning is at a standstill, Library Board members said. Officials are waiting to find out whether the land is suitable for building, and both parties have yet to agree on a building design.
Park District officials proposed three ideas Tuesday, the most favored being two buildings connected by a courtyard, walkway or some mutual program space, such as a baby-sitting center or fine-arts area.
“I think there is so much synergy that can be created here,” said Nan Newlon, Naperville Park District director of building and planning.
The convenience and ease of having both services in one building would be a welcome addition to the community, Newlon said.
“When I am at the library, I never get a chance to look for books by myself,” she said, “and when I drop my kids off at a Park District class, I have no way of entertaining myself.”
Park District Commissioner Scott McKibben suggested that the concept would make the campus more enticing for parents and families while remaining consistent with the library’s overall mission.
But Library Board Treasurer Jeff Knezovich disagreed. “I am going to go out on a limb here and say we want our own identity,” he said.
Board members also expressed concern about the potential of added noise, smells coming from an aquatic center, increased traffic and an imbalance in the number of people using one facility over the other.
The Library Board is planning to build a $15 million, 73,000-square-foot facility that would be larger than Naperville’s other two libraries. Construction was to begin this summer but is on hold while the two boards seek to work out a deal.
Library officials have been agreeable to the idea of adding an extra floor to the new facility and leasing it to the Park District until its portion of the facility is completed. But the Park District has yet to identify a specific use for such space, holding up the progress of a new library design, according to library officials.
The other option brought up by Park District officials is to construct separate facilities.
The joint committee agreed to decide on a design option by the end of the week.
At a Park District meeting last week, commissioners agreed to give members of the committees a $10,000 allowance for what they said was a show of good faith and to get the project moving.
The next joint committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at the Park District office.
