It has been almost 50 years since the Lake County Parks Department was formed and officials say they need some funds to get the parks ready for the next 50.
Officials will be seeking approval of a $12 million bond issue for capital improvements and land acquisition Tuesday before the Lake County Council in Crown Point. A public hearing on the bond is scheduled during the 10 a.m. council meeting.
Jim Basala, Lake County Parks CEO, said there are a number of projects the department wants to accomplish if the bond request is successful. Some of the projects have to do with repairs, such as paving work at the older Lemon Lake and Stoney Run parks. Lemon Lake is the oldest park in the system.
Other work includes improvements, such a new main attraction at Deep River Water Park and an outdoor adventure garden for children at Bellaboo’s.
“We try to do things within our operating budget. We are trying to make a big impact right now,” Basala said.
Other work includes replacing aging pavilions throughout the system and upgrading and repairing playgrounds in a number of parks. Officials also plan on planting hundreds of new trees in the parks to replace those lost over the years to the emerald ash borer, storms and other causes.
“(Tree planting) is one of those things we are doing that in 50 years people will benefit from,” Basala said. It costs about $400 to plant an approximately 2-inch diameter tree that is large enough to survive being placed in park conditions but not so large it is difficult to plant.
Officials are also planning improvements around Maple Lake in the Deep River Park that will include equestrian trails, something park users said they need more of during public hearings in 2014 for the park’s master plan.
Basala said the bond cost to taxpayers is about .0034 cents per $100 of assessed value over the next 15 years. The cost for a taxpayer with a home that has a $100,000 market value after deductions will be about 97 cents per year, officials said.
Lake County Council President Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said maintaining and improving the county’s parks is a quality of life issue. He said people locate and visit an area based on things like parks and schools. Private industry will not provide park amenities like Deep River Water Park, so if the county is going to operate the park it must continue to invest in it. There has not been a new attraction at Deep River Water Park since 2005.
“We have to make improvements to continue to attract people so they continue to come,” Bilski said.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
