Glencoe Park District commissioners unanimously voted to adopt a pledge of “welcoming and inclusiveness” on March 21, less than a week after the Glencoe Board of Trustees adopted the same measure.
Park Board President Steve Gaines told fellow commissioners he believed it was important for the Park District to stand with the village in terms of welcoming people into Glencoe.
“We are trying to state in a most positive way through this pledge that Glencoe is and always has been a community of inclusiveness, a community of welcoming and a community that is interested in all of our neighbors and their wonderful backgrounds,” Gaines said.
The village board signed the pledge at its March 16 meeting.
The pledge passed by the village board reads in part: “I recognize that at every level of American society, people of all backgrounds contribute to our democracy, culture, and economy. We must advance the fundamental rights and principles upon which the United States was founded, establishing the equality and dignity of all people regardless of their background.”
Park District Commissioner Andre Lerman said he’s “proud this board is taking this stand at this time.”
“At this time, with what our country is going through, it is very important for everyone to take a stand,” he said.
Park District spokeswoman Erin Maassen said the pledge would be displayed at the Park District’s Takiff Center headquarters through early April, and be made available for people to sign.
Meanwhile, Park District Executive Director Lisa Sheppard announced a one-year continuation of a reciprocal arrangement with the Northbrook Park District allowing for Glencoe residents to use Northbrook pools and Northbrook residents to come to the Glencoe beach while paying the lower resident rates.
“It’s a nice partnership,” Sheppard said.
However, Glencoe Park District documents indicate far fewer people are taking advantage of the pact than when it was started in 2012. That year, 873 Northbrook residents purchased beach passes in Glencoe, but by last year, only 93 signed up.
Meanwhile, 155 Glencoe residents went to the Northbrook pools, but last year only 18 did so.
That was a concern to one Glencoe park board member.
“I don’t see 18 Glencoe residents as enough to justify this arrangement,” Commissioner Lisa Brooks said. “It is not being used.”
Sheppard said there will be a greater social media emphasis this year to generate additional interest from both communities.
One Northbrook pool is located at the Northbrook Sports Center, 1730 Pfingsten Road, and is in the final stages of renovation, according to Northbrook Park District spokeswoman Joy Stuart. She said it is scheduled to open June 17. The other is the Meadowhill Aquatic Center, 1501 Maple Avenue, and will open May 27, Stuart said.
An individual resident rate at the Northbrook pools is $115, according to Stuart. However, lower rates are available for seniors or people who sign up prior to May 9.
The Glencoe Park District announced March 24 beach passes would be sold at an early bird sale rate starting March 31 at the Takiff Center. Individual resident rates would be $76 and non-residents will pay $106. Additional household beach passes will be available for $10 per person.
Regular resident rates of $106 with $10 per additional person will go into effect May 10, according to Maassen. Non-resident rates will be $132 and $26 for each additional person.
This year, the Park District will be able to take credit card payments and individual and family passes will be scanned by Park District personnel upon entrance, according to Maassen.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
