Costs are rising on a proposed project aimed at bringing improvements and new amenities to Park Ridge’s Oakton Park.
Park Ridge Park Board commissioners last week heard updates on the Oakton Park Master Plan and potential referendum, which could put the project at more than $34 million if park commissioners wish to pursue all aspects of it.
New additions to the plan, presented by park district staff, include keeping a dog park at Oakton, at an estimated cost of $291,000, and replacing nets and poles at the driving range for approximately $2 million.
These costs are in addition to expenses for building a new, 60-yard by 60-yard turf facility for indoor sports; renovating the existing 52-year-old ice arena and upgrading the aging mechanical system; adding an indoor “studio” ice rink in addition to the existing indoor ice; creating a walking path around the park; and adding a new parking lot with underground stormwater detention.
These improvements were initially estimated at $28 million when the plan was adopted by a previous park board in 2019.
Park commissioners on Aug. 19 reached a consensus to add the dog park to the plan, but not the creation of a path through Cook County Forest Preserve property to the west due to the cost, which is estimated at nearly $1 million, said Park District Executive Director Gayle Mountcastle.
The park district has $3.5 million in available capital funding, which would result in a $30.5 million referendum for a $34 million project at Oakton, commissioners were told.
If the park board votes to place a bond referendum on the June 2022 ballot, asking voters if park district taxes should be increased to pay for improvements at Oakton Park, the owner of a $437,000 home would pay approximately $101 more to the park district annually, commissioners were told last week.
It was also suggested by park district staff that if there is a desire to go to referendum, $1 million for a new playground at Maine Park could be added to the $34 million total. Money already budgeted for the playground would be set aside for any new property that may be available for purchase by the park district, Mountcastle said.
Commissioners reached a consensus that residents should be surveyed on this proposal before it is included in the plan.
Concerns about the growing cost of the project and the plan to construct the indoor sports building on the site were expressed by Commissioner Rob Bowe.
“It’s a great area for ice skating, but I’m not sure the size and scope of this proposed project should be going up,” he said.
Commissioner Matt Coyne noted that the Oakton Park Citizen Task Force, which met in 2020 to review plans for the park, was in favor of the indoor turf.
Park district administrators have said there is a community need for indoor sports space and the building will also generate much-needed revenue for Oakton Park.
“This (option) made the most sense for financial reasons and what we’ve been told the community wants,” Mountcastle said. “Centennial (Aquatic Center) was a big new opportunity for the community. This is the next big opportunity. It’s not a fad or something that’s going to go away.”
The park district will hold informational community meetings on the proposed Oakton Park project on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. at South Park, 833 W. Talcott Road, and Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at Prospect Park’s O’Connor Community Building, 733 N. Prospect Ave.
The meetings are scheduled to be in-person. A virtual meeting is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m., with registration available at www.prparks.org/Oakton-Park-Project/Public-Meetings.
Park district staff are also meeting with various community groups to discuss Oakton Park, said Park District Spokeswoman Margaret Holler.
A printed survey, seeking opinions on aspects of the plan, will be mailed to all registered voters living within the park district, starting Oct. 18, Holler said. A “hybrid poll” will be conducted by email and phone Nov. 6-9, she said.
Results of the survey and poll will be presented to the Oakton Park Citizen Task Force, which will then bring a recommendation to the park board to consider, Holler said.
Prior Oakton Park referendums have failed to generate support from voters.
A referendum asking voters if an indoor recreation center should be constructed at Oakton was rejected in 2005. At the time, the cost of the building was estimated at $11.5 million.
On the same ballot, voters also said “no” to a new, $13 million aquatic center at the park.
In 2006, voters turned down a $24.6 million bond referendum, which would have funded a new multi-sport recreation center at Oakton Park, as well as a new pool at Centennial and improvements to then-Senior Center kitchen.
Centennial Aquatic Center was later built without a referendum.
The last time the Park Ridge Park District went to voters was in 2013 when the purchase and redevelopment of the 11-acre former Park Ridge Youth Campus at 733 N. Prospect Ave. was approved. Today, the property is home to Prospect Park.
