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Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation Launches $800,000 Fundraising Campaign for Downtown Community Park Development

Posted on: June 3, 2025

A new outdoor destination is coming to the heart of downtown Glen Ellyn, and the community is invited to help bring it to life. The Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Glen Ellyn Park District, has launched a fundraising campaign titled “From Parking Lot to Park!” to raise $800,000 to support enhanced amenities in Phase 1 of the Glen Ellyn Downtown Community Park.

A concept rendering of the proposed Downtown Community Park, illustrating the future vibrant green space designed to serve as a central gathering place for residents and visitors in Glen Ellyn.

The funds will help bring to life a children’s nature play area, a seasonal chilled ice rink, a welcoming plaza entrance on Duane Street, and support ongoing park operations. These donor-funded features are in addition to the planned greenspace, open lawns, and area suitable for performances that will transform the site at 453 Forest Avenue into a vibrant “front yard” for the community.

Phase 1 of the park project, estimated at $5.6 million, includes demolishing the existing building and parking lot to make way for new public space and natural landscaping. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 following site demolition in 2025.

Jonathan Huard, President of the Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation, emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to making the park a year-round hub for activity. “We want to provide an ice skating rink so that the park becomes a place where everyone can be active outdoors during the winter,” he stated. He added, “With support from donations, the addition of a children’s nature play area would bring an extra element of fun to the park.”

The development of the Downtown Community Park is part of a broader partnership between the Village of Glen Ellyn and the Glen Ellyn Park District aimed at enhancing open space and recreational amenities throughout the community. Through a newly adopted intergovernmental agreement, the Park District will develop and manage the Downtown Community Park, along with Village-owned Panfish Park and Manor Woods. This agreement demonstrates a shared commitment to improving access to nature, outdoor recreation, and vibrant community spaces for generations to come.

For more information about the Downtown Community Park Phase 1 project, or to donate, visit www.geparksfoundation.org.