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April 24, 2020 Stay active while practicing social distancing by participating in the Glen Ellyn Strong Virtual 5K! The 5K is free and open to the public (no registration required) but you can also get gear delivered straight to your door! Order a race shirt and every purchase made will help support the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry. Read More »
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April 22, 2020 Please click here to read an important update from the Executive Director regarding Sunset Pool opening day and Glen Ellyn Park District operations.
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Dear Residents and Patrons,
Sunset Pool traditionally opens on Memorial Day weekend. Due to COVID-19 and the current Governor’s orders and CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines, the Glen Ellyn Park District has delayed the opening of the facility until at least June 13th. This is a tentative date to allow for further review including clarification, direction, and guidance on safety measures the facility would need to implement and operate under in order to protect the wellbeing of patrons and employees.
The Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners will further discuss the status of the pool at the May 5th Board meeting. It is expected confirmation of the pool’s status will be made at that time. While the importance and value Sunset Pool provides to the community is immeasurable, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of visitors and staff will be the highest priority.
Like the rest of the Glen Ellyn community, the Glen Ellyn Park District has not been spared from the effects, challenges, and difficult decisions that accompany this unprecedented period. The Park District has:
- Ceased nearly all operations and closed all facilities including Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, Lake Ellyn Boathouse, and Main Street and Spring Avenue Recreation Centers.
- Cancelled spring special events such as Earth Day and Touch-a-Truck.
- Suspended or cancelled recreational classes and athletic programs.
- Delayed the opening of Holes & Knolls Mini Golf Course.
- Closed all outdoor athletic courts (tennis, basketball, Pickleball, platform), athletic fields, and playgrounds.
- Parks, trails, and the Spring Avenue Dog Park remain open!
Operationally, the District has transitioned nearly 90% of its administrative/managerial staff to working remotely. All are still communicating with the public and actively working. While working in modified shifts, parks maintenance staff is performing regular duties including spring/summer preparation and mowing and caring for parks and green space all while being safe and practicing social distancing. Unfortunately, the District did furlough nearly 100 part-time employees.
Unlike school districts and the library who collect most of their revenue through property taxes, the Glen Ellyn Park District generates nearly 55% of its revenue from user fees. As the District’s programs are not running and there is much unknown about upcoming programs, the Park District is not collecting revenue while also refunding a substantial amount due to the cancellations. In anticipation of the financial effects of COVID-19, the District did defer nearly $800,000 of budgeted expenses for 2020. Staff is currently forecasting the next several months based on a variety of contingencies including no activities until the start of school in the fall.
Despite the challenges and restrictions, the Glen Ellyn Park District remains productive, motivated, resourceful, and dedicated. The agency continues to provide positive and constructive opportunities for the community ranging from sports training to talent contests to live virtual fitness classes. I would encourage all to peruse the website, social media, and various newsletters and other communications.
Additionally, the Park District has offered several successful outreach opportunities including food drives, blood drives, and collection of products for DuPagePads.
The District has also been active in the promotion of social distancing and encouraging compliance to the CDC and Governor’s guidelines. Compliance ambassadors were instituted and have been working seven days a week overseeing Park District properties.
Decisions about upcoming athletics, summer camps, sports camps, seasonal facilities (Sunset Pool, Splash Pad, Holes & Knolls) and special events are being considered and will certainly be influenced by mandates by the Governor and CDC. Some spring sports have been cancelled at this time including lacrosse and rugby. Decisions on cancelling or offering modified seasons for the spring baseball, field hockey, soccer, and softball programs will be made by May 1st and all participants will be contacted.
While the District is anxious to fully serve our constituents and have life back to “normal,” it will be done following the recommendations of science and facts and at the direction of the State and CDC guidelines. The safety and wellbeing of patrons and employees and contributing to the overall effort to flatten the curve is the highest priority.
Sincerely,
Dave Harris
Executive Director
Glen Ellyn Park District
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April 17, 2020 Celebrate Arbor Day at home with these fun activity sheets from the Arbor Day Foundation. Each year, Arbor Day celebrates the role trees play in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.
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Rain barrels are an excellent way to collect stormwater runoff to be used for your gardens, lawn, and flowers. Watch this helpful video from The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Openlands on how to properly install a rain barrel at your home! Watch now >
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April 16, 2020 As more of our community members begin to lose jobs and income, the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry is in urgent need of items. To make it even more convenient to donate, we’ve partnered with Glen Ellyn Food Pantry and Kiwanis Club of Central DuPage County to host a “drive-thru drop-off” food drive at Ackerman SFC on Thursday, May 7th from 1:30pm-6pm. New and unopened pet food products (bagged, canned, treats) will also be collected at that time. When dropping off your donation, please follow the signs toward the front entrance drive. Read More »
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Due to the shutdown of all Park District facilities in response to COVID-19, the April 21st meeting of the Park Board of Commissioners will be held by Zoom conference as permitted by the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation in Response to COVID-19 (COVID-19 Executive Order 5) exempting the requirement of the Open Meetings Act for the physical presence of the Commissioners at the meeting and permitting Commissioner attendance by video, audio, or telephone access. Read More »
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April 15, 2020 Help ensure a healthy blood supply in Illinois by donating at the upcoming blood drive at Ackerman SFC, 800 St. Charles Road, on Thursday, May 7. Appointments are required in order to control the number of people at the site at a given time and to ensure safe social distancing (no walk-ins).
Click here to sign up or call/text Camille from Versiti at (847) 305-9998. Read More »
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April 10, 2020 Those who visit Lake Ellyn Park may notice algae on the water. Algae is a naturally occurring aquatic plant. Unfortunately, it can sometimes have overabundant growth. When this occurs, it can be unsightly, detrimental to the lake’s health, and/or may produce toxins. Many Chicagoland ponds and lakes are experiencing similar conditions partially due to the mild winter.
The Park District’s lake management company treated the lake with an algaecide on Friday, April 10. Please stay out of the lake, keep your pets out of the lake, and as always, keep your dog from drinking the lake water.
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Help DuPagePads support those experiencing homelessness during this crisis. A drive-thru drop-off collection drive will be held at Ackerman SFC on Wednesday, April 15th from 1:30pm-6pm. Read More »
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April 9, 2020 Those who visit Lake Ellyn Park may notice algae on the water. Algae is a naturally occurring aquatic plant. Unfortunately, it can sometimes have overabundant growth. When this occurs, it can be unsightly, detrimental to the lake’s health, and/or may produce toxins. Many Chicagoland ponds and lakes are experiencing similar conditions partially due to the mild winter.
The Park District retains a lake management company who treats the water periodically from late spring to early fall. While their services have yet to begin for 2020, the District has been in contact and their technician will be treating the lake with an algaecide. When that occurs, notices will be posted on our website and near lake. Please stay out of the lake, keep your pets out of the lake, and as always, keep your dog from drinking the lake water.
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April 8, 2020 Thank you, Glen Ellyn! All appointments for the blood drive on April 15th have been filled (walk-ins will not be accepted). Ackerman SFC will host another blood drive on Thursday, May 7th. Check back for details! Read More »
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April 6, 2020 Due to the shutdown of all Park District facilities in response to COVID-19, the April 7th meeting of the Park Board of Commissioners will be held by Zoom conference as permitted by the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation in Response to COVID-19 (COVID-19 Executive Order 5) exempting the requirement of the Open Meetings Act for the physical presence of the Commissioners at the meeting and permitting Commissioner attendance by video, audio, or telephone access. Read More »
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March 30, 2020 As more of our community members begin to lose jobs and income, the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry is in urgent need of items. To make it even more convenient to donate, we’ve partnered with Glen Ellyn Food Pantry and Kiwanis Club of Central DuPage County to host a “drive thru” Food Drive at Ackerman SFC on Friday, April 3rd from 1pm-4pm. When dropping off your donation, please follow the signs toward the front entrance drive. Read More »
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March 24, 2020 Looking for ways to help during these unprecedented times? Our friends at Giving DuPage have put together an extensive list of urgent volunteer and in-kind donation needs. Click here.
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March 20, 2020 Don’t forget to rock your socks on March 21st! Saturday is World Down Syndrome Day and you can show your support by wearing mismatched socks and by having kiddos color socks for the local window hunt! Click here for a free socks coloring sheet. You can also visit https://www.ds-int.org/world-down-syndrome-day to learn why and how World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated, and about this year’s call to action!
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March 17, 2020 We’ve pulled together some fun resources so you can take a virtual trip to Yellowstone Park, listen to a story, learn how to construct a butterfly feeder, and more. Have a suggestion for the list? Please email [email protected]! See the list >
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March 16, 2020 Please click here for all the latest updates pertaining to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Park District operations. The page will be updated as information is available or changes.
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March 15, 2020
Our online registration system has been rebooted to correct the search issue some users experienced this evening. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Please email [email protected] if you continue to experience any issues and we will address them as quickly as possible.
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March 11, 2020 The Glen Ellyn Park District has published its Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. Within the Annual Report are highlights of the Park District’s 2019 financial results and achievements. The report also contains information on natural area restoration projects, community events, partnerships, athletics and upcoming projects for 2020.
View the 2019 Annual Report »
Glen Ellyn Park District residents may receive a hard copy of the Annual Report at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center, 185 Spring Avenue, Glen Ellyn.
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