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January 5, 2015 January 5, 2015 — The Glen Ellyn Park District was awarded a $400,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant by Governor Quinn and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The OSLAD grant will fund a significant portion of the planned phase 2 improvements at Lake Ellyn Park which includes park enhancements and restoration of the Boathouse.
The remaining costs of the project will be funded through the Park District’s capital improvement fund. The overall master plan includes historic restoration of the boathouse, playground replacement, landscape and park enhancements, and shore stabilization. Phase 2 construction is anticipated to begin in July 2015 and is expected to be completed in 2016.
Often called the “jewel” of Glen Ellyn, Lake Ellyn Park is one of the most utilized parks in the District’s system. Gary Mayo, Park District Board President, stated “This grant enables the District to implement improvements to Lake Ellyn Park and the Boathouse while reducing the financial burden for the District and residents. We are thrilled that the IDNR saw the merit in this project, and awarded us the grant.”
The OSLAD grant received by the Glen Ellyn Park District has brought the amount awarded to the Park District within the past six months to nearly $1 million.
This year, after a highly competitive and extensive process, over 70 park districts, forest preserves, and recreation agencies throughout the state will receive a total of $26 million in OSLAD Grants. The improvement projects planned with these funds will benefit residents of Illinois by providing open space and new/improved recreational facilities and public parks. Additionally, these projects will also generate additional revenue through job creation and the promotion of recreation.
A formal announcement by Governor Quinn was presented in Oak Park on Saturday, January 3, 2015.
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December 14, 2014 December 14, 2014 — The Glen Ellyn Park District and its taxpayers have received positive news recently. The rating agency of Standard & Poors announced that the Park District’s bond rating has been elevated from AA to AA+, which is among the highest of any park district in Illinois. The news came in conjunction with plans to refinance some existing bonds at a lower interest rate, which will save taxpayers about $180,000 over the next 3 years.
This news comes on the heels of the Park District receiving three recent grants totaling over $500,000. The largest, a $439,000 Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant (IGIG) from the Illinois EPA, will enable the District to replace the deteriorating asphalt parking lot in front of the Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center with long-lasting permeable pavers in 2015.
Executive Director Dave Harris commented, “We went through a very competitive process to win these grants and the IGI grant in particular is huge for us. We can finally replace the parking lot at Ackerman, which we had delayed doing in hopes that we could get this grant and install the pavers rather than the traditional asphalt.” The Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center’s 44,000-square-foot, 145-car asphalt parking lot will be retrofit with interlocking permeable pavers and small areas of bioinfiltration to reduce runoff volumes and rates and improve stormwater quality. The grant will fund 70% of the cost, and provide a longer lasting, better looking, and lower maintenance surface that is very environmentally friendly. This is similar to the parking lots at the Morton Arboretum and Cosley Zoo.
Good news came about this time last year when the Glen Ellyn Park District was awarded a Sunshine Award from the Illinois Policy Institute for excellence in government transparency. The Park District was one of the first in Illinois to receive such recognition. Board President Gary Mayo said, “From day one, the current Board of Commissioners has made fiscal responsibility and transparency our top priorities. These recent events demonstrate that our efforts are paying off, in very real terms, for the residents of our Park District.” He went on the say, “It’s been a bit frustrating recently to hear spurious comments made in our local newspaper that cast the Park District in a negative light. Some of those comments have been very misleading and we believe they are coming from a vocal few, if not one person, who apparently is upset the Park District went to referendum to allow the community to determine if an indoor aquatics center should be built in Glen Ellyn.”
That referendum was soundly defeated in the November election and the Park District currently has no plans to pursue construction of an indoor pool. The Board had cautiously, and after thorough research, placed the issue on the ballot largely based on the advocacy of a Glen Ellyn citizens group (the Glen Ellyn Aquatics Initiative) who presented the concept to the Board several years back and results from the 2012 Community Attitude and Interest Survey. After considerable investigation including a feasibility study, public discussions, and financial review, it was determined that the project could truly be a recreational benefit consistent with the Park District mission while being financially compatible. Furthermore, the District also believed there was a high degree of interest within the community for an indoor pool but was unsure if a majority would support it. Believing that the community should decide on a project of this magnitude, the Board placed the issue on the November ballot. It was defeated with 60.6% voting against and 39.4% voting for the pool.
Mayo added, “The Board was elected to represent the entire community and we take that responsibility very seriously. Putting this question to the voters was absolutely the right thing to do. With the help of our Citizens Finance Committee, we preformed our due diligence, selected a mid-sized option from our consultant’s report, and felt confident that, if the voters approved it, we could operate the pool profitably. The community has clearly spoken on the issue of building a $13.5 million aquatics center, and we respect that decision. The issue is now dead.”
The District will be conducting a statistically valid, abbreviated exit survey to try to better understand the reasons for that outcome. This survey will cost $3,500, about 10 cents a resident, and is not intended to resurrect the indoor pool but to further inform and educate the Park District on the community’s wishes moving forward.
“The really good news,” Mayo went on to say, “is that our focus on fiscal responsibility has provided a 2015 budget that shows an operating surplus of over $900,000, our largest ever. This allows us to be even more responsive to the community’s wants and needs, as expressed in the 2012 Community Attitude and Interest Survey. We will be able to internally reinvest and fund the needed replacement, renovation, and improvement of our existing parks and facilities while continuing to maintain our low Park District tax levy. The recent grants will supplement those funds, and allow the District, in addition to the Ackerman parking lot, to finally connect the Great Western Trail to Ackerman Park and beyond and make modest improvements to our existing Safety Village at Spring Avenue Recreation Center.” Mayo concluded by saying, “We are looking forward to a very busy, exciting and productive year.”
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November 13, 2014
GLEN ELLYN, IL – Families are invited to Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center for a free showing of the greatest turkey movie of all time, FREE BIRDS. This fun, family-friendly event will take place on the indoor turf on November 21 at 8pm. Complimentary popcorn will be available for all moviegoers.
“This past summer, the Park District offered six free outdoor movies in our parks,” said Jeannie Robinson, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Services, “We’re excited to offer our first indoor movie at Ackerman. The turf is about as close as you can get to the feel of park in winter, without the snow and ice. We look forward to seeing everyone there and offering yet another free event to the community.”
FREE BIRDS tells the story of two rival turkeys who travel back in time to prevent their own kind from becoming a savory Thanksgiving tradition. Participants are encouraged to bring their blankets or lawn chairs. FREE BIRDS is rated PG.
Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center is located at 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn.
For more information on this event, email Jeannie Robinson at [email protected] or call (630) 858-2462.
For more information on the Glen Ellyn Park District visit www.gepark.org.
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November 12, 2014
Grab Your Running Shoes!
The Park District’s Annual Turkey Trot Begins at 8am on Thanksgiving.
Every year, the Glen Ellyn Park District is pleased to host a free, family-friendly run on Thanksgiving morning. We are thrilled to continue the tradition in 2014 and look forward to seeing the hundreds of familiar faces that come every year. All ages are invited to come and participate in this five-mile run, jog, and walk event. Strollers are welcome!
This year, the Park District is once again offering a special reward challenge for all those that attend. The two runners that most accurately guess the time it will take them to complete the course will win a special Thanksgiving treat!
No Preregistration Required
Runners can sign up for the event at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse on Thanksgiving morning. The only thing required is to sign the standard waiver before joining the race. We have found that this helps improve turn out, and makes it a great deal easier for families to participate. Be sure to allow enough time to park (or jog/run to the Boathouse) and complete the waiver, as the Turkey Trot will start promptly at 8am.
Enter To Win a Thanksgiving Treat
While at the Boathouse, enter your predicted time to complete the five miles. When finished, stop by the Boathouse and enter the actual time it took you to complete the course. Times will be announced at the finish line by our Turkey Trot coordinator, as timing devices are not allowed on the course to be eligible for prizes. Participants have up to an hour to complete the five miles to be entered for prizes. Winners will be announced in the Boathouse beginning at 9:15am.
Donate to the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry
New in 2014, the Park District is teaming up with the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry to help fill its shelves in time for the holiday season. Park District staff will be on hand at the Turkey Trot to collect non-perishable donations and will be glad to assist you in processing anything you wish to donate. Items requested by the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry include:
- Peanut Butter/Jelly
- White/Brown Rice
- Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce
- Canned Fruit, Vegetables, Beans and Soup
- Sugar (1lb or 2lb bags or boxes)
The Glen Ellyn Food Pantry is a charitable, not for profit organization that does not receive any state or federal funding. The Pantry is run by four part-time staff members and hundreds of volunteers. Each year donations helps feed the less fortunate and we are certain that, with your help, this year will be the best ever!
Location
This race will start and finish at the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, 645 Lenox Road. Registrations will occur on site on the day of the race, along with community outreach by the GEPD and the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry. The Turkey Trot will begin at 8am “sharp” on Thursday, November 27.
Click the image below to enlarge the route map:
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November 10, 2014
The Glen Ellyn Park District’s Winter 2015 Activity Guide was delivered to resident households on Saturday, November 1. Resident registration for winter programs will begin online at 12:01am on Monday, November 17.
This season, the Glen Ellyn Park District is offering a wonderful mix of new programs including TRX, Les Mills GRIT™, Pickleball lessons, an Arbor Day tree planting, teen movie nights and a free movie in the park (Rio 2). Classic events such as the Daddy Daughter Dance (now with two days and times), Touch-A-Truck, Arctic Blast (moved to Lake Ellyn) and the District’s two egg hunts will also return this season.
Kids are encouraged to stay active over spring break by attending one of the Park District’s camp offerings. Camps are available for ages 4-10 and include Pee Wee Sportsters Camp, Basketball Skills Camp, Dodgeball Camp, Tumbling Camp, and more. Registration for youth baseball, Glen Ellyn Golden Eagles football and cheerleading, youth spring soccer, and girls softball also take place this season.
Among the can’t miss programs for adults are the Park District’s line-up of trips including: Illuminations at the Morton Arboretum, Majestic Star Casino, Los Lonely Boys, Rivers Casino and Fashion Outlets, and a visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Antique and Garden Fair. In addition, a new Nature Lecture Series is being introduced this season covering topics ranging from frogs to landscaping for wildlife.
For seniors ages 60 and older, the Park District will continue to offers its monthly luncheon, complete with an entertaining program, for just $7. Luncheons will take place in January, February, March and April. In addition, free counseling for the elderly completing income tax returns will be available on Mondays from February 2 to April 8 from AARP Tax-Aide volunteers. Please call (630) 858-2463 to schedule an appointment and be sure to have your tax envelope handy.
The Glen Ellyn Park District recommends a resident signing up for programs for the first time setup their household account with the Park District by November 12. Households can be setup online at www.gepark.org or in-person at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center (185 Spring Avenue) or the Main Street Recreation Center (501 Hill Avenue).
Residents can also register in-person at the Glen Ellyn Park District’s Main Street Recreation Center or Spring Avenue Recreation Center during normal business hours beginning November 17. Non-resident registration begins December 8 at 8:30am.
The Park District’sVirtual Activity Guide is available online at www.gepark.org or by clicking here.
For more information on Glen Ellyn Park District programs and events, visit www.gepark.org, sign-up for our e-newsletter, like us on Facebook, and/or follow us on Twitter.
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