Project Status: Complete

Project Description:
Replacement of the Sunset Park playground took place in 2022/23 as part of the District’s Playground Replacement Plan. The newly-renovated playground uses sustainably-conscious equipment purchased from playground manufacturer KOMPAN, whose GreenLine products are developed by repurposing post-consumer waste, giving new life to materials, and reducing carbon emissions.

News & Updates:
Park District installs Illinois’ first playground with equipment made of recycled ocean waste (5/25/2023)

Questions or Comments
Please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

Project Status: Complete

Project Description:
Ackerman Park’s softball fields achieved DarkSky approval in September 2023, making them the first outdoor sports complex in Illinois to receive this certification. The DarkSky Outdoor Sports Lighting Program is a certification process designed to help communities reduce light pollution while maintaining adequate lighting for outdoor sports activities. The award is reserved for outdoor lighting solutions that have been proven to substantially reduce light pollution relative to non-certified facilities of similar functions.

News & Updates:
Glen Ellyn Park District’s Ackerman Park Softball Fields Earn First DarkSky Approval in the State (9/18/2023)

Questions or Comments
Please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

Project Status: Complete

Project Description:
Softball fields 5 and 6 were not included in previous park improvements due to limited funding. However, the District received funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, which covered 80% of the improvements. Renovations included black polycoated dome backstops, premium infield mix, and resizing the infields to regulation standards.

Questions or Comments
Please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

Project Status: Complete

Project Description:
George Ball Park has undergone significant upgrades, including the renovation of tennis court surfaces, the installation of new nets, and the addition of energy-efficient LED lighting. Thanks to a ComEd Energy Efficiency Grant, half of the LED lighting costs were covered. Additionally, pickleball lines have been added to the three east courts, catering to the growing interest in pickleball and enhancing the overall park experience.

Questions or Comments
Please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

A new shoreline path extending from the Lake Ellyn Boathouse to the fishing pier has been installed and is ready for Glen Ellyn residents and Lake Ellyn Park visitors to enjoy. Funded by an anonymous donation, the 12-foot-wide path features permeable pavers as well as sections of masonry seat wall and long-lasting products that align with the historical character of the park.

The entry garden was designed by Chicago-based Garden Design Consultant Austin Eischeid, who specializes in designing dynamic naturalistic plantings. Eischeid has worked alongside world renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf on numerous projects across the country and his portfolio includes Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and Midwest Groundcovers in St. Charles, Illinois. A significant variety of native plants with year-round interest and bloom times was used to emphasize the entrance of the pathway and create a wandering garden experience from the Boathouse. The horticulture will also be used as a tool for outdoor education in Park District nature programs.

The overall project was designed by Nathan Troia, Superintendent of Planning and Natural Resources and Professional Landscape Architect with the Glen Ellyn Park District. “In general, this project was about adding needed public access to the water’s edge,” said Troia. “This project is more than a walkway, but an aesthetic space in and of itself and an extension of the Boathouse.”

Improvements to the boat ramp north of the Boathouse have also been completed. Additional components to the project are expected to be done early next year. Those include path lighting as well as a rain garden, which is a depressed area with vegetation built to filter stormwater runoff, on the backside of the path.

The shoreline pathway and other elements are part of a budget-dependent multi-phase project to improve and maintain Lake Ellyn Park, which began with the 2013 Lake Ellyn Master Plan. Other Master Plan improvements throughout the years have included restoration of the historic Lake Ellyn Boathouse, replacement of the playground, converting pathway lights to energy efficient LEDs, realigning paths to expand green space, and adding the fishing pier, vegetative restorers, and interpretive signage.

For questions regarding this project, please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

Project Status: Complete

Project Description:
Improvements to the District’s skate park at Newton Park are complete. A professional skate park design consultant was engaged for the skate park design. A public meeting was held on April 21, 2022, at Spring Avenue Recreation Center. A large group of very engaged users attended and provided constructive feedback. A revised concept was submitted and ordered on June 22. Demolition was completed in late August, followed by crack protection, asphalt, and a new color coating. Skate ramp installation was completed in mid-December. For more information, please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

Questions or Comments
Please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

Project Status: Complete

Project Description:
A new shoreline path extending from the Lake Ellyn Boathouse to the fishing pier has been installed and is ready for Glen Ellyn residents and Lake Ellyn Park visitors to enjoy. Funded by an anonymous donation, the 12-foot-wide path features permeable pavers as well as sections of masonry seat wall and long-lasting products that align with the historical character of the park.

The entry garden was designed by Chicago-based Garden Design Consultant Austin Eischeid, who specializes in designing dynamic naturalistic plantings. Eischeid has worked alongside world renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf on numerous projects across the country and his portfolio includes Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and Midwest Groundcovers in St. Charles, Illinois. A significant variety of native plants with year-round interest and bloom times was used to emphasize the entrance of the pathway and create a wandering garden experience from the Boathouse. The horticulture will also be used as a tool for outdoor education in Park District nature programs.

The overall project was designed by Nathan Troia, Superintendent of Planning and Natural Resources and Professional Landscape Architect with the Glen Ellyn Park District. “In general, this project was about adding needed public access to the water’s edge,” said Troia. “This project is more than a walkway, but an aesthetic space in and of itself and an extension of the Boathouse.”

Improvements to the boat ramp north of the Boathouse have also been completed. Additional components to the project are expected to be done early next year. Those include path lighting as well as a rain garden, which is a depressed area with vegetation built to filter stormwater runoff, on the backside of the path.

The shoreline pathway and other elements are part of a budget-dependent multi-phase project to improve and maintain Lake Ellyn Park, which began with the 2013 Lake Ellyn Master Plan. Other Master Plan improvements throughout the years have included restoration of the historic Lake Ellyn Boathouse, replacement of the playground, converting pathway lights to energy efficient LEDs, realigning paths to expand green space, and adding the fishing pier, vegetative restorers, and interpretive signage.

Questions or Comments
Please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

Project Status: Ongoing

Project Description:
As part of Ackerman Sports and Fitness revaluation of the HGA Space, renovations are planned. This includes a batting cage system that can be configured in a multitude of ways, new flooring, painting, and the installation of LED lights that will be much brighter – saving energy and costs.

News & Updates:

• Utilizing a grant through ComEd, new LED lights were installed in the former Hard Gainers Athletics space. These lights have the benefits of being significantly brighter while also reducing energy costs. The incentives for this project saved almost $3,000.
• The batting cage system was installed in the first weeks of January.
• New flooring was installed in July. This includes a large rubber flooring area for group exercise and new heavy-duty turf that will accommodate various training activities.

Questions or Comments
Please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

During the October 5th Park Board meeting, board members approved bids for the redevelopment of the Newton Park playground. The plan includes replacing the existing playground with equipment with an inclusive emphasis, providing shaded seating, and new surfacing.

A highlight of the renovated playground area will be a small sensory garden filled with plants that can be touched and felt as well as smelled.

“This will be our first inclusive-focused playground, allowing children of all abilities to play side-by-side in parallel,” said Nathan Troia, Superintendent of Planning. “There will be a variety of experiences, from active and passive play to musical instruments, a sensory garden, and a dedicated structure for young children ages 2-5.”

Project details also include realigning paths near the playground to improve access and connectivity, a new bike rack, a shaded seating area, and benches.

The redevelopment plan was formed after gathering feedback from the community on proposed park improvements and is funded in part by a $400,000 matching State of Illinois OSLAD grant (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development) awarded to the Glen Ellyn Park District in 2021.

On October 13, the old playground structures were removed by Kids Around the World, a non-profit agency that repurposes playgrounds and rebuilds them in developing countries. Glen Ellyn Park District has worked with them previously to repurpose playground equipment from several parks, including Lake Ellyn, President’s, and Danby Parks.

For more information, please contact Nathan Troia at [email protected].

UPDATE:
This playground was completed on May 15, 2022, and opened to the public.

Pool participants can look forward to additional seating opportunities in 2022. A shade canopy is planned adjacent to the concession building. Underneath, an area previously turf grass will be converted to a hardscape plaza with tables. Construction was completed in April.

The pool heaters at Sunset Pool have been kept running as long as possible but have exceeded their useful life. Over the winter, staff used an aquatic engineer to specify new heaters and bid the project. Additionally, an IDPH permit has been issued. This project was completed prior to the opening of the pool for the 2022 season.

As the sport of pickleball continues to increase in participation and interest, the existing tennis court at Village Green was converted to additional pickleball courts. The layout of the new courts was determined in collaboration with representatives of the players.  The west half of the courts was striped to have two properly spaced courts, including new nets and posts. This project was completed and opened to the public July 4th.

Improvements included a new and expanded playground, and new site furniture was added along with ADA improvements and a new park sign.  The playground equipment was previously purchased through a grant opportunity in 2021.  Public bids for the construction of the park improvements were approved in March by the Board. Construction was executed in April and May, with the new playground being opened for Memorial Day weekend.  An exciting addition to the neighborhood, to replace and upgrade a playground from 1996.  This project was completed on time and within budget.

The open grass area beyond baseball fields 3, 4, and 5 has had drainage challenges over the years resulting in reduced usage and maintenance challenges. In collaboration with the Village of Glen Ellyn, drainage from the open space area to Lambert Lake was repaired in Spring 2021, and improved drainage has already been observed. The project was completed on schedule and on budget.

The small playground within the gates of Sunset Pool had a sand surface below the playground. For the past several seasons, this area has been closed due to sand wasps and rendered unusable.

Over the winter months, sand has been removed and replaced with a soft blue playground surface. This area will now be available as a break from swimming for younger children.

Click here to learn more about the Ackerman Park Improvement Project, including the project overview and frequently asked questions. For more information, please contact Nathan Troia, Parks Project Manager, at [email protected].

The tennis courts at Sunset Park were resurfaced in 2019. Painting of the courts was completed in spring 2020.

Walnut Glen Park received a new playground! Work began to enhance the park and playground equipment in early October 2019. Following discussion and engagement with nearby residents, the playground is nature-based with equipment geared toward grade school children (ages 6-12) and some components for preschool children (ages 2-5).

The access road at Churchill Park was rebuilt in spring 2019.

The new parking lot at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center was completed in September 2018. Improvements included resurfacing and repair of the lot, lighting improvements, and bioswales to reduce runoff volumes and improve stormwater quality.

Glen Ellyn Park District was successful in receiving a $439,290 Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant (IGIG) through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in October 2014. Those funds, which were to offset the cost of the parking lot improvements, continued to be withheld by the State of Illinois. While short-term improvements had been made in the interim, the Park Board approved moving forward without the grant at the May 15, 2018, meeting.

“Despite not receiving the IGIG grant, the District was resourceful in attaining a DuPage County Stormwater Improvement Grant for $35,567 to help contribute towards environmental related items – bioswales and permeable pavers,” said Harris. “Additionally, Parkview Church, which is at the corner of Riford and St. Charles, is contributing $30,801 (50%) of the expense to improve the shared entrance road into the park and church.”

Improvements focused on the main parking lot which serves Ackerman SFC and the upper Ackerman fields and included:

• Resurfacing and repair of the lot
• Entrance Road and sidewalk into park from St. Charles Road and Riford Road intersection
• Lighting improvements within parking lot and entrance road, including conversion to dark sky and L.E.D.
• Bioswales and permeable pavers within center of parking lot

The 44,000 square foot lot serves over 250,000 annual users of Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center along with many additional patrons that utilize the surrounding 65 acres of open space, natural areas, and athletic fields. While benefitting the water quality for the East Branch DuPage River, the implementation of these measures will also provide and model responsible and innovative environmental practices in a highly visible and heavily utilized area.

Weekly updates on the project were posted here as they became available.

Path improvements were completed on the south end and east side of the lake. A new path along the west side of Lake Ellyn Park, parallel with Lenox Road, was added in partnership with Village of Glen Ellyn. In addition, new landmark, informational and interpretive signage was installed in the park, thanks to an anonymous donation.

The replacement of the Main Street Recreation Center playground was completed in early October 2018. The original playground was built in 1997, but due to age and popularity, had begun to fall into disrepair. Look for additional improvements, including benches and new garbage cans, in the near future.

The replacement of the Marie Ulhorn/President’s Park playground was completed in early October 2018. The original playground was built in 1993, but due to age and popularity, has begun to fall into disrepair. The District once again collaborated with Kids Around the World, who removed the existing playground and will repurpose the old equipment to be used in a less fortunate community. Look for additional improvements, including benches and new garbage cans, in the near future.

Drainage system improvements were completed at Village Green Park in 2018.

Four (4) additional basketball goals were installed on Court 2 and new cardio equipment was added in the Fitness Center. In addition, new graphics were installed in the lower level hallway, party room, and in the indoor turf area.

A new shade structure was installed at Splading Park in 2018.

Two additional courts were completed in October, 2017. The Glen Ellyn Platform Tennis Club is contributing nearly half ($100,000) of the total cost with the remainder being offset with operating revenue from the two additional courts within six years. This will allow the facility to serve the increasing growth of women, youth, house league, open play and travel.

The tennis courts at Village Green Park were resurfaced in 2017. In addition, in order to better accommodate the growing demand for Pickleball, one of the courts was converted to four Pickleball courts.

The Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners approved construction bids at the February 21st Park Board meeting for elements related to implementing phase III of the Lake Ellyn Park Master Plan. The project included replacement of the 1991 playground; park amenities such as energy efficient L.E.D. pathway lights, park benches, bike rack, picnic tables, trash and recycling receptacles; a fishing pier in the northwest corner; vegetative restorers (small islands near the inlets which will filter and cleanse incoming storm water); interpretative signage; realigned paths in southern portion to expand green space closer to the lake and landscape.

This followed Phase II, which was completed in 2016, and involved the historic restoration of the Boathouse and improvements to the central corridor of the park. Replacement of the playground, path reconfiguration, the addition of a fishing pier and other park improvements were to be included at that time but were deferred as a significant source of funding ($400,000 OSLAD matching grant) was suspended by Governor Rauner upon taking office. Phase II, minus the OSLAD elements, was completed on time and under budget in July, 2016. The project has since received national historic recognition, local landmark designation and Gold LEED certification. Phase III construction will began in spring, 2017, and was completed in mid-June.

Parking lot improvements were made at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center. Work included resurfacing of lot, sidewalk/curb repairs, and providing a paved entrance to the Spring Avenue Dog Park. Repairs were also be made to the Dog Park entrance/exit gates and new agility dog equipment will be added.

As part of the playground replacement program, the playground at Lake Ellyn Park was replaced in 2017. In 2018, the Main Street Recreation Center playground is scheduled for replacement. The District has 21 playgrounds and it is the long-term goal to replace one playground per year as the useful life of a playground is 15 – 20 years.

The athletic lighting for the lower Ackerman athletic practice fields was updated to accommodate reconfigured field layouts while modernizing antiquated fixtures which are well pass their useful life. The improvements will result in reduced maintenance costs; provide flexible field configurations and usage while improving park safety and security. The project was completed in  February 2017.

The Glen Ellyn Rotary Club provided a $10,000 grant which contributed to improvements to the park. The Park District, the Glen Ellyn Library, and the Village of Glen Ellyn collaborated with the Rotary Club to install a StoryWalk™, an outdoor ping pong table and a chess table. Additionally, landscape improvements were completed. Thank you to the Glen Ellyn Rotary Club for their financial and in-kind donation!

The carpet for both golf courses (36 holes) was replaced in late spring, 2017. The carpet has a limited life expectancy and the surface was past its useful condition.

The athletic lighting for the lower Ackerman athletic practice fields was updated to accommodate reconfigured field layouts while modernizing antiquated fixtures which are well pass their useful life. The improvements will result in reduced maintenance costs; provide flexible field configurations and usage while improving park safety and security. The project was completed in  February 2017.

Shade/safety structures were constructed over spectator bleachers for field #1, 2, 3 and 4. The structures provide additional opportunity for shade while also providing added protection from foul balls that enter that area. Thanks to Glenbard West High School for contributing towards this improvement.

The outdoor tennis courts were overlayed with asphalt (slip sheeting) on top of the existing tennis court surface, raising the net posts and accompanying sleeves, providing new hardware, and applying the acrylic seal coating with the proper boundary lines.

An additional open air picnic shelter was constructed at Maryknoll Park.

Significant improvements to Lake Ellyn Park began in September, 2015. The $2.9 million capital improvement project concentrated on the restoration of the Lake Ellyn Boathouse, including replacement of the roof and deck, realignment and remodel of the restrooms, creation of front entry way and hallway, replacement of HVAC system, complete infrastructure overhaul and flood control wall. The project also included landscape enhancements and a standalone restroom near the playground.

The Village and Park District are collaborated on a project to replace the existing Lake Ellyn outlet control structure (OCS) and perform limited dredging on the inlet side of the lake. The work increases the pipe outflow capacity from Lake Ellyn and improves the overall storm water management ability of the lake.

Energy-Efficient Regenerative Filters for the zero-depth pool were installed this spring. The new filtration system replaced the traditional and original filter system, which will result in reduction of water and energy consumption while also improving clarity. The lap pool system was changed similarly two years ago. The lap pool was also painted in the spring and the zero-depth pool is scheduled to be repainted this fall.

The installation of a synthetic turf field at the upper Newton football field was completed in August, 2015. This was a collaborative effort between the Park District, School District 87, Golden Eagles, Lakers soccer, and Bulldogs lacrosse. It will serve community organizations including football, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, rugby and other activities.

The Glen Ellyn Park District completed an ADA-accessible trail connection from the Great Western Trail to Ackerman Park. The connection was made possible with financial assistance thanks to an Openlands – ComEd Green Region Program Grant awarded to the Park District for $10,000. The trail now provides residents with an alternative access to Ackerman Park from the north side, as well as to the County’s bike trail system.

Renovations to Safety Village at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center were completed in September, 2015. The improvements were made possible thanks to grant funds in the amount of $40,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grant provided 100% of funds needed to repair and improve the existing outdoor Safety Village area with a renovated surface and other new amenities enhancing children’s first-time learning experience regarding bicycling along with other safety situations.

In 2015, the two most northern softball fields were converted to open space allowing for more soccer fields and flexibility to move and rest fields.

New filters were installed at Sunset Pool in order to reduce water and energy consumption.

Renovations to the outdoor basketball court at the Main Street Recreation Center were completed in July, 2015. The Glen Ellyn Park District was able to refurbish this recreational area thanks to a collaborative effort with the Glen Ellyn Titans Youth Basketball organization who with assistance from the community, contributed $30,000 towards the improvement project. Additional in-kind contributions were made by Pope Lawn and Landscaping, a long time family owned Glen Ellyn business. Improvements included court resurfacing, basketball poles, glass backboards, park benches, expansion of a fence and landscape elements.

The Ackerman SFC Fitness Center was enhanced with new equipment in June 2015. Equipment included: 7 Life Fitness Treadmills, 3 PRECOR Adaptive Motion Trainers, 3 PRECOR EFX Ellipticals with Cross Ramp, 2 NuStep Recumbent Steppers and 2 StairMasters. In addition, facility enhancements took place in the gymnasium to maintain the integrity of the floor surface. The gymnasium floor was partially screened (lightly sanded), cleaned and a fresh coat of oil-based finish was applied. Two pickleball courts were permanently painted on court two during the enhancement which increased our pickleball courts from two to four.