Bid Process Begins for Denning Park Renovations

Park District of La Grange Commissioners gave the go ahead to bid out projects for the renovation of Denning Park at Monday night's La Grange Park District board of commissioners meeting.

In June commissioners approved a $508,000 renovation plan that involves regrading a drainage ditch that runs along the southern park borders. In addition to the drainage solution answered last month, park district commissioners were tasked with addressing some of the other proposals for the renovation, including new walkways, new parking, the removal of a couple of storage buildings, relocation of a children’s play area and a possible basketball court.

Although all the commissioners support the renovation plans, not everything was approved without some debate. Board President Mary Ellen Penicook questioned the aesthetics of the use of prairie grass in part of the drainage ditch.  She said she did not like the idea of the area looking too wild or “messy.”

“I don’t know what I want it to be, I just want it to be a major improvement over what it is now. I don’t want it to reduce our use of the park… I just want it to beautify the park,” Penicook said.

Architect Jeff Braun assured her the native plants used to help drainage would not create a “junky” look in the park.

The proposed basketball court generated discussion. Commissioners were unanimous in their thought that a “shoot around” was not the most ideal basketball offering at the park. While the commissioners did not want a full-sized basketball court, they agreed to a two-thirds size court. Park District staff though felt a shoot-around was more appropriate for the park.

Commissioner Bob Ashby called the shoot-around court “weak.”

“It’s OK if you’re playing horse with a six-year-old, but that’s about it,” Ashby said. 

Penicook also brought up the idea of constructing a stand alone restroom on the park premises. Currently there is a portable bathroom facility on the park site, but Penicook said building a permanent structure might be a good use of some of the grant money awarded by Lyons Township for the park reconstruction.

The other commissioners did not support her call, insisting that construction costs would be much too high, speculating the price tag to be between $60,000 and $100,000. Commissioner Chris Walsh said the portable restroom costs the park district $120 per month. He said that was a better investment. Staff members also said the utility costs to maintain a new bathroom that would be open during park hours would be too high.

During a period of public comment at Monday’s meeting, Jim Boo, who lives near Denning Park, asked the commissioners to consider cancelling or delaying some of the proposed renovation ideas, including the community garden and the planed parking lot on the south side of the park. Boo said both ideas are unnecessary expenses.

The commissioners debated Boo’s suggestions, but disagreed. The proposed parking lot on 50th Street, would offer 13 new spaces. While the commissioners wanted to open that end of the park to parking, they agreed to bid out the project as an alternate, in order to gain more time for to study not only its costs, but also to meet with village officials about the condition of the road, which, they said is in a state of disrepair.

The garden was also something commissioners felt would benefit the park. Ashby said its creation was not a major financial investment.

During the August meeting Braun will present remaining plans for final board approval. He said he expects all projects to be out to bid after that meeting and hopes to begin construction in September. Renovations are expected to be completed in spring of 2012.