S P E C I A L

N O T E

Project Parks and Play: Explore the Possibilities

COMMUNITY SURVEY DEADLINE

IS MONDAY, MARCH 13!

If you haven’t completed your Park District survey yet, we sent you a reminder postcard last week. Your postcard includes a link to the survey website and a pin code specific to your family. The survey will solicit your feedback surrounding sustainability, recreation, accessibility and inclusion, safety, innovation and more.

This is your chance to be heard! Complete your survey by March 13! Your feedback will shape the next decade of the Park District.



Any questions? Reach out to our partner aQity Research & Insights at 866-900-8555 or aQity@aQityResearch.com

P R O J E C T

U P D A T E S

Project Phases:

Our project work moves through a process that's broken into four phases: Defining, Planning, Execution and Completion. For detailed definitions of of each project phase, go here.

DEFINING PHASE

Consideration of Pickleball Courts

January and February have been busy months for pickleball, as Park District staff and Board of Park Commissioners focused on exploring all the ways to bring pickleball to Wilmette.

Locating Sites for Dedicated Outdoor Courts: Commissioners and Park District staff have been drilling into location options for permanent outdoor pickleball courts. Using an established set of criteria, each park with viable space for courts was carefully examined. The Board narrowed locations to Community Playfields, Centennial Park and Maple Park.

At their February 13 meeting, Commissioners agreed to select one location initially, Community Playfields, to explore in more detail, noting that a deep-dive analysis will involve a significant amount of additional work, including cost estimates, sound strategies, parking, and other considerations. As a result, Park District staff are moving forward this month with a detailed analysis focused on pickleball courts at Community Playfields.

Making Pickleball More Available Outdoors: Hearing the community's urgent plea for expanded pickleball options, the Board is committed to adding a variety of opportunities as quickly as possible. Park District staff are working to identify additional outdoor tennis courts for pickleball lining (Hibbard and Maple Park courts currently have lines). Staff are also researching moveable pickleball nets for use on the courts.

Making Pickleball More Available Indoors: The Park District is working to expand times when drop-in indoor play is available. This month, additional drop-in pickleball times will be offered at the Wilmette Tennis Club and the Community Recreation Center. And, talks are underway to possibly use D39 & D37 school gymnasiums for evening pickleball. See the full list of locations, days and times for indoor pickleball in the February 27 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting agenda packet here, on page 75.

For much more detail about Park District research and discussion with regard to pickleball, click here to watch the Board's conversation at their February 13 Regular Meeting, and click here to see engineer's drawings and additional information beginning on page 93 in the February 13 Regular Meeting agenda packet.

DEFINING PHASE

Consideration of Wallace Bowl Renovation

Woodhouse Tinucci Architects have completed a structural evaluation, landscape review, masonry preservation analysis and have received an A/V consultant report. A full report from Woodhouse Tinucci is anticipated in March.

DEFINING PHASE

Memorial Program and Landscape Plans

At their February 27 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting, the Board discussed the Park District’s Memorial Policy, which works hand-in-hand with the District’s landscape plans for the entire parks system. To learn more, go to page 77 of the February 27 COW agenda click here

PLANNING PHASE

Project Parks and Play: Explore the Possibilities

Early Community Research Input

At the February 27 Committee-of-the-Whole (COW) meeting, consultants from BerryDunn presented a status report on Project Parks and Play, the Park District’s comprehensive and strategic planning initiative. The Board heard about the wide variety of ways we have received input to date, and discussed next steps. See the presentation beginning on page 43 in the February 27 COW agenda packet here.



PLANNING PHASE

Gillson Park Comprehensive Plan Projects

Road, sewer, sidewalk and pathway work begins in September - Gewalt Hamilton and Associates have begun confirming scope and creating initial estimates to do the road, sewer and sidewalk work in Gillson Park, including the transformation of Middle Drive into a multi-use pathway.

Gillson Park landscape design process to begin; public input workshops coming - Consultants at Upland Design are preparing a proposal to create a landscape plan for Gillson Park. They will hold several public workshops to gather input from the community this spring.

Gillson Park considered for entry onto National Register of Historic Places - Landmarks Illinois is working to place Gillson Park on the National Register of Historic Places. They have submitted a preliminary form to the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office. Initial response was favorable.

PLANNING PHASE

West Park and Platform Tennis Club Enhancements

At their February 13 meeting, the Board approved bids for Wilmette Platform Tennis Club hut expansion and related decking. Work will commence in late March.

EXECUTION PHASE

Langdon Shoreline Protection Project

In January, the Board directed consultants from SmithGroup to move forward with detailed drawings and with the permitting process for the design noted as B4 in their presentation from October 24 (see presentation beginning on page seven in the October 24, 2022 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting agenda packet, here).

Hearing community requests to access Langdon Beach this summer (Lake Michigan levels are now approximately 24 inches lower than previous years), the Board has requested Park District staff to explore the feasibility of a temporary, soft path for early summer access, delaying construction work to late summer. More information will be available later this month.

EXECUTION PHASE

Lakeview Center Renovation Project

Work at the Lakeview Center was on pause while the Park District designed and gained approval for a fire suppression system. Work has now resumed, the system has been installed, and the Lakeview Center is still on track to open in time to serve summer programs and camps.

EXECUTION PHASE

Keay Nature Center Project

Nearly all of the work is complete at Keay with regard to the path improvements and areas for nature play.

EXECUTION PHASE

Community Playfields Restroom Project

The work is largely complete on this project with some remaining site work to be completed in spring. The bathrooms are set to open when we normally provide toilet facilities throughout the park system.

A D D I T I O N A L

B U S I N E S S

Updated Policies

• Outstanding check policy - updated policy language now reflects 2017 State of Illinois change, which shortened the time for checks to be designated as abandoned property from seven years to three.
• Public comment policy - updated policy reflects standard Illinois Association of Parks and Recreation practices.

February 27 Special Meeting Bid Approvals

• Community Recreation Center front doors- current doors are approximately 30 years old; replacement required to ensure safety.
• Lakeview Center & Gillson Beach House furniture - see special meeting agenda packet for details.

Departmental Updates

• Also at the February 27 Special Meeting, the Board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Wilmette to share the services of a new Sustainability Coordinator. Look for more information about this exciting new position to be featured on our website this month.
• Lakefront General Manager Ben Wozney reported that his staff has processed 900 vessel registration spots with a 95 percent return rate. This year, they were able to move 60 applications off the waitlist, largely for SUPs.
• The Center Fitness Club will add additional group fitness classes in the evenings as a result of recent survey responses.

A C C E S S

To view Agendas and Minutes from past Board meetings, click here. Minutes are posted after they are approved the following month.

Next Regular Monthly Board meeting: Monday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall at 1200 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette.

Next Committee-of-the-Whole meeting: Monday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mallinckrodt Center "Big Room", 1041A Ridge Road, Wilmette.

All meetings are open to the public. Details are posted on the Upcoming Meetings page on our website.

Regular Monthly Board meetings are available to view live on Channel 6 locally for Comcast subscribers. View a live meeting online here, or view previous meeting recordings here (scroll down to "Wilmette Park District"). Please check our website often for updates.