The June 10 Special Meeting at the Glen Ellyn Park District to discuss the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) OSLAD proposed grant application for Phase III of Churchill Park was attended by Board President Sandra Minogue and Commissioners Ron Aubrey, Melissa Creech and Ed Hess. Members of the community were also in attendance.
Dave Scarmardo, Superintendent of Parks introduced John Vann from LandTech Landscape Architecture and Site Planning who gave an overview of the work completed in Phase I and Phase II (please refer to the June 2 Blogspot article of The Glen Ellyn Park Bench), in addition to the Concept Plan for Phase III..
Phase III will consist of building a Shelter with accessible outdoor bathrooms/Nature Center for use by the entire community – including School Districts, installing a low ropes team building course, fire pit, primitive permit camping for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, several boardwalks, and removing non-native invasive plant species. The main emphasis will be on the ecological restoration by seeding with indigenous native plant species and installing new signs and exhibits.
Dave Scarmardo, Superintendent of Parks introduced John Vann from LandTech Landscape Architecture and Site Planning who gave an overview of the work completed in Phase I and Phase II (please refer to the June 2 Blogspot article of The Glen Ellyn Park Bench), in addition to the Concept Plan for Phase III..
Phase III will consist of building a Shelter with accessible outdoor bathrooms/Nature Center for use by the entire community – including School Districts, installing a low ropes team building course, fire pit, primitive permit camping for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, several boardwalks, and removing non-native invasive plant species. The main emphasis will be on the ecological restoration by seeding with indigenous native plant species and installing new signs and exhibits.
Phase III and the FINAL PHASE of the Churchill Park renovation will consist of a budget of $600,000; $300,000 of which is eligible for a reimbursable Illinois Department of Natural Resources OSLAD Grant. The final Capital Expenditure from the Glen Ellyn Park District to enhance this facility and complete the final phase is $300,000.
The deadline for the Park District to apply for this grant is July 1. They will find out early in 2010 is the grant is awarded. If the grant is awarded Phase III work will begin in summer of 2010 and completed in fall 2010 or by early 2011.
Jill Voegtle, District Horticulturist and Renae Frigo, District Naturalist were on hand to discuss their vision of outdoor educational opportunities for the community as well as restoration work needed in the prairie and wooded wetland portions of the site.
One resident wanted to know why a house currently on the property would be demolished and not renovated. The average cost to renovate this 1954 ranch was approximately $650,000 to $860,000 in order to bring it up to code and ADA regulations. Furthermore there are issues concerning asbestos abatement and the basement ceiling height.
One neighbor was concerned that this renovation would bring campers into the park at all hours and they would leave beer bottles on his lawn. He was assured that it would be primitive camping only by permit and most likely used by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who would be in relatively small groups and well supervised. The park entrance is locked at night and the bathrooms at the proposed shelter/Nature Center would be locked at night as well unless supervised permitted primitive campers were present. This park would also be patrolled as all parks are in the District.
One of Commissioner Melissa Creech’s supporters inquired as to why any of the trees should be cut down. He was informed that this would be necessary to restore the area to its natural habitat. Currently there is an overabundance of buckthorn which hampers a native species ability to thrive. Furthermore some of the non-native invasive species are rotting away due to soil conditions and creating hazards. Clearing the non-native species and opening up the forest canopy will only serve to enhance the ecosystem of the entire facility. This will be done by completing an up to date tree survey and by working with DuPage County to ensure a proper plan is in place for this facility.
The Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners will be voting on proceeding with the IDNR OSLAD grant application at their monthly Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM. This meeting is at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center, 185 Spring Avenue. As with all others, the public is invited to attend.
Information regarding the concept plan for Phase III at Churchill Park is available on the Park District website:
The deadline for the Park District to apply for this grant is July 1. They will find out early in 2010 is the grant is awarded. If the grant is awarded Phase III work will begin in summer of 2010 and completed in fall 2010 or by early 2011.
Jill Voegtle, District Horticulturist and Renae Frigo, District Naturalist were on hand to discuss their vision of outdoor educational opportunities for the community as well as restoration work needed in the prairie and wooded wetland portions of the site.
One resident wanted to know why a house currently on the property would be demolished and not renovated. The average cost to renovate this 1954 ranch was approximately $650,000 to $860,000 in order to bring it up to code and ADA regulations. Furthermore there are issues concerning asbestos abatement and the basement ceiling height.
One neighbor was concerned that this renovation would bring campers into the park at all hours and they would leave beer bottles on his lawn. He was assured that it would be primitive camping only by permit and most likely used by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who would be in relatively small groups and well supervised. The park entrance is locked at night and the bathrooms at the proposed shelter/Nature Center would be locked at night as well unless supervised permitted primitive campers were present. This park would also be patrolled as all parks are in the District.
One of Commissioner Melissa Creech’s supporters inquired as to why any of the trees should be cut down. He was informed that this would be necessary to restore the area to its natural habitat. Currently there is an overabundance of buckthorn which hampers a native species ability to thrive. Furthermore some of the non-native invasive species are rotting away due to soil conditions and creating hazards. Clearing the non-native species and opening up the forest canopy will only serve to enhance the ecosystem of the entire facility. This will be done by completing an up to date tree survey and by working with DuPage County to ensure a proper plan is in place for this facility.
The Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners will be voting on proceeding with the IDNR OSLAD grant application at their monthly Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM. This meeting is at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center, 185 Spring Avenue. As with all others, the public is invited to attend.
Information regarding the concept plan for Phase III at Churchill Park is available on the Park District website:
