D-205 Buys Senior Center Building From Park District

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst school system has bought The Abbey property from the local park district for a new transition center, officials announced this week.

The boards for Elmhurst School District 205 and the Elmhurst Park District approved the $1.6 million transaction at their recent meetings, according to a joint news release.

The school district said it needed a larger place for York High School's transition center, which aims to help those with disabilities from 18 to 22 to develop independence. The deal is set to close in February.

"The school district will finally find a permanent home for the transition center program, one that has adequate space and physical characteristics to meet the needs of students," District 205 Superintendent Dave Moyer said in the news release.

The Abbey has been the park district's senior center since 1974. During their long-term planning over the last few years, park officials identified a need for a new or improved senior center.

In 2019, the park board approved the purchase of 3 acres at 155 E. St. Charles Road. It includes an 11,800-square-foot recreation building that officials say would serve as a new adult center for the parks. It was dedicated over the summer as Centennial Park in honor of the park district's 100th anniversary.

The park district plans to use the proceeds of the sale to bring the rec center building up to code and develop the park, the release said. The new site is expected to expand adult and senior programs.

The Wilder Mansion will serve as the temporary senior center while the new place is developed at Centennial Park, a project that is set to be completed in late 2021 or early 2022, the news release said.

The current transition center is in downtown Elmhurst, while The Abbey is near the high school. When the park district vacates the building, District 205 will need to make major improvements to the site, so it would be premature to speculate when the transition center could move, the news release said.

"Senior citizens and adults of all ages will benefit from the new adult center envisioned for Centennial Park as part of the district's Vision 2020 plan," Jim Rogers, the park district's executive director, said in the release.