Glen Ellyn Park District Referendum Projected To Pass

GLEN ELLYN, IL — A referendum question presented in Tuesday's General Primary Election regarding a $15.9 million bond for the Glen Ellyn Park District is projected to pass.

Glen Ellyn voters weighed in on the following question:

"Shall the Glen Ellyn Park District, DuPage County, Illinois, improve, equip and maintain Sunset Pool, expand, improve, equip and maintain Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center, improve, equip and maintain other parks and park facilities, acquire land for park purposes, and issue its bonds to the amount of $15,900,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?"

The unofficial breakdown of the votes was as follows as of 12 p.m., per the DuPage County Clerk's Office:

• Yes: 4,757 votes/62.6 percent
• No: 2,837 votes/37.4 percent

Park district officials unanimously voted in April to approve the question appearing on the June 28 ballot. The funds are intended to improve long overdue repairs at parks throughout Glen Ellyn, in addition to supporting the construction of four new parks.

The following initiatives were designated as priority projects:

• Sunset Pool improvements and maintenance
• Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center expansion and maintenance
• Maintenance and improvements to other parks
• Acquisition of land to develop four new parks

"We conducted community-wide surveys in late 2021 and early 2022, and our residents were pretty aligned in identifying a series of projects they would like to see us undertake," Alex Durham, Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners president, said in a news release.

Durham added, "With a strong directive from our residents, our board voted unanimously to put the referendum on the June 2022 ballot."

The repairs have been long overdue and would not be covered by the park district's current funds, officials say.

"Repairs and improvements to several older park facilities were identified during needs assessments," said Dave Harris, Glen Ellyn Park District executive director.

Harris continued, "Lake Foxcroft Park was last improved in the 1970s, Babcock Grove Park was last improved in 1994, and Churchill Park in 2006. To date, we have made no investment in a parcel of land along Lenox Road that was purchased in 2007. All of them need upgrades. With the residents' approval we will be able to expedite these projects and continue providing Glen Ellyn Park District residents high-quality park and recreation facilities along with outstanding services."

Park district officials issued a statement Wednesday that said, in part, "We are so grateful, and would like to thank every member of the Glen Ellyn Park District community for your continued support. From the survey responses to the ballots cast in yesterday’s vote, your voices have been heard and we are honored to deliver what matters most to you here in our community."