Glen Park District to Review Next Steps Following Failed Referendum

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The following press release was sent by the Glen Ellyn Park District Tuesday night.

• Glen Ellyn Park District Voters Nix Pool Referendum

On November 4, residents voted against the $13.5 million referendum to construct an indoor aquatic center at Ackerman Sports & Fitness Center.

While the Park District is disappointed that the voters have not given their approval to add the indoor aquatic center, as we believed that this could have been a tremendous benefit for the community, we are confident that it was the right path to answer the question.

A considerable amount of time and effort was extended to research and determine if it was a worthy effort consistent with the Park District mission to “foster diverse, community based leisure opportunities, through a harmonious blend of quality recreation programs, facilities and open space which will enhance the quality of life into the future.”

After much research and vetting of the pool and analysis of the entire Park District, the Park Board strongly believed that it was a decision that should be determined by the entire community, not seven elected officials.

Through the process, we recognized that our community has a significant interest in swimming, as evidenced by the Gators outdoor recreational swim team having over 350 participants; Sunset Pool being one of the most attended facilities within the community; the two Glenbard High Schools that reside in Glen Ellyn having swim teams that use facilities outside the community; and seeing positive results in the Community Attitude and Interest survey.

Based upon those facts, performing due diligence the past two years and the advocacy by the Glen Ellyn Aquatic Initiative, a group of Glen Ellyn community members, the Park District was confident that an indoor aquatic facility would be a recreational benefit to the entire community.

We were just unsure if that was the sentiment of the majority of the community.

Therefore, we allowed the Park District constituents the opportunity to voice their collective opinion on whether they wanted their tax dollars used to fund this project, purposely choosing a higher turnout election and providing educational information, enabling the community to determine the fate of the indoor pool.

The Park District Board of Commissioners will review and evaluate the outcome of the election and discuss the next steps. No matter what, the District will continue to provide outstanding recreational programs, events, activities and services in a fiscally responsible manner serving all of Glen Ellyn.