Tax Hike For La Grange's Parks Considered

LA GRANGE, IL – The Park District of La Grange is considering a property tax increase that would pay for improvements at most of its parks, an official said Monday.

The tax hike would cost the owner of a $500,000 house $71 a year, said Jenny Bechtold, the district's executive director.

In recent times, the park board has been seeking the public's feedback, including through a mailed survey, on what improvements they would like to see, she said.

In August, the board plans to vote on whether to place a tax hike measure on the November ballot. The referendum would ask voters whether the district can go into debt by $13.9 million for 25 years, Bechtold said.

On Monday, Bechtold spoke to the La Grange Village Board about the district's proposal, which she said could be changed based on local feedback.

Without the money, it would take more than three decades to pay for all the improvements with the district's existing income, she said.

The proposal, Bechtold said, addresses some of the things that the district lacks now – a bandshell, dedicated pickleball courts, a dog park, a disc golf course.

Two parks, Waiola and Stone, won't be part of the plan because they are being taken care of with existing money, she said. For instance, the district received a $600,000 state grant for Waiola.

Here are the highlights of the park district's current proposal:

Community Center

• Add multiple sport court
• Connect indoors and outdoors

Denning Park

• Add a six-hole disc golf course
• Add a soccer field on the southwest corner
• Expand half basketball court to full
• Increase pathways

Elm Park

• Fix the basketball court

Gilbert Park

• Expand parking lot
• Update 1990s-era playground
• Update three tennis courts
• Convert the fourth tennis court into a multiple sport court

Gordon Park

• Build a bandshell
• Add dog park
• Add pathways
• Add seating at the splash pad
• Install synthetic turf

Rotary Park

• Replace the playground

Sedgwick Park

• Convert two tennis courts into dedicated pickleball courts
• Improve sand volleyball courts

Spring Park

• Expand the pathway to go through the entire park, rather than halfway
• Replace 1970s-era shelter