Lemont Park District Considers Referendum Question

LEMONT, IL — The Lemont Park District is considering placing a referendum question to residents on the March 19 ballot.

The park district said that if approved, this question would not raise taxes for the park district's debt service. If approved by voters, bond proceeds would be used to make improvements to the Centennial Community Center and The CORE Fitness & Aquatic Complex, develop Derby Farm Park, and add new pickleball and tennis courts.

The park district said over the past 10 years, it has been asking residents to participate in its "Make Your Park" program. The program involves an interactive approach to a park development and replacement schedule that the district put in place to assist with capital maintenance and planning.

Additionally, the park district board and staff have gathered community feedback for a "Make Your Park District" master planning project. The community has shared what its most important needs are: including a downtown park, walking paths, CORE fitness programming, community events, aquatics, and improved service areas based on new developments.

More pickleball courts and a new splash pad have also been popular requests, the park district said.

To meet these expectations, the park district has identified four key projects:

Proposed improvements to the Centennial Community Center (CCC) and The CORE Fitness & Aquatic Complex would work together to increase programming capacity. Improvements to these facilities would allow the District to expand or add programming for fitness, athletic, leisure, educational, and wellness for all ages, including new programming for active adults and seniors, according to a release from the park district. Updates would include an expansion for new fitness areas, updates to the fitness center and an enhanced lobby experience.

Derby Farm Park, a new development that would be located at 131st and Derby Road. The park would feature a 4,000-square-foot splash pad, multi-sport fields and courts, a walking and fitness path, a new playground with accessible features, a picnic shelter, restrooms, concessions, and parking.

New pickleball and tennis courts are proposed at the Park District’s Centennial Campus. The plan calls for the addition of six new pickleball courts on campus and four new tennis courts to be built on the north side of 127th Street, along with a walking path and open space.

To address these facility needs and plans, the park district is considering placing a referendum question on the March 19 ballot.

“The Park District’s 2007 referendum bonds will be maturing in 2025. By keeping the total proposal at or below $17 million—and waiting to issue the new bonds until after the old bonds are paid off—the District could make significant upgrades without increasing taxes for Park District debt service," Louise Egofske, Lemont Park District Executive Director said in a release.

“Creating new programming opportunities for all age groups, including active adults and seniors, and reducing or eliminating wait lists for popular programs, are just some of the anticipated benefits of the proposed improvements,” she said.

The Park District is in the Community Engagement stage of this process and the board has not approved a ballot question.

The park district has held three community engagement meetings for resident feedback, and has also sent a survey via mail to registered voters. A hybrid, random sample phone survey will also be done this fall, the park district said.