Fox Valley Park District

Fox Valley Park District
Fall 2008 Update
Following voter approval on Feb. 5, 2008, of a $44.8 million capital
improvement bond referendum, the Fox Valley Park District has moved
forward with progress on an array of projects. In carrying out residents’
wishes, the District’s ongoing objectives are to acquire and protect
land for nature areas, open space and for park and recreation purposes,
including along the Fox River; improve and develop trails and fishing access; and improve and renovate neighborhood and community
parks and playgrounds, sports fields and facilities and Blackberry Farm.
Making Progress on All Fronts
Open Space, Nature Area and Park Acquisition
Kirk Rd.
Hart
Dr.
Creek
Pine
Butterfield
Park
d.
hR
ass
Byp
Austin Park
Montgomery Rd.
Future Trail
TRAI
Connection
L
WAU
BO
K
Eola Rd.
r.
Kautz
yD
Park
Middlebury
East
Park
Cumberland
Park
Briarwood
Park
Crescent Park
South Branch
Linear Park
Edinburgh Park
Andover Park
Four Pointes Park
Ridge Park
Burlington Park Wheatlands Comm. Park
Rt. 3
0 By
pass
Ha
fen
rich
ter
Gilman Trail
connection by
Oswegoland
Park District
Rd
4
.3
Rt
0
t. 3
.R
U.S
712 S. River Street, Aurora, Illinois 60506
Phone: 630-897-0516 • Website: www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
Harbour
Springs Park
Barrington
Lake
.
Lakewood
Park
Amber Field
Park
ing
ross
C
Wolfs
Meadow Lake Park
Montgomery Rd.
Middlebury
West
Park
ton
30
AN
CREE
Eola Rd.
Rt.
GILM
1
IL
R
RIVE
Sherman
Krug Park
NSIE
v
nA
gde
34/O
Sill Park
Park
Fox Hill
Park Georgetown
TRA
Phillips Park Aquatic Center
Rt.
Eola
Community
Center Park
Clearwood
Waubonsie Lake Park
Slattery Park
McCarty
Park
Frontenac Rd.
Moecherville
Park
South Spring Lake
Amberwood Park
Middlebury
TRAIL
Lebanon
Park
South Island Park
Montgomery
Park
Breckenridge
Park
5th Ave.
South River
Park
Aurora Prairie
Oakhurst
Maintenance
Brdwy.
Stuart
Sports
Complex
Westwood Park
Pine Knoll Park
Center Street Park
Spring Lake
Oakhurst
Wetland Wetlands
Park
Cheshire Lake Park
Barring
Bluff Street
Park
FOX
Jericho Lake Park
Jericho Rd.
Titsworth
Mini Park
Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. Park
Co
Steck Park
Frontenac Park
ork S
ew Y
E. N
5
Je
3
Brooklyn Park
t.
Rollins Park
Union Flagg
Mini Park
Hurds
Copley I Island
Orchard Rd.
.
Liberty St.
Lincoln Ave. Mini Park
d.
Lincoln Park
n Trail
N. Aurora Rd.
.
Blvd
Asbury Park
Cowherd Park
Copley II Park
Galena Blv
Golfview Park
Rd
richo
Rural Street
Mc
Gilma
Veterans
Memorial
Island
May Street
Park
Stevens Park
Farnsworth
Lindens
Park
rdg
Stnb
Sutton Lake Park
Hill Ave.
Prairie St.
Cambridge Chase
Park
Stonebridge
Park
Sheffer Rd.
.
Barnes Road
Maintenance
Washington
Park
St.
Birmingham Park
Reckinger Rd.
Indian Trail
Simmons
Park
5
Cherry Hill Park
Edgelawn
Splash
Country
New York
Molitor Rd.
IS
Pigeon Hill Park
McCULLOUGH
PARK / PRISCO
COMMUNITY
CENTER
Greene Field
Park
Orchard
Lake
Park
O’Donnell
Park
PATH
IE
ILLINOIS
PRAIRIE PATH
Farnsworth
2
Indian Trail
East Park
Jaycee
Park
Richards St.
Park
McCleery
Park Illinois Ave.
Rob Roy Park
Hall Park
Blackberry
Farm
Barnes Rd.
St.
Arrow Wood
Park
Gregory
Island
NO
Av
e
Canterbury
Park
5
Indian Trail
PRAIR
ILLI
Lin
co
ln
Robert B. Hupp
Park
Hankes Road
Park
AIL
Gordeon Roa
d
AN TR
Cool Acres
Rt
.2
6
ORCHARD VALLEY
GOLF COURSE
s Rd.
GILM
Lake
Smith Park
INDIAN
CREEK PARK
Kautz
Ch
t Tollway
I-88 East Wes
Church Road Park
4
Randall Park
Highland Ave.
Orchard Rd.
Hanke
Golden Oaks Park
Prairie Path
urc
Mitchell
25
Rt.
Bilter Rd.
Eola Rd.
Banbury Rd.
Lin
Randal
Deerpath Rd.
l Rd.
Rt. 25
Feltes Rd.
Erickson
Mini Park
Rt
.2
Dickson Rd.
North Aurora
Island Park
I-88 East West Tollway
Foxcroft Park
th
Ginger Woods Park
Chesterfield Park
NORTH AURORA
ACTIVITY CENTER
Goodwin Park
VAUGHAN
ATHLETIC
CENTER
Rios
Soccer
Complex
ad
ld Ro
Butterfie
Highlands Park
Oak
Sullivan Rd.
Pa
Pinecreek Park
irie
6
Wing Foot
Park
Schneider Park
Willow Lake Park
Fearn Park
Tanner Road
Pra
Tanner Trails Park
Fairfield Way Park
5
Red Oak
Nature Center
il
4
Lippold
Park
Orchard Rd.
er Tra
3
19.81 acres) – The largest land acquisition
in recent District history will greatly enhance
the Waubonsie Lake greenbelt and allow for
extension of the Waubonsie Creek Trail. With
this addition, the “Emerald Strand” greenway
surrounding Waubonsie Creek now totals
232 acres.
New Community Park (New Haven Drive,
17 acres) – A valuable land parcel in a highly
developed, inner-city area that was acquired
through an intergovernmental agreement with
the Kane County Forest Preserve District.
Lake Park addition (5.45 acres) –
Jericho
Located near the park entrance, the new land
will increase parkland space and allow for future
trail improvements while enhancing the park’s
visibility and presence along Jericho Road.
River shoreline frontage (3.26 acres) –
Fox
An exciting acquisition on the river’s east shore
just north of the Sullivan Road bridge that will
allow expansion of Cool Acres Park.
Road Park addition (1.87 acres) –
Randall
Allows expansion of Randall Road Park.
Vaughan Athletic Center addition (.96 acres) –
Will provide additional land for use by the
adjacent Vaughan Athletic Center.
Fox Riv
2
coln
Community Park (Montgomery Road,
1 New
FOX
Hw
y.
RIVE
R
TRAI
L
Land acquisition goals include preserving and restoring nature areas, expanding public access to the Fox River, extending riverfront
trails, and providing additional park, recreation and open space throughout the community. To date, the District has acquired nearly
50 additional acres of open space:
Fox Valley Park District
Fall 2008 Update
Regional Trail Improvements
(Fox River and Gilman Trails,
Illinois Prairie Path)
Work has been completed or is currently under way to
expand the District’s regional trail system and improve
existing trails and trail facilities.
• A
one-mile section of the Illinois Prairie Path between
Indian Trail and Illinois Avenue was repaved.
• A
¾-mile section of the Gilman Trail between Route 56
and Galena Boulevard was repaved.
• M
ore than 11 miles of the Gilman and Fox River Trail
center lines were re-striped, improving appearance and
enhancing safety.
• T he Fox River Trail will be extended north by one-half
mile on the west bank of the Fox River from South River
Street Park in the spring of 2009.
• T he Fox River Trail’s remaining gap – 0.8 miles – will be
connected between Hurds Island and downtown Aurora
in 2009, making for an uninterrupted trail from Oswego
to the Wisconsin border.
• T he Gilman Trail overpass at Galena Boulevard is
currently being engineered and designed. Construction
is expected to start in the spring of 2009.
• F uture plans for the Waubonsie Creek Trail will involve
a ½-mile extension along the north side of Waubonsie
Creek from west of Montgomery Road to form a loop
extending to Waterford Drive.
Fox River Park and
Nature Area Improvements
Objectives include renovation of District-owned river
shoreline and islands to expand recreation, improve fishing
access, improve parking, upgrade existing facilities, expand
natural areas and restore native habitats.
• B
id awards for Cool Acres Park are expected in
November. Improvements will include a new playground,
repaved parking areas and additional paved paths, with
construction to begin in the spring of 2009.
• Montgomery Park is set to receive new restrooms
this fall, with overall park improvements expected to
commence in the spring of 2009.
• S horeline stabilization work on Veterans Island is
planned for the summer of 2009.
• A
doption of the Lippold Park Natural Area Master Plan
is expected this fall. Phase I of the natural area restoration
plan will be implemented in the spring of 2009.
• W
ith soil testing complete, construction will resume
this fall at North Aurora Island Park. New playground
equipment will be installed and the adjacent plaza/
shelter area will be upgraded and expanded.
Neighborhood Park and
Playground Improvement
and Renovation Program
In an ongoing effort to update established neighborhood
parks, projects include replacing outdated play areas with
new, safer, innovative play equipment; adding or replacing
picnic shelters; constructing additional walking paths and
planting many more trees. Projects completed to date
include:
• Erickson Park in North Aurora
• Cowherd Park in Aurora
• M
ay Street Park in Aurora will be completed in
November.
• C
hurch Road Park is planned for upgrades in the
summer of 2009.
foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
Community Park Improvement
and Renovation Program
Objectives are to improve recreation opportunities at the
District’s large, community-wide parks:
• Simmons Park will have improvements implemented in
2009 and 2010 that include new playgrounds, shelters,
restrooms, walking trails and improved parking.
• R
enovations and improvements at Jericho Lake Park will
include replacement of the current pavilion, improved
fishing access, the addition of boat rentals and a trail
system encircling the 20-acre lake.
Blackberry Farm
The District completed a feasibility study that envisions
a bright, new future for this 40-year-old facility. As a next
step, the District will develop a concept plan with public
input that will direct future improvements. Preliminary ideas
for improvements include adding new, historical-themed,
interpretive and fun learning experiences; developing
new special events; improving group picnic facilities;
and upgrading public access.
Sports Fields and Facilities
The first phase of ongoing ball field improvements and
upgrades began in September, with grading and infield
improvements being performed on 20 of the District’s
baseball/softball fields. Adding infield mix and re-grading
infields, eliminating infield/turf “lips,” seeding/sod, reshaping
batters’ boxes and pitching mounds and reinstalling base
anchors and home plate are planned improvements:
• T he 20 ball fields to be upgraded this fall are Stuart
Sports Complex (Legion, East, West and North), Eola
(North and South), Fearn (East and West), Goodwin
(North and South), Hall Park, Copley II, Lebanon
(Parker and Middle), McCleery, Copley I, Church Road,
Krug (East), O’Donnell (North) and Schneider (East).
• C
onstruction of ball field dugouts and the installation of
foul poles is also under way at Stuart Sports Complex
(Legion, East, West and North), Eola (North and
South), Fearn (East and West) and Copley I.
• A
ball field lighting renovation
project will be completed this fall at Stuart Sports
Complex. Existing lights at all four diamonds will be
replaced with an energy efficient, state-of-the-art
Musco system. Comparable to the new ball field
lighting at Greene Field Park in Aurora, it uses 40
percent less energy while significantly reducing and
more directly controlling off-site light spill.
• T he Washington Park tennis courts were dedicated
Oct. 1 during a grand opening ceremony. The nine-court
facility received a stone base and asphalt overlay on the
existing court surfaces, a vibrant color coating, new black
vinyl fencing, a new accessible concrete pathway and
landscape restoration. A state-of-the art, energy-efficient
Musco lighting system that features separate service for
three zones will provide cost and energy savings at times
when certain courts are not in play.
Stuart Sports
Complex Expansion
Future plans include the development of 180 vacant acres
to the south and improvement of current facilities:
• A
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of affiliate
organizations, user groups, village and homeowner
associations will provide input on master plan concept
alternatives, specific facility design needs and potential
facility programming.
• A
master plan will be presented to the District’s Board of
Trustees for review sometime in late 2008 or early 2009.
• C
onstruction is expected to begin in the summer of 2009.
Sports fields are targeted for completion toward the end
of 2010.
Fox Valley Park District
Capital Improvement Projects
Fall 2008 Update
Investing in our future through
other, non-referendum projects
The Fox Valley Park District is a dynamic and growing park district
that serves a population of more than 200,000 people. In serving
the communities of Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery, the
District continues to expand services to meet the open space,
park and recreation needs of residents.
In addition to the voter-approved OSPRI projects, the District
also has approximately $5.7 million budgeted in 2008-09 for
other park and recreation capital improvement projects that
have either been completed or are under way:
Community Parks
Greene Field Park
• ‘Spaceship Greene’ – a 40-foot high rocket ship – as playground
centerpiece.
• P
aved pathways, a reservable picnic shelter with grill, restrooms,
soccer field, basketball courts, renovated ball fields and energyefficient lighting.
Nature’s Pointe Park
• M
odern playground, shelter with a plaza-style pavilion area
and public parking.
Andover Park
• N
ew playground
with a modular
play structure,
swings, freestanding toys for young children and a field
area for informal soccer play among 10 acres of open space.
• C
ircular paved area accessible by a newly paved sidewalk
that connects from the street.
• Extensive tree planting.
Fairfield Way Park
• N
ew, state-of-the-art playground with a modular play
structure, swings and free-standing toys for young
children, half-court basketball area and a backstop for
informal baseball play.
• Hexagonal picnic shelter built on patio of textured concrete.
• A
sphalt trail runs within the park and connects with the
adjacent subdivision trail.
Moecherville Park
• N
ew playground with a modular play structure, swings and
free-standing toys for young children.
• Resurfaced full-length basketball court.
• L arge practice field, a soccer game field, two half-court
basketball areas and an informal baseball backstop.
• C
ircular, concrete patio area and a newly paved sidewalk connecting from the street to the playground and basketball court.
• A
network of interconnected trails through natural grassland
areas and 74 newly planted trees.
Westwood Park
• Canoe/kayak launch and an extended fishing pier.
• N
ew playground with a modular play structure, swings, freestanding toys for young children and a “Multi Pondo” – a
standing see-saw that combines exercise and fun for kids.
• M
ulti-age playground, shelter, restrooms, two youth soccer
fields, a basketball half-court and parking lot improvements
for better public access.
• D
ouble basketball court repaved and seal-coated. Four backboards refurbished and repainted, then outfitted with new
rims and nets.
• Targeted for completion in late summer of 2009.
Remington Landing Park
• Shoreline stabilization project completed in spring of 2009.
• Innovative playground structure featuring movement and
climbing for children ages 5 to 12.
Spring Lake Park
Neighborhood Parks
Homestead Park
• U
pcoming work will include two baseball fields with clay
infields, players’ benches, concrete dugouts, fencing and
bleachers behind each dugout. A large soccer field will
occupy the open space alongside the ball fields.
• A
bstract “caterpillar” climbing/slide piece, spring element and
tot swings.
• C
oncrete tricycle path, complete with traffic signs and
crosswalks encircling play area.
• H
alf-court basketball area, small shelter and seat wall, sand
play area and open lawn space.
712 S. River Street, Aurora, Illinois 60506
Phone: 630-897-0516 • Website: www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org