Community Corner

Park District Cancels Kelly Park Renovation

After ComEd estimates came in over budget, the Wheaton Park District will turn down the grant it planned to use to renovate Kelly Park

The Wheaton Park District canceled its renovation plans for after estimates for electrical work at the park exceeded the district's budget.

The Board of Commissioners voted at its June 20 meeting to reject the Open Space Lands Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grant and cancel the park's renovation plans. The only work the disrict will complete is the plans for the multi-sport court at for about $50,000 to $75,000, and upgrades in the Edison school restrooms, according to a park district staff report.

With a budget of about $824,000, the board approved a measure to from the plans in December, shaving about $150,000 off the price.

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Park Board President John Kelly told commissioners at the June 20 meeting that the cost for electrical work would be "substantially more" than expected, raising the overall project price to about $900,000.

He said in light of the fact that the district is moving "full speed ahead" with the , a park district board sub-committee decided Hubble might be a better site for some of the amenities proposed for Kelly Park.

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The park district began planning the Kelly Park project after receiving a $354,000 state grant from the OSLAD Grant Program in 2010. The grant program provides for a 50 percent reimbursement for the park district’s work and after initial reductions to the project’s scope, the grant amount was reduced to $314,500.

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Kelly said the district looked at the idea of adding overhead lines, which would not have been a "reasonable alternative," and underground lines were too expensive.

"The extra expense just wasn't worth it (bringing in power with loss of trees)," Commissioner Phil Luetkehans said.

The district was quoted at about $80,000 of electrical work—including $67,000 of underground services and $23,000 for overhead service—about $70,000 more than the district had planned to spend on ComEd services, according to the report.

Parks Executive Director Mike Benard said by forfeiting the OSLAD grant, the district will not be able to apply for another grant until 2014.

In the spring of 2010 the park district approved a plan for the park, which included an indoor "shelter" restroom area, a water spray feature, multi-sport courts, a half court basketball area—which would be used as a skating rink in the winter, and bike parking. The original plan for Kelly Park included angled parking along Main Street, but residents were concerned the parking would increase traffic. The park district then proposed a plan that included a parking lot within the park itself, but that was not well received because the plan would reduce green space.

The board may also consider constructing a shelter by the baseball fields in the future, according to the report.


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