July 14, 2009

Woodglenn Park Development Open House 

Updates to proposed improvements

View a printable PDF of the revised project site plans

The Lisle Park District will held an open house to present development plans for Woodglenn Park at 6:00 p.m. on June 23, 2009 at the Community Center, 1825 Short Street in Lisle. View Open House Summary

Anyone interested in providing additional feedback is asked to do so via the email address:  info@lisleparkdistrict.org.  Please use "Woodglenn Park" in the subject heading.  This will help staff more accurately collect all emails related to this project and provide it all to the Board of Park Commissioners an organized fashion.

Project FAQ: Click here for a printable PDF file of the FAQ Sheet.

Updated Online: July 14, 2009 at 10:51am

What amenities are included in the proposed development?

• Parking lot

• Pavilion with bathrooms

• Playground equipment

• Open turf areas conducive for soccer fields

• Picnic grove

• Expanded natural areas with educational/ interpretive signage

• Pathway connections to create a loop around the site

• Bicycle parking

• Small baseball/softball backstop

What is the project cost?

$1.1 million.

How is this project being funded/will this affect my taxes?

This is being funded through the current balance in the park district's capital projects fund. Taxes will not be raised as a result of this project.  The park district is also seeking a grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that can fund up to $400,000 of the project's cost.

How many soccer fields are being proposed?

Three were initially proposed, but based on feedback from area residents the park district has reduced that number to two.

How often will the fields be programmed?

While the site has been home to soccer and baseball activities for years, this remains the single biggest concern of the residents living closest to the site.  The park district's intent is to utilize Woodglenn Park to relieve the congestion currently imposed on other sites while maintaining the neighborhood feel that exists today.  The park district staff and Board have met with a number of the park's neighbors and other residents and have developed the following guidelines.  While at this time these guidelines have not been formalized, they have been generally agreed upon as being a reasonable attempt at establishing a balance between neighborhood use and programmed activity:

1. Woodglenn Park will not host soccer tournaments.

2. When issuing permits to soccer groups for Woodglenn Park, staff will maintain at least one half hour between reservations.  For example, if a permit were to be issued from 9 am to 11 am, the next available time slot would be from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

3. When scheduling soccer games, staff will allow for at least one half hour between start times.  For example, 9 am to 10 am, 10:30 am to 11:30 am, 12 noon to 1 pm, etc.

4. When scheduling two games in the park at the same time, staff will maintain one half hour between games, but will also stagger start times.  For example, 9 am to 10 am on "field 1", 9:15 to 10:15 on "field 2"; 10:30 am to 11:30 am on "field 1", 10:45 am to 11:45 am on "field 2"; etc.

5. When scheduling games or issuing permits, the park district will give priority in the following order:

   1. Lisle Park District in-house programs

   2. Local travel teams comprised of Lisle Park District residents

   3. Outside teams

6. General park hours will be from dawn until dusk.  However, when scheduling soccer games or issuing permits, staff will honor the following hours of operation:

   1. M-F  4 pm until dusk

   2. Sa    9 am until 6 pm

   3. Su    11 am until 6 pm

7. At no time will the park district issue a permit or schedule activities when vehicles coming to the park are expected to exceed 75.

8. When soccer fields are in place, signage on the goals will be installed that will state "Lined fields for permitted games and local neighborhood use only"

Will the park district program travel soccer tournaments at Woodglenn Park?

It is the park district's opinion that the Woodglenn Park development is not appropriately sized, either in the number of fields or number of available parking spaces, to serve as a host site or to sponsor a travel soccer tournament.

Will the fields be lighted?

No, there will be no field lights.  The only lights proposed in the current plan are minimal lighting for the pavilion.

Will the fields have synthetic turf?

No, they will be mowed turf grass.

Will there be a concession stand in the pavilion?

No, the pavilion will act as a picnic shelter with bathrooms.

What will happen to the existing baseball field?

The original design did not include a baseball field.  However, many neighbors and other park district residents have expressed concern with losing the existing baseball field and suggested installing a backstop but not a skinned infield or player benches.  The park district will include a small backstop in the development suitable for neighborhood pick-up games or an occasional spontaneous practice.

How will this development affect the drainage of the site?

The majority of the site will be re-graded and the flood plain, tree line and wetland area will be left in-tact but slightly expanded and greatly enhanced.  This will improve drainage of the entire site, and will better collect, channel, and filter rain water as it moves through the site and on downstream.  Through the extensive permitting process with the Village of Lisle and the DuPage County Department of Economic Development and Planning, the storm water function of the Woodglenn Park site will be greatly improved.   

Why is the park district considering this project?

The Woodglenn site has long been host to athletic activities, and parking has been an ongoing problem as voiced by program participants and neighbors of the site.  This development is adding the support facilities to accommodate the use the site has been receiving for years.

Are more soccer fields justified?

Yes.  Currently the park district maintains 20 baseball/softball fields versus only three bona fide soccer fields.  The athletic areas at Community Park and Surrey Ridge Athletic Complex are over-programmed during peak seasons.  The result has been severely worn areas in the turf, scheduling conflicts among baseball/softball and soccer users, and barriers to more responsible and proactive field maintenance.  Additional soccer fields at Woodglenn Park will relieve some use on these other fields while allowing the park district to improve the playability of all district fields.

Is there data that supports this project?

The Lisle Park District's 2006 community survey and master plan demonstrate a number of things that in the park district's opinion support this plan, including:

• Severe shortage in parking in parks, especially in Green Trails parks

• A low level of satisfaction in the number of park district soccer fields

• A low level of satisfaction in the number of natural areas

• A high need for youth athletic programs

• High levels of participation in youth athletic programs

• A desire for more walking paths

How long has the park district been considering this project?

The park district began discussing changes to this property since 2005.  When the park district acquired the site from the Village of Lisle in 2004, it developed a conceptual development plan primarily aimed at addressing the need for off-street parking and helping relieve the over use on other park district athletic fields.

When is a final decision expected to be made on this project?

This issue will be on the Board of Park Commissioner's August 20, 2009 Meeting agenda for discussion and possible action.  Input is encouraged however throughout the duration of final design and permitting as minor design modifications can occur without compromising the anticipated permitting and construction schedule.

What is the expected time line for construction?

Final design and permitting will occur throughout the rest of 2009 and into early 2010.  Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in May 2010 and completed by October 2010.  Turf should be established to the point to receive scheduled play by August 2011.

How can I be notified of any future meetings or open houses where this will be discussed?

Interested parties may email info@lisleparkdistrict.org, using Woodglenn Park in the subject heading, and request to be added to the email distribution list.

How can I share my opinions of this project with the parties responsible for making the decisions?

To share your opinions, you can email info@lisleparkdistrict.org, using Woodglenn Park in the subject heading.  All emails will be collected and provided to the Director of Parks & Recreation and the Board of Park Commissioners.