2026 Referendum: Your Investment. Your Vote.

The Lisle Park District seeks to construct a new indoor, multigenerational Community Activity Center, replacing the existing Community Center building, located at 1825 Short Street in Lisle, just north of Sea Lion Aquatic Park. The new facility would complement the offerings at the current Recreation Center at 1925 Ohio Street, which would remain in operation.

The proposed two-story, 47,753 sq. ft. facility would support accessible, year-round recreation opportunities for children, teens, adults, and seniors, including:

• Elevated walking/jogging track
• Stretching and warm-up zone adjacent to the track
• Gymnasium with two full-size courts for instructional programs, leagues, and open recreation
• Multi-Activity Court (MAC) for athletics, fitness, and community use
• Fitness area with cardio and strength training equipment
• Group exercise/dance studio
• Men's locker room, women's locker room, and family changing room
• Main lobby and welcome area

The new facility could support a range of programs, activities, and amenities, such as:

Fitness & Wellness:

• Cardio and strength training
• Group fitness and dance classes
• Wellness and healthy living programs

Community Use

• A variety of open gym times for all ages
• Community events and gatherings
• Facility rentals
• Family-oriented programs

Youth & Early Childhood Programs

• Youth sports (basketball, flag football, volleyball, soccer)
• Camps and skill-building clinics
• Drop-in recreation and open gym time
• Early childhood movement programs
• After-school recreation and enrichment
• Educational and specialty programs

Teen Programs

• Dedicated open gym times
• Fitness memberships
• Special events
• Social, educational, and recreational programs

Adult & Senior Programs

• Sports leagues and drop-in play (pickleball, basketball, soccer, volleyball)
• Low-impact fitness and movement activities
• Indoor walking and jogging opportunities
• Social, educational, and wellness programs
• Open gym times

The entire process has been and will continue to be driven by resident feedback. The following planning and outreach efforts helped define the current proposal under consideration:

• 2023 Strategic Master Plan: Identified indoor, multigenerational recreation as an area for further review based on community input and long-range planning goals
• 2024 Facility Assessments: Reviewed the condition and use of existing Park District facilities to help inform future planning discussions
• 2025 Indoor Recreation Space Feasibility Study: Gathered resident feedback related to indoor recreation use and preferences, including fitness, court sports, walk/jog space, and flexible programming areas
• 2026 Citizen Task Force: A group of community stakeholders reviewed needs, early concepts, and funding options and provided feedback to help inform communication and outreach efforts.
• 2026 Community Opinion Survey: A public opinion survey was mailed to the households of all Lisle Park District resident registered voters to provide input on the proposed new indoor, multigenerational Community Activity Center and the bond referendum that will appear on the November 3, 2026.
• 2026 Public Information Sessions: Three public information sessions were held in April to receive feedback on the project from the community where proposed building plans and potential programming for the space were presented. Two additional meetings are being held on October 21 to provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about the proposed Community Activity Center and speak directly with district staff — meeting details available at the top of this page.

Documentation for the Strategic Master Plan and Indoor Recreation Space Feasibility Study, including executive summaries, presentations, and final reports, are available on our website by selecting the button below.

View Planning Documents

Indoor aquatics were evaluated during the feasibility study but were intentionally excluded from the proposed concept. Indoor pools have very high construction, operating, and lifecycle costs. For example, current market conditions reveal indoor aquatics construction costs are approximately $1,000/sq. ft., minimum, not including support amenities like locker/changing rooms. A conservative size that could adequately address community requests would be 10,000 sq. ft., which translates to an additional $10 million in construction costs. Featuring aquatics in the facility would also require ongoing funding beyond what a bond referendum could cover. The Park District has not explored this opportunity further because of these costs. The feasibility study identified flexible indoor recreation space as a higher priority, as it can serve more residents, more frequently, and at a lower ongoing cost, which helps preserve affordability.

The proposed Community Activity Center would offer a range of membership options designed to meet the needs of individuals, families, and users of all ages. We intend to have reasonably priced fitness memberships (with open gym included), as well as separate memberships for open gym usage only.

*Please note that these rates are subject to change and are based on the current proposed building plan & its potential programming opportunities.

The proposed Community Activity Center includes two IHSA-certified hardwood courts and a multi-activity court (MAC) gymnasium designed for flexible use, similar in function to a smaller fieldhouse. Turf fields typically require more specialized use, which can limit flexibility. Instead, the proposed concept prioritizes multi-use indoor spaces that can adapt to many activities and age groups. This approach emphasizes right-sized, flexible spaces that can support many users and programs throughout the day while helping keep construction and operating costs affordable.

Yes. Netted batting cages could be set up at certain times for baseball and softball training, such as hitting and pitching. This approach supports seasonal needs without dedicating permanent space, helping balance flexibility, access, and cost.

Community feedback collected during the public engagement process of the project recognized the need to provide additional parking to accommodate the proposed building and various other users of Community Park. The rendering of the site layout shown at the top of this page displays an updated and reconfigured parking lot that includes 100 parking spaces at the front of the proposed Community Activity Center, as well as enhanced connections to both the Recreation Center and Sea Lion Aquatic Park lots.

Should the referendum be approved as part of the November 3, 2026 election, construction planning would take place for the majority of 2027, with various components of the work likely going out to bid in the fall or winter of that year. Construction would take place through most of 2028 with the intention of opening the facility by early 2029.

A bond referendum is a ballot question asking voters if they would authorize the District to borrow funds to address capital facility improvements. Bond funds may only be used for capital projects, and cannot be used for operating costs, staffing, or programs.

The estimated annual tax impact of the proposed 25-year, $29.75 million bond referendum would be approximately $146 for a home with a fair market value of $407,000, the current median home value in Lisle.

A tax calculator is available above on this page or by selecting the button below.

Estimate Your Tax Impact

Yes. The Park District anticipates the ability to allocate up to $5 million from its fund balance to support the proposed Community Activity Center.

The Board of Park Commissioners voted in August 2026 to place the referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

Voters approved a $7.6 million referendum more than 24 years ago to fund construction of Sea Lion Aquatic Park.

The Park District would provide regular updates on project budgets, timelines, and construction progress through its website, email communications, social media, and monthly Board of Park Commissioners meetings.

The District is committed to ongoing public engagement, including:

• Informational meetings
• Board meetings
• Website updates, which will be posted to this page

Dan Garvy, Director of Parks & Recreation
dgarvy@lisleparkdistrict.org
(630) 353-4310

Jon Pratscher, Deputy Director
jpratscher@lisleparkdistrict.org
(630) 353-4305

The District serves approximately 32,000 residents across the Village of Lisle and parts of Naperville, Woodridge, and unincorporated DuPage County.

The District maintains 43 parks and over 400 acres of land, including:

• Recreation Center (Gentle Learning Preschool, Senior Center, multipurpose rooms, administrative offices)
• Community Center (dance studio, group exercise studio, functional training studio for personal training, facility maintenance offices)
• Sea Lion Aquatic Park
• The Museums at Lisle Station Park
• River Bend Golf Club (golf course, canteen + bar, private event venue)
• Athletic fields, playgrounds, courts, trails, and open spaces

Without seeking additional taxpayer funding, the District has completed projects such as playground replacements, court renovations, accessibility upgrades, trail enhancements, facility repairs, and park improvements throughout its park system, including at Beau Bien Park, Tate Woods Park, Kingston Park, River Road Park, Aspen Park, Rivers Edge Park, Sea Lion Aquatic Park, and The Museums at Lisle Station Park.