Master parks plan accelerated in Libertyville

Libertyville is accelerating a proposed master plan for its park system, in part, to determine whether any of those properties would be suitable or necessary to store stormwater.

The village board on Tuesday is expected to approve a $40,900 contract with Hitchcock Design Group of Naperville for a communitywide parks master plan to assess the portfolio, outline priorities and suggest future improvements.

Hitchcock was one of 10 firms bidding on the project. Its bid was second lowest to Rettler Corporation of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, but village staff determined it had the "most qualified experience" in the northern suburbs for a parks master plan.

Village trustees will consider the contract during its meeting beginning at 8 p.m. at village hall, 118 W. Cook Ave.

The plan is needed to prioritize future capital improvements for parks, which are operated by the village rather than a park district with separate taxing power.

Aside from ongoing efforts to maximize the use and potential sale of parts of the Libertyville Sports Complex property, the last communitywide study and subsequent plan for the park system was in 1999.

According to information provided to the village board, the "identification of potential open park space" may be necessary for future projects to deal with stormwater. With that, a parks master plan is better done sooner than later, according to village Administrator Chris Clark.

"We're basically front loading the (parks) project six to 12 months sooner," he said.

"It's really focused on the recreational side. But as a practical matter, we'll have to be looking at our public land to help with our stormwater challenges," Clark added.

Hitchcock was recommended for approval Dec. 21 by the village board's parks and recreation committee. The firm plans to start this month and complete the work sometime in the second quarter of the year. Citizen surveys and workshops will be part of the park planning process.

"We want to make sure we have amenities out there people want to use," Clark said. "Some of the different uses need to be evaluated - tennis for example. Is it still viable?"

In a separate matter Tuesday, the board will vote on a $258,125 contract with Jeff Ellis Management LLC to manage the village's two public pools at Adler and Riverside parks for the upcoming swimming season, which runs May through September.