Grayslake board to consider approving more Gelatin Co. community park work

The Grayslake village board Tuesday will consider accepting a bid to improve Railroad Avenue as part of a $1.9 million project to turn the site of the former Grayslake Gelatin Co. into a community park.

Chicagoland Paving Inc. was the lowest of six bids at $258,900. If approved, the contractors will resurface the road and add sidewalks and lights.

Railroad Avenue begins at Center Street just east of the train tracks and continues about 600 feet before dead-ending where the Gelatin Co. site used to be.

As part of the overall plan Railroad Avenue would eventually be extended to connect with Central Park Drive, which runs through Central Park. Mayor Rhett Taylor has called connecting Central Park and downtown one of the most important aspects of the project.

The bid the board will consider Tuesday does not include extending Railroad Avenue.

Berger Excavating is grading the park land. In addition to the new connecting road, the park also will have a half-mile walking or jogging path, and more parking on Central Park Drive. Construction of a 12- to 15-foot hill that could be used for sledding also is planned. The project will preserve and maintain the iconic smokestack, the only structure remaining from the old factory.

Assistant Village Manager Brett Kryska said since Berger began work a couple of weeks ago it has removed some trees. He said the village plans on the different parts of the project being worked on concurrently.

While the plan for the park is mostly set, Kryska said the board is not certain on the new park's name. The name listed on early drawings was Gelatin Factory Park, and other options are Village Center Park, Gelatin Park and Smokestack Park.

The village has an online poll to get feedback on the Village of Grayslake, IL Facebook Page. Kryska said the final name will be selected soon.

The village board meets at 7 p.m. at 10 S. Seymour Ave.