Barrington gives voters say on new rec center

For years, Barrington Park District officials say, residents have been telling them they want an upgraded recreation center.

Now, the park district will see just how interested they really are.

On Monday, Barrington park commissioners unanimously approved a plan to put a referendum question on the February ballot asking for $12 million in bonds to build a new recreation center at Langendorf Park.

Officials have said the current facility, the primary home for all the district's programs, was built in 1930 and is deteriorating and not nearly large enough to support the growing community.

"We outgrew this facility years ago," said Terry Jennings, the park district's executive director. "We aren't able to have appropriate things in appropriate places."

Plans are to save portions of the old facility and build a 55,800-square-foot center directly west of the current building.

Thomas G. LaLonde, the project's architect, said the new facility will include a double gym with walking track, additional programming space and several community rooms, as well as specific rooms for dancing and arts and crafts.

The new building would also feature dedicated space for both preschoolers and senior citizens.

LaLonde said the plan is to keep the parts of the current facility that are still in good shape.

"We are not just knocking this building down," LaLonde said. "We are saving the components we feel have value."

If voters approve the plan, officials said it will cost residents who have a home valued at $500,000 an additional $165 a year on the park district portion of their property tax bills.

Besides the numerous safety issues present in the current facility, Jennings said they are sometimes forced to turn people away from programs because they just don't have enough space for them.

If approved, the new recreation center would more than double the amount of programming space the park district has now.

"It is amazing what we could do," Jennings said.

In coming up with the design of the new facility, LaLonde said a steering committee of residents from across the community gave feedback as to what they thought would be wanted.

"It was an extremely thorough process," LaLonde said.

The community will vote on the measure during the primary election scheduled for Feb. 5.