Naperville parks puts off rec center talks

The Naperville Park District decided Thursday not to start discussions about a new indoor recreation center until the new executive director is settled into the job.

Daniel Betts, deputy manager of recreation and facility services in Denver, will take the reins in Naperville on March 24.

"We certainly don't want to start any initiatives ... before he comes here," board President Kristen Jungles said. "He feels very strongly that all of the goals and objectives for the park district are going to be created with the board and the leadership team and his input."

Last year, a proposed $35 million recreation center was put on hold after criticism from the community about its cost and the amenities it would and would not include.

Residents and board commissioners alike were divided on the proposal, which contributed to the resignation of Executive Director Barbara Heller.

Thursday night's board meeting included an agenda item for discussion of creating an advisory group to study indoor recreation needs, an item that was recommended in the final draft of the park district's Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. Eric Shutes, director of planning, said the staff wanted to see if the board was ready to discuss the issue.

But commissioners agreed it would be better to wait.

"Honestly, I'd like to drop it until 2009," Commissioner Andrew Schaffner said.

Forming an advisory group on indoor space was one of several recommendations in the master plan.

"Seems to me we ought to take all of the recommendations together and figure out how we're to address each of them," Commissioner Ron Ory said.