Lisle to unveil rec center plan

Residents soon will get a more detailed look at a proposed 86,000-square-foot recreation center that would represent the largest project in Lisle Park District history.

The district plans to unveil revised drawings of both the exterior and interior of the proposed building -- along with more specific projections for revenues and operating costs -- within the next two weeks, Director of Parks and Recreation Dan Garvy said Tuesday.

Staff members have spent the past six weeks working with Carol Stream-based Williams Architects to refine plans for a facility that's expected to cost between $19.5 million and $23 million and replace the current community center at 1825 Short St.

Officials say the new center, which would take 12 to 18 months to build, is needed to meet a growing demand for indoor recreation space in a district where existing indoor facilities are cramped, aging and outdated.

The project would require voters to approve a tax increase, possibly in a question on the November ballot, that would boost park property taxes by as much as $108.56 annually for the owner of a $300,000 house.

Without a new building, Garvy has said, the district probably would still have to seek at least $10 million through a referendum to repair and modernize the existing community center and the Meadows Center at 5801 Westview Lane. Those two buildings cover a combined 40,000 square feet and are no longer adequate to meet the district's needs, officials say.

The park board is expected to officially decide whether to pursue a tax increase when it meets Aug. 21.

Garvy says plans for the new center call for three full-sized basketball courts, a senior wing, a preschool wing, an indoor walking and jogging track, multi-use rooms, a fitness center, aerobics room and dance studio.

In efforts to zero in on actual building costs, staff members have been working with architects on everything from the type of flooring in each room to the mix of stone, brick and glass on the exterior, he said.

Staff members also have been trying to determine if programs at the facility can cover the cost of operating and maintaining the center once it's built.

After studying similar facilities, Garvy said, "we are very confident that, once built, this facility will be self-sustaining."

In an effort to reach out to the community, the district recently placed a list of frequently asked questions on its Web site at www.lisleparkdistrict.org.

The revised floor plans and exterior drawings are expected to be posted at the same site in coming days.

In the meantime, Garvy said staff members already are planning to meet with as many civic and homeowners groups as possible to talk about why they believe the community needs a new recreation center.

The knowledge that this would be the largest and most costly project in district history is never far from his mind, Garvy said.

"The amount of work and attention to detail the staff has been doing is just impressive," he said. "It's a very large responsibility."