Round Lake Park to rehab lagoon
It is a project over two years in the making, but soon Round Lake Park residents will again begin to see fish swimming through the Whipple O. Parrot lagoon.
Round Lake Park officials recently agreed to pay $259,000 to Campanella and Sons to renovate the lagoon after acquiring grants to cover most of the cost of the project.
The idea was hatched about two and a half years ago when residents asked the village why there were no fish in the lagoon, which is bordered by Prospect on the east, Forest Glen on the west, Willow on the south and Elder on the north. Village engineer Frank Furlan said the depth of the Parrot Park lagoon is 2 to 2 1/2 feet, not sufficient for fish.
The mayor at the time, Ila Bauer, liked the idea of hosting fish, but he also saw an opportunity to improve the lagoon's water quality, Furlan said.
The renovation will lower the floor in the center of the lagoon where the depth will be 10 feet deep during the winter and 10 1/2 to 11 feet deep during the summer.
One problem that held back starting the work, Furlan said, was to find where to put about 8,000 cubic yards of dirt that will be removed from the lagoon. The village was able to find a location working with the Round Lake School District 116. The dirt will be hauled to Murphy School on Greenwood Avenue, where it will help level off and increase the school's playground area.
Furlan said the village also has taken some time to acquire grants that will help cover a majority of the renovation cost. Two grants totaling $101,000 were awarded through Stormwater Management programs designed to upgrade water quality in existing facilities. The village also will receive a $150,000 community block grant. The Round Lake Area Park District, which helps manage the lagoon, also will handle some of the work to help keep down costs.
"A combination of the three allows the village to proceed with the project," Furlan said.
Because the dirt will be hauled to Murphy School, the village has been given a deadline to complete the work by Aug. 30, so as not to interfere with the upcoming school year.