Batavia park district seeks input on rec center

For the second time in less than a month, the Batavia Park District will take feedback from the public with regards to a new recreation center in the city.

Park district Executive Director Mike Clark said the first meeting didn't have as many attendees as the board would have liked, estimating that July 15 drew 30-40 people.

"Those who did (attend) were very engaging," Clark said. "We had a really good dialogue. But we were looking for a bigger turnout."

The second forum will begin at 7 p.m. today at the Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson St. Clark said two or three members of the board will be on hand to present the board's plans to the audience and take feedback from the community.

Preliminary tests and surveys identified 15 possible locales for the center and those have since been reduced to five plans. These will be presented along with each of their pros and cons.

Of the sites, a quarry along the Fox River on Pamarco Drive at Frederick Beach Park has drawn the most interest and Clark said a major advantage is the park district already owns the land.

He said with other plans considered the board would have to consider land-acquisition costs.

"Whether the land would even be made available (in the other plans) is a drawback," he said. "I could be sitting here three or four years from now talking about a possible recreation center."

After the forum, Clark said the board would present a recommendation at its regular Aug. 19 meeting to determine which way to move forward.

If the board determines they want to introduce a referendum to the November ballot, it has to meet a Sept. 2 county deadline.

A 2004 survey, which focused more on districtwide facilities, determined 57 percent of respondents favored the development of a recreation center.

In 2007, a new survey of 1,000 people drew less than 300 respondents.

Clark has heard some people criticize the size of the 2007 survey. But he said he and the board are comfortable with their sample.

"Everybody's welcome to their critique and opinion," Clark said. "That's why if and when this goes to referendum, everyone will have their say on whether they think this is right for Batavia or not."