Theater work wouldn't hamper park improvement efforts

Wheaton Park District officials are assuring city leaders efforts to reopen a downtown theater won't hamper planned renovations to Northside Park.

Executive Director Michael Benard told city council members this week that the district is continuing to "aggressively" pursue long-sought upgrades to the park near Prairie Avenue and Main Street to address flooding problems.

When asked if the district's involvement with renovations to the Wheaton Grand Theater would put constraints on the Northside Park project, Benard said: "They are not related and they can both happen."

Benard said the park district already has received more than $600,000 in county and state grant money to help pay for other enhancements, which are estimated to cost up to $8 million.

State Rep. Franco Coladipietro recently announced the district received a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. That money is in addition to a $50,000 grant Coladipietro helped secure in 2007.

The city also might contribute $1 million to help pay for work directly related to stormwater management.

In the meantime, the park district is awaiting permits to dredge sections to deepen the Northside lagoon and reduce erosion along its edges by installing native plants.

Other improvements will include installation of fishing/observation piers, new walking paths to connect to existing paths, a dock for launching canoes and a playground.

The city's Main Street project, which includes widening a culvert near the intersection of Main and Cole Avenue, is expected to start in 2010.