Rolling Meadows Park District could turn home into space for classes, private rentals
A single-family home in Rolling Meadows could soon host public environmental education programs, cooking classes, merit badge lessons and private rentals including bridal and baby showers, under a proposal by the Rolling Meadows Park District.
The one-story, 2,600-square-foot frame house is on a three-acre, L-shaped wooded property at 5041 Dupont Ave. that was bequeathed to the park district by the estate of longtime homeowners and avid master gardeners Joann and Paul Icenogle.
After the couple’s passing — Paul died in 2009 and Joann in 2020 — the district accepted the gift in February 2022 via a deed that restricts use of the land to “garden, park, learning center and/or meeting place.”
Rolling Meadows Park District Executive Director Nick Troy said he is exploring a potential partnership with Northwest Suburban High School District 214 and Rolling Meadows High School in which students in the district’s practical architecture construction program could work alongside trade specialists on home renovations.
The district has enlisted ARCON Associates, BEAR Construction and an environmental firm to assist with the redevelopment, which would include bringing the house — constructed in 1966 — up to building and safety codes required for public use, including accessibility.
Outside the house, early site plans show a new walking path would be accessed from Brockway Street on the east, and an 18-space parking lot installed near Dupont on the north, though city officials have pushed back on the idea of a large parking lot.
Surrounded by single-family residences, the property covers three tax parcels and is within the city’s residential zoning district. The project would likely require special use permission from the city council after a formal public hearing before the planning and zoning commission.
Troy promised neighbors would be invited to community input meetings first.
“Everything that we’re looking at potentially offering over there is with respect in mind,” he told council members during a recent update presentation. “We’re not looking at having a public park there. It’s not going to be open to the public — come on out at any hours to come over there — that’s not what we’re looking to do over there.”
For example, the park district allows rental of other facilities until midnight, but the Icenogle house would likely only be available until 6 or 7 p.m., Troy said.
Troy described the type of rentals envisioned there as “smaller” — perhaps for 25 to 30 people — “all while being respectful to the neighborhood, and that’s our number one goal,” he said.
Other ideas include preschool field trips and Northwest Special Recreation Association programming opportunities.
Though the property was gifted to the Rolling Meadows Park District, it is technically within the boundaries of the Palatine Park District. Rolling Meadows city residents who live nearby would not likely have to pay non-resident rates to use the facility, Troy told aldermen.
Long known for its extensive gardens and landscaping, the site is now overgrown in some spots and in need of pruning, officials admit. Groups including the Rolling Meadows Garden Club and Rolling Meadows Environmental Committee have offered to help.
In 2023, then-17-year-old Isabel Pollpeter installed 43 birdhouses there as part of her Eagle Scout project. The birdhouses were replicas of ones installed over the years by the Icenogles.
cplacek@dailyherald.com