Naperville Park district tables Central Park plan

Naperville Park District commissioners won't give their OK to Central Park enhancements until they get a guarantee they won't have to foot the maintenance bill.

The board delayed a vote on an improvement plan for the downtown park Thursday to give park and city staffs time to work out an agreement about what maintenance responsibilities fall on each body.

The city owns the 3.8 acre park on Benton Avenue but the park district handles its upkeep.

Commissioner Andrew Schaffner said the park district doesn't even use most of the park.

"It's the city's park," he said. "You own it, it's your band shell, it's essentially your seating, it's your gazebo it's your parking around it. The only thing I think we contribute to that park honestly is the playground."

The improvement plan, which has already been approved by the city council, calls for flexible concert seating, improved traffic flow and eventually permanent restrooms. An improved sound system and handicapped accessibility are also included.

Commissioners did not express concerns Thursday about the specific projects being proposed.

However, they said they are limited as to how much property taxes they can collect and are working with a lean staff so they don't want to be saddled with more maintenance responsibilities.

"We no longer have the capability to continue to expand and finance the expanded needs of the community that are imposed upon us by another government entity," Commissioner Ron Ory said. "So we're looking for that government entity to not give us unfunded mandates."

The improvements themselves would cost just under $4 million.

The city has secured $500,000 in grants to help pay for the projects.

However, the grants are time-sensitive, so the park district can't delay much longer, said Allison Laff, operations manager for the city's planning team.

She tried to assure the park commissioners that if they approved the improvement plan for Central Park the city would still work with the park district on an agreement regarding maintenance.

"We have no intention to sneak things in or to move things forward before a new (agreement) is in place that would create new maintenance requirements for you," Laff said.

Commissioners were not convinced. They voted 7-0 to table the Central Park plan while the city and park staffs hammer out an agreement.