Master plan outlines needs and possibilities for five parks in Lake Zurich

After nine months of comprehensive community outreach, input and analysis, Lake Zurich has a master plan for five key parks.

Specific projects have not been selected but the 211-page document approved earlier this month by the village board is loaded with detail including site conditions as well as requested improvements and conceptual designs for each park.

The plan is intended as a framework to guide redevelopment at Kuechmann Arboretum and Oak Ridge, Old Mill Grove, Staples and Zurites parks over the next 10 years.

Potential improvements at the five sites total more than $14 million. The master plan for key parks is available at lakezurich.org/.

“It gives us plans that we can pull from in the future when the opportunity allows,” Recreation Director Bonnie Caputo explained to the village board.

Locations were chosen on usage, known needs and input from the park and recreation advisory board among other criteria.

Paulus Park, the largest and most visited park in the village system, is in the midst of a $4.35 million renovation and facilities upgrade and was not included among the sites.

The process began last June with approval of a not-to-exceed contract of $498,910 with Upland Design Ltd., which specializes in park development and planning to assess conditions and identify needs. Caputo said there hasn’t been a master plan since 2009.

“We decided to do more of a focused master plan and picked the five parks,” she said.

The process included stakeholder meetings, a community-wide survey, open house and other measures to help identify improvements or enhancements of what users want.

Mayor Tom Poynton said the document was meant to be flexible.

“It doesn’t mean that everything is going to get done and it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any changes,” he said.

Caputo said a specific site list is to be determined, likely this summer during village budget discussions. But there appears to be a favorite.

“Staples has risen to the top as conveyed as a priority by not only the community but members of the village board and members of the park and recreation advisory board,” she said.

The park at 560 Red Bridge Road on the southeast side of town is sports focused. It includes six ball fields used by about 500 participants in Lake Zurich Baseball & Softball Association programs.

It’s also the site of two major tournaments each year that attract more than 100 teams and thousands of people, Michelle Kusel, communications director told the board.

“Those weekends are more than just baseball and softball games,” she said. “They’re community events.”

Permanent restroom facilities is the top question and need, she added.

“We’re excited about the vision and truly hope Staples can become a priority given how heavily the park is used,” Nick Evans, Lake Zurich Baseball & Softball Association commissioner, told the board.