Algonquin seeking consultant for parks and recreations department revamp

From updating amenities to tapping into market trends, Algonquin intends to revamp its parks and recreation department with help from a consultant.

Three firms responded this summer to the village's request for proposals to develop a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan, Assistant Village Manager Mike Kumbera said. The goal is to create a road map for future decisions regarding potential park redevelopment, facilities, open space and recreation programs.

"It gives us a vision for the next 10 years of what we want our parks system to look like (and) what our residents want," Kumbera said. "We can identify what we have, and if we have excess of one type of amenity and a gap of another type, we can rectify that."

The village owns and maintains 21 active parks, many of which are due for improvements in the next decade, he said.

Also under the town's jurisdiction are a community center, an outdoor swimming facility and splash pad, and 512 acres of protected natural areas, naturalized stormwater basins and undeveloped park sites. Algonquin partners with various local entities to provide roughly 1,000 recreational and leisure courses annually.

In recent years, village officials have noticed a drop in the use of traditional park amenities, such as baseball and soccer fields.

An external firm could offer expertise on more innovative recreation opportunities or new community partnerships to boost attendance, Kumbera said.

"They're very in-tune with current trends and markets for recreation," he said. "That's something we definitely want to tap into. It's a market-driven field, so you want to keep up with what residents are doing."

The comprehensive plan process is expected to include an assessment of the community's needs and interests, as well as several opportunities for public input in the form of surveys, focus groups and other outreach efforts, village documents show. The chosen firm then will identify strategic priorities and create a phased approach for funding and implementing those goals.

Algonquin budgeted about $80,000 in park improvement funds to pay for the consultant, though that amount is subject to change depending on the submitted proposals and upcoming negotiations, Kumbera said.

The village is expected to choose a firm and have a contract ready for village board consideration next month, documents show. The project would begin shortly thereafter, with an anticipated completion in the summer or fall of 2020.