Residents group forms to support Lisle park referendum

A residents group has emerged this month to help spearhead the push for a new recreation center in Lisle.

Called Residents for a New Community Center, the organization plans to launch a public information campaign to garner support for the $21.9 million tax increase Lisle Park District is seeking in the Nov. 4 election.

The district wants to use the money to build an 85,449-square-foot indoor recreation facility at the site of the current Community Center at 1825 Short St.

If voters approve the tax increase, the owner of a $300,000 house would pay about $99 a year more to the park district for the next 20 years.

"We're going to ask for a 'yes' vote," Chairman Dave Van Kampen said. "But mostly we just want to get the facts out there so people can make an educated decision."

To make their case, members plan to speak to as many groups as possible - from homeowners associations to civic organizations and the chamber of commerce. Whenever possible, Van Kampen said, he hopes to have park staff members along to answer technical or programming questions.

The group also has launched a Web site, LISLErncc.com, to try to answer would-be voters' questions.

Stumping for the park district is nothing new for Van Kampen, who also serves as president of Partners for Parks. He's lived in Lisle all his life and his father, Hank Van Kampen, helped create the park district in the 1960s and played an instrumental role in its development.

The younger Van Kampen was active six years ago when the district passed a tax increase to refurbish Sea Lion Aquatic Park.

That experience, Van Kampen says, taught him and others of the importance of reaching out to residents who don't necessarily get their information from the media or park district.

"Those of us involved in the Sea Lion referendum know there's always a pool of people who don't know about it. We want to fill that gap by meeting with park users and neighbors," he said.

"We're looking at this from a resident's perspective."

Park District Director Dan Garvy said he's happy to have Van Kampen involved because of his reputation as "incredibly intelligent and honest."

"Our goal from the get-go has been public awareness," Garvy said.

While the new group obviously has a built-in bias, Garvy said he's confident members will take a reasoned and fact-based approach as they reach out to the community.

Park officials say they've been considering a referendum proposal since last year when Lisle Unit District 202 announced its intention to sell the Meadows Center, 5801 Westview Lane, and raise the park district's annual lease for the facility from $24,000 this year to $144,000 next year.

They say the 40-year-old building needs a new roof, structural improvements and new heating, air-conditioning and electrical systems.

Leaders say it would cost about $10 million to repair both the Meadows Center and the aging and outdated Community Center. At the end of the day, however, officials say that work would not address any programming needs or meet increasing demands for services.

"Both buildings are in dire need of upgrading and repairs," Van Kampen said.

For the proposed $21.9 million, officials say, they can build a facility that would house three full-sized basketball courts, a track and a larger fitness center. The building also would contain the Gentle Learning Preschool, an arts and crafts room, a senior wing with its own entrance and administrative offices.

The increased gym space and meeting rooms would provide a major revenue source, officials say.

Lisle already has remodeled its high school and library and built a new police station and village hall, Van Kampen said. A new recreation center would be the final jewel in that crown and "add to and maintain property values."

Organizers know there are concerns about tax increases in these perilous economic conditions, but Van Kampen insists it's a "great time" to pursue the project because construction costs and bond rates are down.

"This is a great investment and a great return and it's not going to get any cheaper," he said.

"Some people say we should wait (to pursue a referendum) until April," he said. "But if it's right for the community in April, it's right for the community now."