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Arlington Hts. park board considering referendum options tonight

The Arlington Heights Park District board is expected to decide tonight whether to ask voters in November to approve a multimillion-dollar bond issue that would fund major park improvements, eight months after residents narrowly rejected a costlier proposal.

The board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at the district's administration center, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road.

At its prior meeting last month, board members focused on four of six possible referendum packages that could be presented voters in the fall, ranging in cost from just under $32 million on the low end to nearly $40 million for the costliest. In March, voters rejected a $48 million bond issue for park improvements.

All four proposals call for significant upgrades to Recreation, Heritage, Camelot and Frontier parks, four of the district's five regional parks. Work would include the renovation of community centers and, in some locations, the addition of gyms and walking paths. The package also could include improvements to the Olympic Indoor Swim Center.

The suggestion of another referendum on the heels of the failed measure in March has led to some vocal opposition from residents who argue the district has not done enough to curb spending.

Tonight's meeting is the board's last scheduled gathering before the Aug. 20 deadline to place a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot.

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