Huntley Park District seeks to build sledding hill

Huntley residents might get a new sledding hill at Stingray Bay Family Aquatic Center this winter.

The park district is seeking the village's permission to build a 22-foot-tall sledding hill west of the aquatic center at 12015 Mill St., using excess dirt from the construction of a 11,900-square-foot maintenance and storage building south of it.

At a recent committee of the whole meeting, Huntley Village President Charles Sass wasn't in favor of allowing the park district to use excess soil from construction in this manner.

Sass said he would rather the district pay roughly $17,000 to have the dirt hauled away. He added, the village made Centegra Health System haul its construction waste from the new Huntley hospital, spending nearly $1 million.

"I like being consistent," Sass said.

The village board will vote on the matter Thursday. Village Manager Dave Johnson expects the sledding hill will be approved.

Huntley Park District Executive Director Thomas Palmer said the proposed sledding hill is situated on land previously earmarked for parking to accommodate a possible future expansion of the aquatic center.

Palmer said park district officials no longer are planning to expand the pool and the new maintenance building was built in the area once proposed for the expansion.

"The current parking and related facilities to the pool is appropriate to the size of the pool," he said. "If for some reason that land is needed in the future, the sledding hill can be removed."

In the meantime, it will serve as another park feature but won't include anything fancy, such as snow machine or lights, he added.

Sass said he would like to see the aquatic center expand in future as the village continues to grow.

With completion of the new maintenance facility, the park district's former maintenance headquarters previously housed on the east side of the REC Center has been expanded and refurbished into programmable recreation space. The entire project, including construction of the new maintenance facility, cost $2.5 million.

"It helped us expand our day camp capabilities for the community," Palmer said. "For years, we've had a waiting list for the day camp."

Now, the district's summer day camp can serve roughly 300 children - an addition of 60 children.