Libertyville approves contracts for major upgrades at Butler Lake Park
Detailed plans are underway for one of Libertyville's largest and most popular parks.
Village officials last week approved two contracts involving design and engineering for improvements on the portion of Butler Lake Park north of Lake Street and east of Butterfield Road.
Work isn't expected to begin until spring 2025, as the village prepares to seek bids and award contracts next fall.
That approach also is the scenario for work planned next summer, which will include new pickleball courts at Nicholas-Dowden Park. The village expects to receive and review those bids soon.
The village in March was notified it had been awarded a $469,000 state Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant for a new recreation space in a little-used passive part of the park, adjacent to the lake and south of the parking lot that connects to the former band shell area.
Planned amenities include a playground, seat walls, plant tunnels, stone and bench seating, a shelter, permanent game tables, plant tunnels, climbing nets, connected walking path, fitness station, a pollinator garden and additional parking.
Last week, the village board agreed to spend up to $64,500 for design services from Naperville-based Hitchcock Design Group for the playground, shelter, game tables, seating, fitness station and pollinator garden.
The second contract was for $70,100 with Rosemont-based Christopher B. Burke Engineering for work including a topographic and utility survey, wetland delineation, stormwater management analysis, watershed permit and parking lot specifications.
The project was identified to maximize the use of open space and grant opportunities, according to village officials.
Last year, Libertyville also received a $400,000 OSLAD grant for Nicholas-Dowden Park on either side of Crane Boulevard and also east of Butterfield Road. The village received its only two OSLAD grants in consecutive years.
A major flood control project involving the south portion of the park and neighborhood wrapped up this year.
Butler Lake and Nicholas-Dowden are a continuation of a substantial village investment to revitalize and upgrade parks.
Work on $2.5 million in improvements, including up to six pickleball courts and a "destination playground" for the northern part of Nicholas-Dowden Park is expected to begin in the spring.