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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Yordana Wysocki, Corporation Counsel
DATE: April 27, 2026
SUBJECT:
Resolution requesting approval of a memorandum of understanding between the City of Aurora and Phillips Park Foundation, as requested by Ald. Ted Mesiacos (3rd Ward).
PURPOSE:
The Phillips Park Foundation has recently been formed as a new Phillips Park not for profit entity to raise money to promote and enhance the park. Ald. Mesiacos wishes to provide the new Foundation with seed money from the 3rd Ward Fund (313-1350-419.50-50) and a $10,000 one-time payment from 101-1002-413.50-50.
BACKGROUND:
Phillips Park in Aurora, Illinois is an almost 400-acre park named after Travis Phillips, Mayor of Aurora in 1881, and is owned and maintained by the City for public use and enjoyment of the public and includes Phillips Park Zoo, Phillips Park Golf Course, a playground, gardens, picnic areas, sporting and other recreational areas.
DISCUSSION:
The Phillips Park Foundation is a new nonprofit entity which seeks to generate renewed interest in Phillips Park, establish various funds to promote and enhance the park, and to further the historic status of Phillips Park. Ald. Mesiacos wishes to support the Foundation during its inception and recommends the City enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Phillips Park Foundation to clarify the scope, rights, and duties of this support.
The MOU provides that the City will make a one-time payment to the Foundation in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from account 101-1002-413.50-50 and a second one-time payment of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) from the Third Ward Aldermen's Funds from account 313-1350-419.50-50 within thirty (30) days after the Foundation provides proof that it filed its Articles of Incorporation with the Illinois Secretary of State and has opened a bank account or established a deposit account or fund with the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley in accordance with its r...
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