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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Ian Wade, Capital Projects Manager
Steve Kulesza, Superintendent of Parks
DATE: February 11, 2025
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to enter into an agreement with Upland Design LTD of Plainfield, IL in an amount not to exceed $160,000 to design renovations to Garfield Park.
PURPOSE:
To obtain approval to initiate the design of renovations to Garfield Park
BACKGROUND:
Garfield Park is the City's second largest legacy park and has served the City's northeast side since 1921. The park was last renovated in 1995 and is badly in need of updates and improvements. To address this need, the City applied for an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). This grant, which was awarded to the City in 2024, will provide $600,000 in matching funds for the project.
The proposed scope of the renovations (see attached tentative site development plan) was developed through a series of public meetings and an online survey made available through the city's website in both English and Spanish and was estimated to cost approximately $1,283,000 (as of 2023). This scope will likely include an improved layout to serve the needs of contemporary families along with new amenities, including a competition-sized volleyball court, a street soccer pitch, a new playground, a new splash pad, a new half-court basketball court, and new walking paths. The existing picnic shelter and bathrooms, originally constructed in 1975, will be refurbished and/or replaced. Stormwater management improvements, including bioswales with native plantings and interpretative signage, will also be included. A new parking lot will be installed along the Sheffer Road frontage, creating a buffer between the busy street and play areas, and new open space will be created in the southern section of the park, allowing residents a place to better enjoy nature and engage in ...
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