Glenview Park District Hosting Open House About Park Center Grant

GLENVIEW, IL — Saying the community's feedback is "essential," Glenview Park District officials are hoping residents attend an upcoming open house regarding what should be their priorities for grant-funded upgrades.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Park Center lobby, 2400 Chestnut Ave.

Last week, the park district announced it is pursuing a Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act (PARC) grant from the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources. If approved, the money may fund proposed improvements to Park Center, which may include:

• Adding new aquatics features and amenities such an indoor water ninja course and water play elements, improving accessibility, and adding isolated temperature controls for enhanced lap swimming and expanded programming
• Updating the East Wing, including the Lakeview Room and adjacent outdoor patio, to expand programming, expand functionality and include integrated technology

The 2023 PARC grant deadline is June 30 and an award announcement is anticipated sometime in mid-2024. If awarded the PARC grant, the project would begin in late 2024 or early 2025.

“As we prepare to apply for grant funds, the community’s feedback is essential,” said Michael McCarty, Glenview Park District executive director. “Our goal is to deepen our sense of community in Glenview and provide programs and services that enrich everyone’s happiness and health.”

McCarty noted that the open house is the first of several listening opportunities to identify community priorities for facility upgrades.

Officials said a representative from Williams Architects, the firm that designed Park Center in 2000 and developed concept designs for the new recommended upgrades, will be available at the open house to answer questions about design elements.

Officials said saving for capital replacement improvements in these areas, and these funds would be used toward the matching requirement of the grant. If the grant is not approved, the Park District would scale back the project and delay some of the capital replacement projects until adequate funding is available.