Lake Bluff Park District Plan Pegs Costs at $12 Million

It could cost the at least $12 million over the next 20 years to update, repair or replace its facilities, according to a draft of a 20-year strategic plan presented to the board Monday night by Thomas Zordan of the Architectural Consulting Group Ltd. of Barrington.

Board members admitted the full picture is staggering, but the plan at least gives them a good base from which to work.

"At least we have the potential to plan what is a light-year change," said Treasurer Kevin Considine. "Still shaking here, but it's fabulous to get an understanding here."

The costs are flexible and can change, however, as many of the projects may not be done or may be put on hold. Some figures like an estimated $3 million for rehabilitation and repair of the pool and aquatic center also could change once a final expenditure is decided. This figure was inserted into the report as a "placeholder" or "tab mark," Zordan said.

Board President Doug Nickels asked David Forlow, chairman of the 20-Year Plan Task Force, to have members at the board’s June meeting to discuss potential strategies and to discuss how to fine-tune the voluminous report.

The Lake Bluff Park District Board authorized the formation of a 20-Year Plan Task Force last fall. The dozen-member task force was asked to look at all park district operations from top to bottom, and to try to help put together an analysis of the park district's capital needs for the next 20 years, according to Forlow. The task force has held three meetings thus far, plus several members have done work individually and in smaller groups, Forlow said.

"Now, it's just overwhelming," Nickels said. "We currently are responsible for an incredible array of assets, and what we have learned is the costs of maintaining what we already have."

Developing some strategies will help, he said, "knowing the limited amount of money we have and where we might want to invest it."

"This is a huge step," agreed Commissioner Rob Douglass. "This certainly is what the board has been looking for."

The draft 20-year plan looked at site damage, infrastructure, replacement costs for facilities and materials, and potential updates that may be needed in the immediate or near future. Additional costs would be added for any improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. All proposed figure amounts may be changed later.

A few of the suggested changes or maintenance in the report include:

• Performing a heating-ventilation study at the pool house to achieve better temperatures.

• Conducting a mold survey at the golf club — mold-reduction allowance, $450,000.

"We identified some suspect areas with a potential for mold," said Zordan. "Basically, the clubhouse has had an extremely difficult time keeping it cool in the summer. The ventilation issues need to be reviewed. It needs help."

• Demolition and reconstruction at the skate park, $225,000

• Recreation Center: Raising the stone copings and adding flashing to prevent water damage, $30,000; tuck-pointing of masonry, $83,000; equipment replacement (around year three of the plan) $645,000.

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