How was this plan developed?
Over the past several months, Kenilworth Park District has continued to look to the community to guide us as we determine the path forward for our facilities and programs. So far, we have received feedback from 260 members of the community on what improvements they would like to see to their park facilities and how they would like us to fund those improvements.
Using that feedback in a fully transparent and collaborative process, we developed a community-driven plan for the future of the park district.
Survey Results
What is included in the plan?
This community-driven plan will appear on our ballots for approval in the upcoming November 5th election. If successful, the referendum would support the development of:
- New, Safer Green Bay Bike Trail
- New Recreation Center to Provide Year-Round Programming for All Ages
- Ongoing Improvements to the Outdoor Recreational Spaces on Townley Field
The referendum would allow funding to improve the Green Bay Bike Trail. We would connect the trail between Winnetka and Wilmette through the west side of Townley Field, mitigating safety concerns caused by bicyclists navigating through streets and the school blacktop, and reducing the risk of accidents.
The referendum would allow funding for a new recreation center, replacing the Village House with a modern, larger, more energy efficient facility that supports all-age programs year-round and during inclement weather. This will include a basketball gym to support sports activities, indoor pickleball, and clinics. It will include indoor multipurpose spaces for all-age programs, space for the school during inclement weather, and space that can be rented by community organizations for meetings and events. It could also include an outdoor terrace attached to the rec center to allow residents to enjoy outdoor sporting and leisure activities.
The referendum would also allow for improvements to Townley Field. Improvements include adding new indoor and outdoor ADA accessible restroom facilities, upgrading to new natural grass and a commercial irrigation system, and replacing current lighting with energy efficient LED lights.
With this plan, we will continue to seek additional financial support through applications for various grant opportunities provided by Illinois to park districts with shovel ready projects.
What are the benefits to the community?
This would build an even stronger community where people of all ages could create memories that last a lifetime. We would be able to provide more community events and enhanced opportunities for a broader range of ages. We would eliminate the gap in services during colder months. And we would make our community even more desirable, increasing our residents’ property values.
Why is the referendum necessary?
Since COVID, we have focused on offering community events centered at Kenilworth Assembly Hall. Think Food Trucks, Bags and Bocce leagues, Easter egg hunt and the Holiday tree lighting, along with indoor and outdoor concerts. The sense of community has certainly grown stronger, and as a small park district, our staff is closely linked to the community and knows most everyone by name.
With the new Sears School expansion, we have been able to partner with the school to provide additional youth enrichment programs during the school year, including after school care, computer programming, cooking, etc. We’ve also enhanced our summer Little Springs and Sports plus summer programs.
While we are doing everything we can to serve our community members, we continue to fall short on our recreational capabilities and offerings. Townley Field is a wonderful asset, but it needs investment. We have started at the south end and with grant support we are constructing a new playground, sport court, small shelter, and other amenities that will be available this fall. Next, we would like to improve North Townley Field by replacing a very tired Village House with a new recreation center to host many of the indoor and outdoor recreational services the community desires, especially during inclement weather and the cold winter/wet spring months.
How will the referendum impact my taxes?
We continue to honor our community’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. Our park district receives only 2.5% of local tax dollars to fund operations, compared to our neighboring districts who receive around 4% of local tax dollars, which means we are adept at doing more with less. We budget and spend conservatively, operating under full transparency with strong checks and balances. We’ve professionalized the district’s financial operations, built up responsible fund balances, and projected for the future with a capital account and 5-year capital replacement program. As a result, we won the IGFOA (Illinois Government Finance Officers Association) Budgetary Excellence Award for the 3rd year in a row.
If the referendum is successful, the average $1.5 million district home would see an increase of $600 per year in property taxes. Please utilize our tax calculator to determine your tax impact.
What will we see on the ballot?
To achieve the improvements desired by our community, the Kenilworth Park Board of Trustees voted unanimously to place the following referendum question on the ballot in the upcoming November 5th general election:
Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the Kenilworth Park District, Cook County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.132% above the limiting rate for levy year 2023 for the purpose of building, equipping and operating a new community recreation center, acquiring and improving land for trail use, maintaining, improving and protecting park facilities, parks and athletic fields and for other park purposes and be equal to 0.321% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2024?
- The approximate amount of taxes extendable at the most recently extended limiting rate is $705,325, and the approximate amount of taxes extendable if the proposition is approved is $1,197,325.
- For the 2024 levy year the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against property containing a single family residence and having a fair market value at the time of the referendum of $100,000 is estimated to be $40.
- If the proposition is approved, the aggregate extension for 2024 will be determined by the limiting rate set forth in the proposition, rather than the otherwise applicable limiting rate calculated under the provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (commonly known as the Property Tax Cap Law).
Who can vote and where can I register to vote?
You can vote in the November 5th election if you are a U.S. citizen, you will be 18 years old by election day, and if you have been a resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to election day. You must be a registered voter, and you may register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
What are the different ways to vote?
You can vote by mail. You may now request a vote-by-mail application HERE.
You can vote early. Limited early voting begins at all five Cook County Circuit Courthouse locations and downtown Chicago (69 W. Washington St.) from Oct. 9 to Nov. 4 and at permanent sites from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4. Click HERE for early voting locations.
You can vote in person on election day, Nov. 5. Click HERE to find your polling place location.