Latest news with #Itasca-based
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Naperville Park District to hire consultants to help plan future indoor rec space, possible pool
Naperville Park District is hoping to chart a path forward on new indoor recreation space, including the possiblity of a new pool, with the help of a pair of consultants. Later this month, district staff will bring two professional services contracts to the Naperville Park Board for approval. The contracts are the next step in an ongoing effort to determine how the district should manage its indoor recreation needs in years to come and if a referendum will be needed to fund new or expanded space. District Executive Director Brad Wilson gave an overview of the focus and scope of the proposed contracts at last week's park board meeting. They are expected to go to the board at its May 22 meeting, Wilson said. Last fall, the district completed an assessment of its indoor recreational needs. Months in the making, the review was a product of interviews with stakeholders, focus groups, open house events and surveys. The resulting 266-page report offered a range of takeaways, from the demand for more aquatic facilities to the need for more enhanced seniors programs for seniors. The contract proposals 'really come off' that assessment, Wilson said. Under one of them, Itasca-based Williams Architects would be hired to assist the district in site and facility conceptual design and public engagement, he said. 'We've certainly gathered a lot of public input and feedback from the community as part of that indoor recreation needs assessment on the types of spaces that the community would like to see and feel is needed,' he said. 'Now, it's taking those elements and beginning to look at various sites. 'Where a building might be able to be located as well as what type of elements could be included in there and really the size of those to help with then determining what it might look like as well as what the cost estimate would be.' The other contract would have Beyond Your Base, a public affairs and pre-referendum consulting group, help the park board decide whether to seek voter approval through a referendum to help pay for new indoor rec space, Wilson said. As part of the district's recently completed needs assessment, residents were surveyed on their willingness to kick in their own tax dollars towards a new multipurpose activity center. Residents were surveyed on three bond issue scenarios: one that would fund a facility similar to the Fort Hill Activity Center with the addition of an indoor pool; a second calling for a center like Fort Hill with no pool; and a third under which a similar center would be built and include synthetic turf. All three would add anywhere from $60 to $85 to the park district's property tax bill annually for 20 years for a taxpayer with a home valued at $440,000, according to district estimates. In both statistical and public survey results, respondents indicated the highest willingness to pay for a center with a pool. Surveys also sought input on where residents would want new indoor recreation space to be built. South Naperville drew the highest level of support. Beyond Your Base, with offices in Colorado and Illinois, 'develops and implements comprehensive public engagement programs that incorporate voter analytics, public opinion research and strategic communications,' its website says. The consulting group recently assisted Indian Prairie School District 204 with its public engagement for a bond referendum that voters approved last fall, according to Wilson. Over the past couple of months, the district has started to work with both Beyond Your Base and Williams Architects on some initial steps 'to really begin taking a look at this a little bit further,' Wilson said. Each company has been paid $18,000 for the preliminary work, he said. If the new contracts are approved, Williams Architects would be receive $62,000 and Beyond Your Base would get $67,000. Should the board approve both agreements, 'later in the summer and in early fall, we would (expect to) have additional updates to … provide,' Wilson said. tkenny@
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Naperville Park District to hire consultants to help plan future indoor rec space, possible pool
Naperville Park District is hoping to chart a path forward on new indoor recreation space, including the possiblity of a new pool, with the help of a pair of consultants. Later this month, district staff will bring two professional services contracts to the Naperville Park Board for approval. The contracts are the next step in an ongoing effort to determine how the district should manage its indoor recreation needs in years to come and if a referendum will be needed to fund new or expanded space. District Executive Director Brad Wilson gave an overview of the focus and scope of the proposed contracts at last week's park board meeting. They are expected to go to the board at its May 22 meeting, Wilson said. Last fall, the district completed an assessment of its indoor recreational needs. Months in the making, the review was a product of interviews with stakeholders, focus groups, open house events and surveys. The resulting 266-page report offered a range of takeaways, from the demand for more aquatic facilities to the need for more enhanced seniors programs for seniors. The contract proposals 'really come off' that assessment, Wilson said. Under one of them, Itasca-based Williams Architects would be hired to assist the district in site and facility conceptual design and public engagement, he said. 'We've certainly gathered a lot of public input and feedback from the community as part of that indoor recreation needs assessment on the types of spaces that the community would like to see and feel is needed,' he said. 'Now, it's taking those elements and beginning to look at various sites. 'Where a building might be able to be located as well as what type of elements could be included in there and really the size of those to help with then determining what it might look like as well as what the cost estimate would be.' The other contract would have Beyond Your Base, a public affairs and pre-referendum consulting group, help the park board decide whether to seek voter approval through a referendum to help pay for new indoor rec space, Wilson said. As part of the district's recently completed needs assessment, residents were surveyed on their willingness to kick in their own tax dollars towards a new multipurpose activity center. Residents were surveyed on three bond issue scenarios: one that would fund a facility similar to the Fort Hill Activity Center with the addition of an indoor pool; a second calling for a center like Fort Hill with no pool; and a third under which a similar center would be built and include synthetic turf. All three would add anywhere from $60 to $85 to the park district's property tax bill annually for 20 years for a taxpayer with a home valued at $440,000, according to district estimates. In both statistical and public survey results, respondents indicated the highest willingness to pay for a center with a pool. Surveys also sought input on where residents would want new indoor recreation space to be built. South Naperville drew the highest level of support. Beyond Your Base, with offices in Colorado and Illinois, 'develops and implements comprehensive public engagement programs that incorporate voter analytics, public opinion research and strategic communications,' its website says. The consulting group recently assisted Indian Prairie School District 204 with its public engagement for a bond referendum that voters approved last fall, according to Wilson. Over the past couple of months, the district has started to work with both Beyond Your Base and Williams Architects on some initial steps 'to really begin taking a look at this a little bit further,' Wilson said. Each company has been paid $18,000 for the preliminary work, he said. If the new contracts are approved, Williams Architects would be receive $62,000 and Beyond Your Base would get $67,000. Should the board approve both agreements, 'later in the summer and in early fall, we would (expect to) have additional updates to … provide,' Wilson said. tkenny@
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville Park District to hire consultants to help plan future indoor rec space, possible pool
Naperville Park District is hoping to chart a path forward on new indoor recreation space, including the possiblity of a new pool, with the help of a pair of consultants. Later this month, district staff will bring two professional services contracts to the Naperville Park Board for approval. The contracts are the next step in an ongoing effort to determine how the district should manage its indoor recreation needs in years to come and if a referendum will be needed to fund new or expanded space. District Executive Director Brad Wilson gave an overview of the focus and scope of the proposed contracts at last week's park board meeting. They are expected to go to the board at its May 22 meeting, Wilson said. Last fall, the district completed an assessment of its indoor recreational needs. Months in the making, the review was a product of interviews with stakeholders, focus groups, open house events and surveys. The resulting 266-page report offered a range of takeaways, from the demand for more aquatic facilities to the need for more enhanced seniors programs for seniors. The contract proposals 'really come off' that assessment, Wilson said. Under one of them, Itasca-based Williams Architects would be hired to assist the district in site and facility conceptual design and public engagement, he said. 'We've certainly gathered a lot of public input and feedback from the community as part of that indoor recreation needs assessment on the types of spaces that the community would like to see and feel is needed,' he said. 'Now, it's taking those elements and beginning to look at various sites. 'Where a building might be able to be located as well as what type of elements could be included in there and really the size of those to help with then determining what it might look like as well as what the cost estimate would be.' The other contract would have Beyond Your Base, a public affairs and pre-referendum consulting group, help the park board decide whether to seek voter approval through a referendum to help pay for new indoor rec space, Wilson said. As part of the district's recently completed needs assessment, residents were surveyed on their willingness to kick in their own tax dollars towards a new multipurpose activity center. Residents were surveyed on three bond issue scenarios: one that would fund a facility similar to the Fort Hill Activity Center with the addition of an indoor pool; a second calling for a center like Fort Hill with no pool; and a third under which a similar center would be built and include synthetic turf. All three would add anywhere from $60 to $85 to the park district's property tax bill annually for 20 years for a taxpayer with a home valued at $440,000, according to district estimates. In both statistical and public survey results, respondents indicated the highest willingness to pay for a center with a pool. Surveys also sought input on where residents would want new indoor recreation space to be built. South Naperville drew the highest level of support. Beyond Your Base, with offices in Colorado and Illinois, 'develops and implements comprehensive public engagement programs that incorporate voter analytics, public opinion research and strategic communications,' its website says. The consulting group recently assisted Indian Prairie School District 204 with its public engagement for a bond referendum that voters approved last fall, according to Wilson. Over the past couple of months, the district has started to work with both Beyond Your Base and Williams Architects on some initial steps 'to really begin taking a look at this a little bit further,' Wilson said. Each company has been paid $18,000 for the preliminary work, he said. If the new contracts are approved, Williams Architects would be receive $62,000 and Beyond Your Base would get $67,000. Should the board approve both agreements, 'later in the summer and in early fall, we would (expect to) have additional updates to … provide,' Wilson said.
Chicago Tribune
24-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Oswego trustees seem to favor expanding current Public Works facility
Oswego trustees appear to favor a plan to expand and repurpose the existing Public Works facility in the village rather than build a new one. The Oswego Village Board at a recent committee-of-the-whole meeting appeared supportive of expanding the existing Public Works facility for around $22 million, as opposed to building an entirely new facility at an estimated cost of up to $40.2 million. The Village Board in early 2024 authorized the hiring of the Itasca-based Williams Architects to identify options for the Public Works Department including possible expansion of the existing facility at 100 Theodore Drive, which was built in 2002. The board in February acquired a neighboring piece of property to provide additional space at the site, specifically for materials storage, a second salt dome and a fueling station. Earlier this month, trustees hired Frederick Quinn Corporation general contractors in Addison to create a schematic design for the Public Works facility project. The architects several months ago presented a space needs analysis that considered the existing space, the space needed at the present time and future space need projections through 2050. Based on today's needs, Williams Architects found that the current facility only provides 42% of the space needed for Public Works staff and operations, village officials said. The Village Board requested the four options being considered for the facility be reduced to two options. Option A would construct a new storage garage and administrative spaces, while renovating the existing Public Works facility, at an estimated cost of $20.7 million to $22.4 million. Option B would build an entirely new facility with a new storage garage, administrative spaces, workshops and a new fleet maintenance facility at an estimated cost of $37 million to $40.2 million. 'We think either option would get us to 2040 or 2050, depending on how fast the village grows,' Oswego Facilities Manager Steve Raasch told trustees. The village has various funding sources to support the project, including general fund reserves of $18 million that could be put toward the work, cash from a general fund surplus, money from the water and sewer capital fund and more, according to staff reports. 'Although the existing Public Works facility is no longer close to being of the size that meets the village's needs for Public Works operations and infrastructure, it's only a 20-year-old building. It still has good bones and it still can certainly meet a lot of space needs for the project,' Williams Architects Chief Operating Officer Andy Dogan said. 'One of the things that we really started to take a closer look at is how can we repurpose and remodel portions of the building to help us get to the entire space needs program that we developed,' Dogan said. 'The intent is to have a good use of an existing resource and save money by doing a little remodeling and repurposing rather than building everything new.' Option A was changed to feature expansion of the village's existing fleet maintenance facility by adding an additional bay at the Public Works site, Dolan said. 'We know that storing vehicles inside really helps protect the investment that you have made in equipment,' Dolan said. 'This protects your investment now and into the future.' The village will convene a steering committee to further discuss the project, officials said. Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman said he is strongly in favor of Option A. 'I think it gets us everything that we need, it checks all of the boxes, and we have the cash on hand,' Kauffman said. 'We have been responsibly saving for it, and we can do this without taking on a single cent of debt.'
Chicago Tribune
14-02-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Oswego OKs purchase of land as part of plans to expand Public Works facility
Oswego trustees recently authorized the purchase of some land as part of plans to expand the existing Public Works facility in the village. The village's project consultants Williams Architects, during the preliminary phase of design, determined that additional property was necessary for an expanded Public Works Department facility lasting 25 years and beyond, Oswego Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said in a report to trustees. The architects conducted a space needs assessment and feasibility study for the department based on the 'tremendous growth' of Oswego in recent years. The results of the study considered existing space and future space needs. The Village Board in early 2024 authorized the hiring of the Itasca-based Williams Architects to identify options for the department including possible expansion of the existing Public Works facility at 100 Theodore Drive, which was built in 2002. Staff has outgrown the current facility, officials said. 'As the design began, we realized that we really needed additional property. While the property we have could work, it would really cramp the expansion and put us in the same position in the future,' Di Santo told trustees. 'We would rather have this building last for 50-plus years.' The village approached the owner of the vacant property next to the east side of the Public Works facility about selling the empty site, Di Santo said. 'We engaged with the property owner and came to a negotiated agreement on the purchase,' Di Santo said. The Village Board authorized the execution of a contract to purchase the parcel for $600,000. Oswego officials said expanding the Public Works facility is vital, since the village has grown quite a bit since the building was constructed in 2002. Some of the key concerns for the Public Works Department include having equipment stored outdoors year-round and that office space, lockers and restrooms at the current site are inadequate to serve existing and future staff, village officials said. The board has looked at four options concerning the Public Works facility. The projected cost to maintain the existing facility with some modifications is an estimated $17 million to $18.7 million. This was called Option 1. However, trustees appeared more supportive of two other options. Option 2 would maintain a portion of the existing facility with some modifications at an estimated $20.7 million to $22.4 million. Others had interest in Option 3, which would involve more construction on the existing site at an estimated cost of $37 million to $40.2 million. Yet another variant, called Option 4, which garnered the least feedback, would involve a full construction project on a new site at an estimated cost of $40.6 million to $44 million.
