Phase 2 (Proposed) | Phase 1 (Completed) | Previous 2014 Planning Press Releases
TOWN CENTRE COMMUNITY PARK PLANNING UPDATE & PROPOSED PHASE 2 DEVELOPMENT
Town Centre (also known as the Jubilee site) is located at 7101 Woodridge Drive, Woodridge, IL 60517
Community Open House Scheduled to Review & Accept Feedback on Updated Town Centre Schematic Design Master Plan
August 16, 2022 – The Woodridge Park District staff presented the 90% complete Schematic Design Master Plan updates and preliminary cost estimate to the Board of Park Commissioners at the August 2022 Regular Board Meeting . The design intent of the 2022 Master Plan update is to incorporate the original proposed improvements/uses identified in the 2014 Town Centre Master Plan approved by both the Village of Woodridge and Woodridge Park District. Updates include establishing locations of proposed park improvements/uses throughout the property to further preserve and best utilize existing topography, open spaces, vegetation and wildlife while improving internal circulation and access to proposed Town Centre park improvements and adjacent Town Centre properties (e.g. Hawthorne Hill Woods, Lake Harriet, Lake Carleton, Jefferson Jr. High School, Town Centre comprise of the Village Hall, Kagann Plaza, Woodridge Public Library, Village Public Works, Woodridge Police Station and U.S. Post Office, Memorial Park and the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center.)
The Park Board and staff further discussed the proposed Phase 2 development plan (note that Phase 1 was the Sled Hill which was completed) being considered to submit for an OSLAD grant that considers development of a picnic grove with park shelter to accommodate larger picnics/events and to include ancillary park amenities (e.g. playground, sand volleyball or game courts, permanent baggo boards & ping pong tables, drinking fountain, etc.), pathway connections to Jefferson Jr. High School and existing Town Center (Village Hall & Public Library) and relocation of garden plots.
View August 30, 2022 Community Open House Presentation Slides
View Updated Schematic Design Master Plan
View Schematic Design Master Plan – Proposed Phase 2 Development Pending OSLAD Grant
Schematic Design Master Plan – Design Features Summary
Staff informed the Board of Park Commissioners that the Village and Park District staff are negotiating an amendment to the existing Intergovernmental Agreement which would authorize the Park District to proceed with final design, development and maintenance of the 44 acres in accordance with an approved updated Master Plan to be developed based on a phased approach subject to available grants and capital funding.
Questions/comments about the Master Plan? Send us an email at mail@woodridgeparks.org or attend the Town Centre Open House on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 from 7 – 9 PM at the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center, 2600 Center Drive, Woodridge.
The purpose of the public open house is to review updates and seek public feedback on the schematic design master plan for the proposed phased park development of the Town Centre property (7101 Woodridge Drive, Woodridge), which is co-owned by the Woodridge Park District & Village of Woodridge.
| Town CentRE Proposed Phase 2 Park Development Preliminary Timeline | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8/16/22 | Review 90% Schematic Design Master Plan updates, cost estimates & conduct preliminary site engineering | |
| 8/31/22 | WPD to host Town Centre Open House for Public Feedback on Updated Master Plan | 7-9 PM at the Fred C. Hohnke Community Center | |
| 9/13/22 | WPD Board Action:
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| 9/15/22 | Village Board Action:
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| 9/30/22 | DNR OSLAD grant application deadline submittal (Phase 2 Development – Picnic Grove) & other potential grant program applications where warranted | |
| Spring 2023 | Anticipated announcement of OSLAD grant recipients | |
| Pending Successful OSLAD Grant Notification | ||
| Summer 2023 | Finalize architectural design & engineering | |
| Fall 2023 | Apply & obtain required permits / complete project construction drawings/specs | |
| Winter 2024 | Let bids for Phase 2 (Picnic Gove area) project construction | |
| Spring/Summer 2024 | Approve contracts and commence construction | |
| Fall 2024 | Complete construction / finalize turf seeding/restoration | |
| Summer 2025 | Open Picnic Grove for use (pending establishment of quality turf) | |
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisition & Development Grant (OSLAD) Application Cycle Announced
August 3, 2022 – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) releases details regarding the 2022-2023 OSLAD grant cycle to include an increase in the maximum grant award for development projects from $400,000 to $600,000. The deadline to submit applications is September 30, 2022.
Park Board Approves Consulting Services to Update Town Center Master Plan in Preparation for OSLAD Grant Application for Phase 2 Park Development
April 19, 2022 – The Board of Park Commissioners approved a contract agreement with Hitchcock Design Group to provide schematic design and preliminary engineering services to refine the 2014 Town Centre Concept Master Plan to include the following services: schematic design alternatives for development, preliminary engineering recommendations and schematic stormwater management/mitigation plan, preliminary construction cost opinion, phased implementation plans, design review with Village of Woodridge Engineer, Community Design Input meeting to solicit public input on schematic plan updates, final schematic design master plan documents and Phase 2 plan, and OSLAD Grant Application for 2022.
Illinois Association of Park Districts Announces Approval of FYE2023 State Budget to Include OSLAD Grant Funding
April 11, 2022 – The Illinois State Legislature Spring Session resulted in a historic $56 million appropriation for new OSLAD matching grants for the 2022-2023 grant cycle.
TOWN CENTRE PHASE 1 PARK DEVELOPMENT (SLED HILL)
Town Centre Sled Hill Opened for Play on January 1
January 3, 2022 – The new sled hill, located just west of Jefferson Jr. High’s new athletic field complex, was closed last winter in order to properly establish the hillside turf, but it’s now ready for snow and sledders! The 22-foot hill will be open during daylight hours when conditions allow for sledding. Visit the Woodridge Park District’s Rainout Line web page to view the sled hill’s status and sign up for text or email alerts.
Commissioners Approve Donation Agreement to Construct Sled Hill
April 16, 2019 – Board of Park Commissioners approve donation agreement with Earthworks Landscaping & Restoration, Inc. to provide off-site soil material, grading and final restoration to construct proposed sled hill at no cost to the District.
Woodridge Park District & Village of Woodridge Approve Amendment to the Town Centre IGA to Construct a Sled Hill
May 21, 2019 – The Village and Park District, co-owners of the Town Centre 44 Acre property, approved an amendment to the existing Town Centre IGA to finalize terms for the Park District to take on the full responsibility for the design, construction, maintenance and liability for the sled hill to be located south of the Village Hall and west of Jefferson Jr. High School.
TOWN CENTRE PREVIOUS MASTER PLAN PLANNING HISTORY PRESS RELEASES
Park Board Adopts 2014 Town Centre Concept Master Plan
August 13, 2014 – The Woodridge Park District Board of Park Commissioners officially adopted the proposed Town Centre Master Plan at the August 12, 2014 regular board meeting. The proposed master plan achieves the original goals established in purchasing the property to preserve open space and use for parks, recreation, public grounds and civic purposes. The proposed improvements will further enhance the existing activities that currently take place in the Town Centre area such as the Woodridge Jubilee. The plan also reflects previously planned improvements on Park District owned properties (Hawthorne Hill Woods, Lake Harriet, & Lake Carleton/Community Center) identified in the District’s current Five-year Capital Development Plan.
View 2014 Town Centre Master Plan
The plan will serve as a blueprint as funds become available to guide future decisions on improvements that will further enhance the quality of life for its residents through nature, open space, recreation and civic uses.
The Park District was recently notified of an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant for $200,000 for Lake Harriet improvements that will include but is not limited to a fishing pier and other site amenities. The grant agreement is expected to be finalized within the next few weeks. Construction could potentially start in spring/summer 2015.
View Concept Plans and Provide Feedback at the Town Centre Open House
February 25, 2014 – In 2013 residents provided input at a public workshop and through website feedback on how Woodridge’s Town Centre should be used by the community. Now, the consultant hired by the Village and the Park District has taken the community’s input and created three alternative options for the future use of the property located near Woodridge Drive and Center Drive.
The public is invited to the Town Centre Open House on Monday, March 10th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Edgewood School, 7900 Woodridge Drive. The public Open House will provide residents the opportunity to view and comment on three alternative Town Centre concept plans. There will also be a short presentation at 7:00 pm to summarize the key recommendations for each alternative. Participants are encouraged to stop by anytime between 6:30 and 8:30 pm to view the plans and provide input.
ABOUT THE TOWN CENTRE MASTER PLAN
The Village of Woodridge and Woodridge Park District have been working with a consultant to develop a Town Centre Master Plan that includes a community supported vision that further strengthens the Town Centre as a community focal point. The Town Centre area is located near Woodridge and Center Drives and includes the following existing facilities: Village Hall, Woodridge Library, Village Police/Public Works facility, Park District Community Center, U.S. Post Office, Jefferson Junior High School, Hawthorne Hill Woods, Memorial Park, Lake Carleton, Lake Harriet and 44 acres of open space jointly owned by the Village and Park District.
The feedback and suggestions gathered from the March 10th Open House will be used to formalize the alternatives into a preferred Town Centre Master Plan that will be presented to the Woodridge Plan Commission, Village Board and Park District Board in April.
New Mapping Application Allows Woodridge Residents to Participate in the Town Centre Planning Process
May 30, 2013 – Interested in participating in the Town Centre planning process online? Participants can create their own Town Centre map in an interactive mapping application located on the Town Centre project website. The mapping application allows participants to create a map identifying suggestions, ideas, and concerns related to the Town Centre area.
To get started, visit the project website at www.hlplanning.com/woodridge and click “CREATE A MAP” at the top right corner of the homepage. Once you are in the application, click “Create a new map” on the left side of the page to get started. You will then be prompted to enter your email address, pick a display name and create a password
The Town Centre area is located north of 75th Street and south of Hobson Road and includes the following existing facilities: Village Hall, Woodridge Library, Village Police/Public Works facility, Park District Community Center, U.S Post Office, and Jefferson Junior High School. Public open space within the Town Centre area consists of Hawthorne Hill Woods, Memorial Park, Lake Carleton, Lake Harriet and 44 acres of open space jointly owned by the Village and Park District. The Town Centre Master Plan will identify community preferred open space, recreational and civic land use alternatives for the Town Centre area. A Town Centre Master Plan Community Workshop was held on Wednesday, May 29, which gave Woodridge residents and stakeholder an opportunity to share their vision for the Town Centre area.
Woodridge Town Centre Master Plan
April 15, 2013 – The Village of Woodridge and Woodridge Park District are beginning the process of creating a Town Centre Master Plan. The Town Centre area is located north of 75th Street and south of Hobson Road and includes the following existing facilities: Village Hall, Woodridge Library, Village Police/Public Works facility, Park District Community Center, U.S Post Office, and Jefferson Junior High School. Public open space within the Town Centre area consists of Hawthorne Hill Woods, Memorial Park, Lake Carleton, Lake Harriet and 44 acres of open space jointly owned by the Village and Park District.
The Town Centre Master Plan project will identify land use alternatives and develop conceptual site plans for the Town Centre area. The intent of the Plan is to provide both the Village and Park District with a community supported concept that further strengthens the Town Centre as a community focal point.
According to Michael Mays, Community Development Director for the Village of Woodridge, “The Plan will not be successful without the participation of residents, property owners, and other community stakeholders. Their input and ideas are important and the Village and the Park District are interested in their vision for Town Centre.”
2013 Community Workshop
The first opportunity for the community to get involved will be a Community Workshop to be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Woodridge Park District Community Center, located at 2600 Center Drive, Woodridge.
The workshop will review the purpose of the Town Centre Master Plan, the planning process to be undertaken, the schedule for the study, and establish and refine the community’s vision and goals for the Town Centre. Click here to view workshop flyer.
The workshop will be an interactive experience designed to review, discuss, and identify conditions and potentials within the Town Centre. The results and feedback from the workshop, along with other community outreach activities, will be used to identify community priorities and objectives, and will serve as the foundation for the Town Centre Master Plan’s direction.
Village of Woodridge and Woodridge Park District Release RFP for a Town Centre Master Plan
March 14, 2012 – The Village of Woodridge and Woodridge Park District have released a Request for Proposals seeking submittals from professional planning consultants for the preparation of a Town Centre Master Plan that identifies community needs and an implementation plan that contemplates land uses, project phasing and financing for the Town Centre Area of the Village of Woodridge. The Town Centre Area is located near Woodridge and Center Drives where the Village Hall, Woodridge Library, Village Police/Public Works facility, Park District Community Center, U.S. Post Office, Jefferson Junior High School, Hawthorne Hill Woods Park, Memorial Park, Lake Carleton, Lake Harriet and 44 acres of open space jointly owned by the Village and Park District are located.
The consultant will work under the direction of the Village and Park District staff and will be responsible for coordinating the public input process, including public open houses, key person interviews and steering committee meetings. The public input gathered will be used to by the consultant to establish a community preferred land use plan for the Town Centre Area to be incorporated in the Town Centre Master Plan document. The Plan will become a policy tool that provides direction for all aspects of the Town Centre’s physical environment and a guide for infrastructure and other public investment needs.
The Village and Park District will periodically post new and updated information concerning this planning initiative on their respective websites.
