Elmhurst Park District Delays Wilder Park Renovation Plans

One thing was certain Monday night at the Elmhurst Park District Board meeting: Nobody can agree on anything when it comes to Wilder Park. 

Commissioners argued over the master plan for the Wilder Park renovations set to begin next summer.  They are considering a plan that would include a seasonal ice rink, music bandshell, additional bathrooms and solar-powered pathway lighting.

The debate centered around the overall purpose and philosophy of the park.  Commissioners Carolyn Ubriaco and Vince Spaeth said Wilder Park should retain as much green space as possible. 

"Elmhurst has a lot of nice things," Ubriaco said. "But what we don't have is a lot of green space." 

Commissioner Bob Howard disagreed, leading the charge that the park needed new amenities to draw people in and more pathways for people cutting through Wilder. 

"To say that we don't have enough green space is absurd," Howard said. "We've got 23 parks spread all across the city.

"With Wilder Park, we need to be all things to all people. We must accommodate kids, parents and senior citizens.  Each of these groups has special needs and we should try to meet them." 

Howard and Park District Executive Director Richard Grodsky cited public opinion polls that showed residents wanted pathways and bathrooms in Wilder Park more than any other feature.  The survey polled almost 1,200 Elmhurst residents. 

The board also could not agree on a width for existing pathways.  The proposal called for 8-foot-wide paths, but some, including Commissioner Mary Kies, thought larger paths could be a safety concern. 

"It seems like wider paths is just an open invitation for bikers to whip through the park and trample pedestrians," she said. 

Elmhurst resident Donna Geis also voiced concerns over the expanded paths. 

"Wilder Park should be a passive experience," she said. "Why should we accommodate people that are just passing through?  We should focus on making it a place of relaxation and peace." 

After two hours of debate, President Colette Kubiesa called an end to the meeting without any consensus on the proposal.  She believed more discussion would be needed before the final plan could be approved. 

"There's been a lot to digest this evening," Kubiesa said. "I think we'll need to read over the proposal and perhaps gather more public opinion before approving a plan."

Elmhurst Park Board will meet again at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, at the district administration building at Wilder Park. They may approve a final plan at the next meeting or postpone a decision until 2011.