Park District of Oak Park tells architects to move forward with Ridgeland Common plans

Requests for qualifications to go out as park staff looks into relocating programs

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012 10:00 PM

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By Devin Rose

Staff Reporter

Click here to see the final cost estimate documents.

Architects behind the renovation of Ridgeland Common presented their final cost estimate last week, and the park board agreed they should move forward with developing construction documents.

Four Park District of Oak Park board members voted Thursday night to approve Nagle Hartray proceeding with the document development phase. According to a schedule in their presentation at the meeting, architects plan to prepare requests for contractor qualifications (RFQs) next month.

They will advertise and distribute RFQs in October and receive bids by January 2013. Construction is scheduled to start March 18. The cost estimate after the design development phase came in at $23.2 million, though alternate improvements, like a $3.7 million synthetic turf field, could increase that.

Meanwhile, park district staff will work with other entities as they put together a transition plan for programs while Ridgeland Common is closed. Since this is being worked out long before the relocated programs would start up, Executive Director Jan Arnold said none of the groups have been able to firm up their availability because they don't know their schedules yet.

"We're asking people in some cases a year and a half in advance," she said.

The pool will close in a few weeks and won't reopen next year. The ice rink will close after the annual ice show in March and will reopen in the fall of 2014, Arnold said. Letters were sent out in the last couple of weeks to parents of kids in the travel hockey league to keep them updated on the project. Arnold said they want to remind parents that they're looking for ways to keep as many teams together as possible.

Jenny Berni, the park district's aquatic and rink services manager, is leading the transition plan. She said their group is collecting information right now. Oak Park and River Forest High School and Fenwick High School are among the other entities the park district has reached out to, she said. They've also started doing inventory on their remaining field space.

David Kindler, a former park board president who plays hockey in the park district's adult league, said he and other program participants will have to be flexible as they try to find ice rental somewhere else. He suggested Franklin Park or an outdoor rink in Cicero for the league to hold its games, but no plans have yet been made.

Ice is limited around this region and most rinks have in-house teams and figure-skating programs of their own, so it will be difficult to find space, Kindler said. Participants will have to be patient and understand that the expanded ice rink and improved pool plumbing will be higher quality in the end.

Arnold said the transition plan should be set by the end of the summer.

Ridgeland Common project budget review - August 2012

Reader Comments

18 Comments - Add Your Comment

Comment Policy

Parent

Posted: August 11th, 2012 10:49 PM

How come you cant see the kiddie pool in picture??

OP Resident # 545 from Oak Park

Posted: August 11th, 2012 4:06 PM

To correct Really: OP is not losing a ball field. Ridgeland will still have 2 fields. see http://oakparkparks.com/NewsandInformation/FuturePlans/Ridgeland Common Next Steps/RC_CONCEPTS_AUG_2011_pptx_FINAL.pdf Also, the kiddie pool remains, just moved slighty to the east.

A trip down memory lane....

Posted: August 11th, 2012 11:53 AM

Video from 1965 of Ridgeland pre ice rink!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiQVj8-AI5w&feature=youtu.be

OP Resident

Posted: August 11th, 2012 10:45 AM

One thing with regards to the field, though. I'd rather keep the field as natural grass, and make no changes to the configuration as it is now. Just replace the fence around the park, and don't lose the sled hill. When it snows, the Ridgeland hill is just as packed (if not more so) than Barrie. If we have to go down to one sled hill, there will be a tremendous increase in accidents. Save the money that was going to be spent on the turf for a contigency fund in case there are cost overruns.

OP Resident

Posted: August 11th, 2012 10:42 AM

Ridgeland can't wait any longer for a renovation. The pipes are failing, and literally being held together with duct tape and band aids. There's been a lot of times when the pool or rink has been in jeopardy of not opening because of mechanical failure, or other issues. Power was also a major issue last year as well in the building. It HAS to be done, or we risk totally losing a pool and an ice rink in Oak Park, and leaving behind a delapodated building that is non-functional.

Parent

Posted: August 8th, 2012 10:57 PM

From the picture above, it looks as if the kiddie pool is gone? I hope not.

Really

Posted: August 8th, 2012 1:38 PM

@ what brain trust - the fields are not better. in fact OP is losing a baseball field - which it greatly needs. Last time I checked, having fewer places for kids is not better. And to you point on the ice, most traveling players wont likely come back so again, no worry on losses. the taxpayers will eat them

Really

Posted: August 8th, 2012 1:35 PM

@ what?? you must be part of the braintrust that put this together. I am sorry if I offended you but we are getting sold a bill of goods if we think that this project is worthwhile at $28MM dollar OR we are too involved in group think in which the people who are really bright are afraid to disagree out of fear of being put out the circle. Again, sorry just being honest

What?? from Oak Park

Posted: August 8th, 2012 1:29 PM

Really...during the community input process "visionary" plans were put forward, & the community decided correctly that they were not affordable. RC will be a year-round, NHL-sized rink w/better fields for everyone. Oh, & Johnny's Ice House East cost way more than $ 3.2M in '96, & JIH West (free land, free infrastructure) looks like a prison. Facts are curious things sometimes. Also, the PD also remains 5% of your tax bill. Great value for the money.

Done from Oak Park

Posted: August 8th, 2012 1:22 PM

Really - OK, I'll do it. This is silly. And I'm glad I got the chance to vote on this use of my tax dollars. Oh, wait a minute..........

Really

Posted: August 8th, 2012 1:21 PM

@MichaelO - excellent idea. If this were a company, then there would be accountability for losses/ actual keep a sound balance sheet. Park district has no such requirement to keep costs in check - just issue bonds and have taxpayers pick it up... wish I could do that in my job...

MichaelO from Oak Park

Posted: August 8th, 2012 1:03 PM

How about we put the whole thing on hold until we get our house in order? The idea of spending this kind of money at a time when capital improvements around the village have been pushed back is ludicrous.

Really

Posted: August 8th, 2012 12:59 PM

The additionally sad point is no one has the courage to stand up and say this is silly. Oak Park prides itself on accepting ideas but the truth is as soon as someone raises legit questions they are pushed aside.

Really

Posted: August 8th, 2012 12:56 PM

Wow. then it is even more disappointing that it took 6 years to basically redo the facility with very little creativity or vision for $28MM (including turf). You are missing the point - for $28MM - not getting value. Johnies Ice house was $3.2Million - so where is the $25MM of additional value?

Ken from Oak Park

Posted: August 8th, 2012 10:26 AM

How about a temporary, privately-funded ice rink at Lake St and Forest? Public skating when not in use by hockey leagues. Higher profile for hockey in the village.

Done from Oak Park

Posted: August 8th, 2012 9:06 AM

Looking forward to seeing the line for "Oak Park Park District" on our tax bills skyrocket. Already up over 300% in the last ten years. Anyone care to bet it goes up another 100% in the next five?

Yes, really from Oak Park

Posted: August 8th, 2012 8:43 AM

@Really: you've obviously missed six years of master planning meetings, citizen oversight committee meetings, public input meetings,outside expert analysis, surveys, and editorials on this topic. Sorry, being a one-note johnny-come-lately makes you appear woefully uniformed.

Really?

Posted: August 7th, 2012 10:13 PM

Is there any outside group doing analysis regarding the cost of this development? $24MM to redo with slight improvements? This is perfect example of wasting tax dollars due to lack of oversight and expertise.

Find a garage sale near you!