A $23.5 million plan to renovate Ridgeland Common will go forward after the Park District of Oak Park board unanimously voted to accept the concept design at its meeting Thursday.
The renovation would keep the shell of the building at Lake Street and Ridgeland Avenue and install new plumbing and electricity, a more efficient layout with two entrances, new offices, lockers and activity rooms, new lighting and fencing for playing fields and a new children’s water feature in the pool.
The vote marked a significant step in the project, which the park district has been discussing for seven years. But the board has more to consider, as they heard from about a dozen concerned supporters who want better ice skating and swimming facilities.
Ellen Mills, a figure skating instructor at Ridgeland Common, said her jaw nearly dropped to the floor when she found out that the renovated building’s ice arena may still be closed during summer months. It is currently open from the end of September to the end of March.
It would be a pity, she said, to have a brand new building and just go back to the partial season schedule the arena has been operating for years.
The closing would leave hundreds of skaters with nowhere to go in town, said Maria Ferrera, whose 17-year-old daughter has skated at Ridgeland most of her life. With hockey and figure skating camps, a year-round rink could make money and not force skaters to drive to distant year-round rinks.
Executive Director Gary Balling said the new facility will be equipped for year-round rink use, but programming staff will decide how long to keep the rink open.
A year-round pool, on the other hand, would change design elements of the building, said Matt Ellmann, superintendent of recreation and assistant director of the park district.
Greg Sorg, whose family is involved in competitive swimming, said he couldn’t understand why there are two outdoor long-course pools but no indoor pools in Oak Park. A year-round pool would benefit the whole community physically and mentally, said Scott Kozicki.
The renovation plan calls for an expansion of the ice rink by 15 feet to make it regulation size. The pool would get new gutters and pipe replacement.
To fund this and other capital improvements in the district, the board authorized issuing a total of $30 million in bonds, and $10 million were approved at the meeting.
The board also approved an interim letter of intent with Nagle Hartray Architecture for services related to the renovation.
Balling said another meeting would be scheduled before Thanksgiving to get further feedback from the public.