The Park District of Oak Park will need more space for its gymnastics program and its Buildings and Grounds Department, regardless of which they’ll choose this month to occupy space at the recently-purchased building at 25 Lake St.
It’s “always been the plan” to continue using the facility at 218 Madison St., which currently houses both programs as well as administration, said Executive Director Gary Balling. But questions remain about which entity will better fit the former Aldi grocery store site and surrounding neighborhood.
The park district has spent several years looking for a solution to the cramped gymnastics space. The program currently serves about 1,400 people each season, and more than 150 people were on the waiting list last summer.
“Ultimately, our goal is to be able to accommodate our waitlists and get participants in our program and serve them,” said Matt Ellmann, superintendent of recreation and assistant parks director.
The program currently uses 6,682 square feet at the park district headquarters, but the long-term goal is to have about 17,000 square feet, Ellmann said. Balling said he wouldn’t rule out adding space in the future to the Aldi building, which currently has an interior of 10,800 square feet.
Due to space constraints at 218 Madison, apparatuses must be modified. Ceiling heights are inadequate because of trusses. Competitions can’t be held at the facility because the ring rig, which should be free-standing, is mounted to the ceiling. There’s also not enough parking and no drop-off area, Balling said.
Anecdotally, he added, some have said that moving gymnastics to Lake Street could create a good anchor for the community.
“Certainly it can act as a catalyst for that area and bring new life to the area,” said Loretta Daly, Oak Park’s business services manager. But she said staff would be pleased with an expansion of the program on Madison Street as well.
A garage for the Buildings and Grounds Department, however, would not be beneficial on Lake Street, Daly said.
The long term plan for buildings and grounds is to have interior space of about 13,900 square feet of offices, work areas and indoor storage, and about 8,000 square feet of outdoor space. Operations are currently decentralized and inefficient, Ellmann and Balling said.
Supplies are stored all over the community in center basements, outdoor restrooms with storage space and at a vacant building at 260 Madison St. owned by the village.
But Balling said he’s heard the Lake Street site’s proximity to the village’s Public Works Department could make it appropriate for buildings and grounds.
The park board will meet Thursday as a Committee of the Whole to discuss options for 25 Lake St. Staff will make a recommendation to the board, which will meet Nov. 17 to likely make a final decision.
Improvements to gymnastics, buildings and grounds and the Ridgeland Common redevelopment will be funded by $30 million in bonds.
