Wheeling Park District Park Improvement Projects
The second phase of improvements at Malibu Park is scheduled to be completed this June. The update to the one-acre park, at the intersection of Tahoe Circle Drive and Chippewa Trail in Wheeling, includes the reconfiguration of sidewalks, new ornamental fencing, new brick paving park entry, landscaping, signage, and color-coating of the existing basketball court.
Construction documents are complete and bids will be solicited beginning March 31. Assuming the proposals are favorable, the bids will be presented to the Wheeling Park Board of Commissioners at the last Board Meeting in April. Once a contract is awarded, the project will be well on the way to improving the quality of guests' experiences.
The concept for the update was generated by area residents as part of the Park District's "people-driven" park design process. Park District Staff conducted two "listening sessions" in the spring of 2007 to hear what was important to those who live in the area. Staff met with residents a third time to present the completed conceptual designs and invite feedback.
Although the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant Park District Staff applied for to help with the cost of these upgrades was denied by the State of Illinois, the Park Board of Commissioners opted to go ahead with the improvements in two phases in order to complete the design approved in 2007.
Phase I, completed in 2008, included the installation of separate play structures for two- to five-year-olds and five- to twelve-year-olds with belt and tot swings, unique slides and play structures, a rock-climbing feature, see saw, and sand play area. A much-need drinking fountain also was added. The official dedication of Malibu Park took place on Saturday, June 14, 2008, with a ribbon cutting attended by local dignitaries and residents.
To view renderings of Malibu Park, please click on the links below.
The “people driven” redevelopment process at Heritage Park is on schedule to make the “ Signature Park” a reality.
On August 19, 2008 the full Board of Commissioners approved the final concept for the project. Some of the highlights of the design include a main entry feature off of Dundee Road with a large playground, a ballfield complex with concessions and restrooms, an east entrance to the park off of Wolf Road leading directly to the ballfields, a bandshell, a natural area with detention along Buffalo Creek, a relocated parks building with public restrooms and concessions adjacent to an engineered soccer field, and new parking areas off of Dundee Road and Jeffrey Avenue. The plan also calls for a large pavilion overlooking an expanded lake/detention area. An enhanced lake edge will feature a walking path around the entire perimeter complete with a raised boardwalk over a natural viewing area.
The concept took shape at the hands of the Heritage Park Advisory Committee who met for an evening design workshop on Thursday, April 10, 2008. Committee members, including residents, a Park commissioner, a Park staff member, and representatives from the Village of Wheeling, School District 21, Wheeling High School, and Indian Trails Public Library, broke into small groups and formulated their ideas into three distinct design concepts for the new Heritage Park. All three reflected Committee members’ desires to realign the baseball fields, keep the detention pond on Wolf Road, enhance the lake, and relocate the playground and basketball and tennis courts on the 98 acres of park land in addition to adding more parking within the park.
Park District staff translated the design intent of the plans into presentation concepts that worked with the restrictions of the site. This allowed the community to view the drawings at a public forum held at the Community Recreation Center on Thursday, May 22, 2008. Those in attendance heard an explanation of the three designs and gave their input. Anyone unable to attend the forum had an opportunity to see the presentation boards in the lobby of the CRC, at Indian Trails Public Library, and on the Wheeling Park District Web site and offer their comments.
All community input was reviewed in order for the Staff Advisory Committee to produce the final plan that was presented to, and approved by, the Future Planning Committee of Wheeling Park Board on July 15, 2008.
The redevelopment of Heritage Park is the largest single project undertaken by the Wheeling Park District and is a major initiative in the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan Report. The internal planning process for the redevelopment of Heritage Park began last summer with the site inventory and analysis of the land. Eight of the acres were acquired in August of 2007 in a swap with the Village of Wheeling for the six acres on Dundee Road where the new Village Hall is now under construction. An additional 10 acres were acquired from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church with an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
Click here to view the Heritage Park Master Plan