Does Algonquin Need A New Community Center?

ALGONQUIN, IL — Exploring the need and cost of a new community center in Algonquin is among the list of projects the Algonquin Village Board recently approved as part of its 10-year parks and recreation plan.

The plan, developed by Hitchcock Design Group, was drafted after looking at results from surveys and community input and taking into consideration input from elected officials and village staff.

“Our community highly values park and recreation services, which adds to the high quality of life our residents have become accustomed to and expect in Algonquin,” said village president Debby Sosine. “This plan sets the policy vision for these services that is consistent with resident input over the next ten years.”

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Last year, the village of Algonquin and Algonquin Area Public Library District launched discussions regarding a possible partnership to bring a community center, which could include spaces for programming, indoor aquatics and gymnasiums, to fruition.

The master plan recommends the village conduct an indoor needs master assessment, which would take a closer look at would best benefits residents will being financially feasible. The proposed assessment would explore village's current spaces, including Algonquin's Historic Village Hall and Lions Armstrong Pool, and how to use those facilities in the future.

As for the pool, which saw a steep drop in membership even before the pandemic shut it down last year, "significant repairs" are needed to continue operations, according to the master plan. The plan recommends a detailed assessment to determine the cost and benefits of the pool and whether it would make sense to move forward with repairs.

Under the plan, a proposed community center could aim to offer a one-stop shop for the village's recreation and fitness needs. The center could include a designated fitness center, indoor walking track, gymnasiums, indoor aquatics, studio and group exercise room, a senior center and teen center and synthetic turf fields. Both the library and village are still in the early stages of the proposed plan.

In recent months, both entities began discussing the next steps to reach a formal intergovernmental agreement to design, construct, and operate a new, joint community center facility. Among the offerings that could get the boot from the plan due to cost or demand include indoor aquatics and indoor synthetic turf.

"Several of the in-demand indoor activities identified in the Indoor Needs Master Plan may be considered for inclusion in this proposed facility such as a fitness center, studio and exercise rooms, an indoor walking track, and a gym(s), while less in-demand, higher-cost, and/or highly specialized activities like indoor aquatics and indoor synthetic turf may be limited in feasibility by location and size constraints or project budget,"according to the master plan. "Other amenities, such as community rooms and rental spaces, a senior center, a teen center, and/or a performing arts space that have the potential to be utilized by both agencies may receive a high priority as a strategy to avoid duplicating services."

Some plan recommendations that are included in the village’s current budget plan include conceptual park plan development for Towne Park, tennis court replacement at Gaslight Park, play structure replacement at Hill Climb Park, and design work for the restoration of Woods Creek (Reach 5) open space.

The Village has been awarded $3.1 million in total through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program to develop local parks, including Presidential Park, High Hill Park, Willoughby Farms Park, Merrill-Pioneer Park, Riverfront Park, Kelliher Park, Algonquin Lakes Park, Cornish Park, Ted Spella Park, as well as Stoneybrook Park, which is wrapping up construction this month.

“We have a long history of being good fiscal stewards by developing and maintaining parks, trails, natural areas, recreation facilities, and programs without levying taxes for these purposes,” Sosine said. “We fully expect this trend to continue utilizing grants and other financing sources to implement the plan recommendations.”

The full village of Algonquin Park and Recreation Master Plan can be viewed here.