Letter to the editor
The Doings Western Springs
September 22, 2009
I see by the paper (The Doings Sept. 17) that Pleasant Dale Park District is going to pump in another $270,000 to renovate the Chalet.
What a waste of money!
It was a mistake to buy the Chalet in the first place; it has consistently lost money and now the park district is going to spend more.
It is time to sell it or shut it down. Divest.
Dolores Cizek, Countryside,
former Burr Ridge village trustee
Renovations set to begin at the Chalet
September 14, 2009
By ROB SIEBERT rsiebert@pioneerlocal.com
The Pleasant Dale Park District's Chalet fitness center will undergo roughly $270,000in renovations before the end of September.
Using $100,000 in capital funds, and revenue funds set aside for the Chalet, 19,000 square feet of the 66,000-square-foot facility will be altered.
Some community members have demanded that the Chalet be shut down or sold, as the park district has struggled to maintain it in recent years. However, park district Director Katherine Parker said the board is determined to keep the facility open.
"Transforming most of (the Chalet's) space into a family oriented sports facility seems to be the one avenue to ensure that it will go forward without draining more tax dollars," Parker said.
The racquetball courts in the back half of the building will be torn down to make room for a new indoor multipurpose field, which may be used for soccer, basketball and volleyball.
The flooring for the field will be done by Sport Court, a company which specializes in athletic flooring that resists impact shock, thus creating a safer turf for athletes. The park district has high hopes for the new field.
"It is hoped that the facility will bring in revenue from tournaments, as well as classes," Parker said.
Lighting is also expected to be installed above the field.
The Chalet's weight room equipment and exercise machines have already been moved on to its basketball court, which will become its new gym and weight room.
The district also hopes to paint the interior walls surrounding the new construction, as well as the facility's female restroom. The district is looking for companies to donate 55 gallons of eggshell-colored paint and finish to the Chalet.
Chalet manager Nancy McKenna said construction is expected to begin this week, and end by the first week in October.
"We want people to know that there's room for everybody, and we're going to make use of all the space we have," McKenna said.
McKenna said after the talk about the Chalet in the community and in board meetings, to see change finally coming to fruition is a good feeling.
"To finally see it all come together is truly gratifying," McKenna said.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Since when is Nancy McKenna the Chalet manager? What are her qualifications? What happened to Niki?
Until residents start coming to Board Meetings and voicing their opinions this area is going to become a "mini Springfield" and have unqualified people in positions of power. I think Nancy's only qualification is she "knows the right people". I heard people are drinking for free at park district facilities - shame on you for saying the park district is in financial trouble and then wasting our tax dollars like this! This park district is going to become a laughing stock if it is not already!
Post a Comment