Work is underway on the new recreation center at Carol Stream Town Center. Riley Construction has completed the site survey and has now begun the initial work to install the geothermal heat/cooling system for the building. Eco-friendly features, such as the geothermal system, has also enabled the new recreation center to be eligible for a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF).
Construction is progressing on the new McCaslin Park ballfields. Underdraining has been installed and sodding has been laid for all the ballfields and a heated, winter protection tent has now been erected to allow work to continue on the concession building over the winter months. Construction of the concession building is expected to be complete by April 2012.
Over 40 years of memories were made at the Aldrin Community Center and Collins Pool, and on Jan 15 over 200 Carol Stream residents said goodbye to the building at a farewell event. Visitors were able to see items and photos from throughout the 40 year history of the center, as well as write farewell messages on the walls and sign a guestbook.
The center will be demolished in early 2012 as part of DuPage County’s stormwater management plan for Armstrong Park.
Park District board meetings will take place at the College of DuPage, 500 N. Kuhn Road, Carol Stream during January.
The Carol Stream Board Park District of Commissioners hosted a ground breaking celebration for the new recreation center at Town Center on Monday, Oct 24 at 6pm.
The ceremony on Monday celebrated the start of construction on the new $18m center, which will feature a 25 yard indoor pool, new fitness center, indoor running track and gymnasium with three basketball courts. Construction is expected to take 16-18 months.
Segment one of the Kuhn Road Trail, which links O’Rahilly Volunteer Park to Red Hawk Park, was officially opened on Oct 15 with a ribbon cutting celebration hosted by the Carol Stream Park District Board of Commissioners. The paved trail connects the two parks via the North Avenue underpass. Energy efficient lighting will be installed in the underpass. The LED lighting will use motion detectors to conserve energy.
The new look Tedrahn Park playground was completed in early September, and officially opened with a Party in the Park celebration on October 5, attended by families local to the playground. Photos from the party are available on facebook.com/csparkdistrict
Tedrahn Park is the fourth playground to be completed as part of the 2010 referendum projects, and like the other playground projects, was redesigned with input from local users of the park.
Carol Stream’s first off-leash dog park – Bark Park Carol Stream, was officially opened on Oct 15 with a ribbon-cutting event hosted by the Carol Stream Park District Board of Commissioners.
The $98,000 park at Kuhn Rd and North Ave features fenced areas for small and large dogs. Bark Park users must purchase an annual pass for the dog park at Simkus Recreation Center for $29 Res/$49 Non-Res per household.
All passes sold in 2011 will be good through Dec 31 2012. For more details visit csparks.org/barkpark
Also on October 15 at 10:00am is the official opening of the new trail that links Volunteer Park and Kuhn Road to Red Hawk Park via the North Avenue underpass.
The Village and DuPage County Stormwater Management will host a public meeting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 13th in the Board Chambers of the Carol Stream Municipal Center (500 N. Gary Ave.). This joint meeting will update the public on the status of the flood control project proposed for Armstrong Park and restoration activities for Klein Creek as identified in the Klein Creek Watershed Addendum No.2 for Inclusion in the West Branch DuPage River Interim Watershed Plan. Village and County staff as well as project consultants will present project plans, outline the project’s schedule and be available for questions from the public. Carol Stream residents living along or near the Klein and Thunderbird Creeks or in the flood plain are encouraged to attend this meeting.
Overhead View Armstrong Park Plan
Cross Section B of the Armstrong Park plan
Cross Section of the Armstrong Park plan
Work has now begun on the McCaslin Park improvement project, and to mark the start of work, the Carol Stream Park District Board of Commissioners hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony on Thursday, September 8.
The $3.5 million project is the first major construction project of the 2010 referendum. Four baseball diamonds will be re-configured to create a hub with a concession stand, washrooms and storage area. Lighting and astro-turf infields will also be added to all four fields, which will allow for an increased number of games to be played at the park, with fewer rainouts.
The improvements are expected to be completed by June 2012, which will allow the park district to relocate softball and baseball to McCaslin Park while Armstrong Park undergoes construction for the DuPage County Storm Water relief project.
Other benefits from the project will include lighted pathways throughout the park, connecting all the ballfields with playgrounds, picnic shelters and parking lots; a new access road to Morton Road via Wheaton Bible Church, and the extension of the Village of Carol Stream Water Main further west, to ultimately serve the future annexation of the Village of Carol Stream (to be reimbursed by Village).
46 temporary construction jobs will be created by the project. The construction will be managed by the Camosy Construction Company.
Construction has now started on the dog park. The scheduled date for completion is September 9. On Monday, Aug 8, the Carol Stream Board of Commisoners voted to name the new dog park, Bark Park Carol Stream. Carol Stream Park District residents were asked to suggest names for the dog park, and vote on a shortlist of names. Bark Park was voted as the most popular name.
Information on Bark Park passes will be available at the CSbarks dog festival on Sep 18 at Armstrong Park and at 50.116.99.191/~simkus1/barkpark