At the heart of the $14.7 million bond referendum in the Glencoe Park District

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Glencoe voters have a big, eight-figure decision to make when filling out their ballots this election cycle.

They face the question of whether Glencoe should issue a $14.7 million, 25-year municipal bond package to finance beach and other park improvements.

The Park district website claims the bond would not increase current tax rates; It would instead replace a $13.8 million bond issued in 2005 that funded the renovations Takiff Center and expires at the end of 2025.

If the referendum does not pass, Glencoe’s tax rate for homes with a fair market value of $1 million would decrease by about $261 annually, according to the park district’s website.

“It really supports our property values ​​to have well-maintained parks and a well-maintained beach,” said Glencoe Park Borough President Carol Spain The record. “I think (residents) receive more than $261 per year in added value by maintaining the attractiveness of the community and the property value of their homes and benefiting from the services the park district provides.”

On July 18, the Glencoe Park District board voted unanimously to put the request to a vote.

In their list, the park district states that if passed, the referendum would aim to improve Glencoe’s infrastructure through improvements to Glencoe Beach and its playground, the Saffron Beach House, the Perlman Boating Beach, the boathouse, the boardwalk, the trellis , the sun shelters and the ramps and access points to the beach. Funds would also support additional improvements to Takiff Athletic Field, as well as a new community greenhouse and park maintenance areas.

Spain said the new maintenance facility is one of the larger projects on the list because the existing one is too old to be converted into an energy-efficient space — the district’s goal with a new facility.

There would be a community input process in 2025 to further consider all proposed improvements and developments.

Overall, park officials have stated that they hope to protect and improve Glencoe’s public areas within the existing tax rate and to allow for expanded use of the facilities (e.g., the proposed improvements would allow residents to take advantage of the Safran Beach House for a longer period of time). ) and save money by improving the efficiency of buildings.

In 2024, the park district identified $22 million in capital maintenance needs. Spain said existing reserves would not cover a quarter of that amount and delaying maintenance would lengthen the list and increase costs over time.

During the early summer months, the park district collected community input, which was presented at a full board meeting in July. as The record previously reported.

According to findings presented at the time of the meeting, of the 211 email survey responses received – a response rate of 8 percent – 72 percent of respondents supported the proposed referendum, 19 percent opposed it and 9 percent were undecided.

Most respondents listed Glencoe Beach as their top priority, with Perlman Boating Beach and the Greenhouse at the bottom of their list.

One issue that was not on the list of pending improvements in the bond referendum was improving or rebuilding Friends Park, which park district data estimates will need to be replaced within the next nine years.

Despite its importance, the board chose not to replace Perlman Boating Beach with Friends Park on the list of bond-based improvement projects. Board Vice President Stefanie Boron claimed that exchanging projects and changing the list could represent an obstacle to attracting votes in favor of the referendum.

The proposed projects should be given priority in the bond referendum.

Taking into account the time needed for community input and the implementation of architectural plans and contracts, Spain expects that the improvements, if approved, will begin in 2026.

“The park district is really important not only for the park users, but the entire community benefits from it,” Spain said. “People move (to Glencoe) because of our beach and services. Without maintaining our facilities and services, this could be a challenge for our community, and we really need the passage of this bond referendum to maintain the quality of services our community demands.”

Glencoe Park Borough Bond Referendum

Referendum amount: $14.7 million
Additional costs to taxpayers (estimated, annual): $261 per $1 million home value for 25 years
Previous current referendums: 2006 – $14 million bond for construction of Takiff Center (approved); 2000: $1.6 million bond for Watts Ice Center renovation (approved)
Purpose of the referendum: To fund improvements to the Glencoe Beach playground, Safran Beach House, boathouse, boardwalk, shade canopies, ramps and beach access, as well as upgrades to Takiff Athletic Field and a new community greenhouse and maintenance facility.

Ballot question

“Shall the Glencoe Park District, Cook County, Illinois, improve Glencoe Beach, including the playground, Saffron Beach House, boathouse and racks, boardwalk, sun shelters, ramps, walls and stairs leading to the beach; improving Takiff Athletic Field; and construct and equip a new community greenhouse and park maintenance facility; and issue $14,700,000 in bonds to pay the cost thereof?”