ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Monday, the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of playground equipment for $12,795 for Flannigan, Tilton and Sweeney Parks.

Park District Executive Director Jackee Ohlinger said the delivery of the equipment will take place within the next three weeks and that the installation after that will be several weeks' work.

"Once we get it delivered, it will be good timing because that's when we'll be able to step away from Spring Lake work and get back into the parks," Ohlinger said. "There are several parts. We have a couple platforms that are in the center of the playgrounds, so it will take several days to maneuver the old out and the new in."

Director’s comments

During her monthly director's comments portion of the meeting, Ohlinger updated the board on a number of projects. She said work is underway at Spring Lake ahead of its opening day of Saturday, June 1. Work has and will include heating, sealing of the water slide, chemical control and pumps, and caulking and painting.

Ohlinger said the removal of the track around Helms Field is 95 percent complete.

"It is awaiting a final inspection," Ohlinger said. "We have a lot of grass growing in and it looks good. The recent weather has been a huge benefit to the project."

The park district has also set its yearly closure schedule for cleaning and maintenance at The REC Center for July 17-31.

Pickleball

During the public comment portion of the meeting, the board heard from Lauren Hintzsche on behalf of the Rochelle Pickleball Club.

The club currently has 30 paid members and has seen growth in recent years. The group meets at Helms Park on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to play. Pickleball is currently played on tennis courts at the location.

"This is a very dedicated and passionate group about pickleball," Hintzsche said. "I think it's going to keep growing in this community."

Hintzsche said her group wanted to speak to the board Monday to see where things stand on dedicated pickleball courts in a planned future Helms Park project, and also suggested to the board that it consider adding pickleball courts to the former site of tennis courts at Fairways Golf Course. The park district and the City of Rochelle own Fairways Golf Course jointly.

Hintzsche said she obtained a quote for putting in pickleball courts at that location and presented it to the city and park district.

The Helms Park project is aimed at changing Helms Park to more of a park district-like use. The grounds were acquired by the park district in 2002 after they were no longer utilized by Rochelle Township High School. Public meetings have been held recently on the project to solicit feedback. The park district circulated a survey locally on what the community would like to see at the site, which received around 700 responses. 

The concept plan for the site includes the football, baseball and softball fields remaining with continued enhancements, a fitness area on the southern corner of the property near The REC Center, a multi-sport court with a rubber surface for soccer, volleyball and basketball, a universal play space, a skate park on the northeast corner of the property, tennis courts and pickleball courts, a pavilion and restrooms, new parking, batting cages, a walking path and green space. The plans are not yet finalized.

The park district submitted an Open Space Lands Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grant application for the project for matching funds of $600,000, but was notified recently that it will not be receiving those funds.

To close the public comment portion, Board President Tim Hayden said the board would take the club's comments under advisement and said the Helms Park project has "gone back to the drawing board" following the news that the park district would not be receiving the grant.

"It's needs versus wants, and fulfilling everyone's needs is easier than fulfilling everyone's wants," Hayden said. "We're trying to figure that out. Pickleball and tennis will both have a place within the district. At this point, it's likely to be easier at Helms Park than at another facility, but anything is possible and that will be part of the discussions."

Officers

The board voted unanimously to keep its existing structure of officer positions, which consists of Hayden as board president, John Dobbs as vice president, Dale Wells as treasurer, BT Carmichael as secretary, Jodie Hart as assistant treasurer and Joe Lenkaitis as assistant secretary. Committee slots will also be filled in the same way they previously were.