Huntley Park District asks voters in November to approve $18 million bond sale and tax increase

A child jumps on playground equipment at Deicke Park in Huntley in 2022. The park district will ask voters in November to approve funds to upgrade the playgrounds.
Gregory Shaver/Shaw Media

The Huntley Park District will ask voters in November to approve the sale of $18 million in bonds, it announced in a news release Thursday.

If voters approve the loan plan, the district would use the funds to upgrade playgrounds, acquire land for future use and renovate and add new equipment, including a wading pool at the Stingray Bay Aquatic Center, the release said.

The district also plans to use the funds to upgrade the Discovery Zone and Cole playgrounds, as well as a basketball court in Deicke Park, among other things.

“In 2022 and 2023, as part of the strategic master plan process, the Huntley Park District conducted a comprehensive survey of residents, held numerous public meetings and spoke with stakeholders to gather feedback on our district’s amenities and services,” said Keith Wold, president of the park district board, in the release. “These proposed projects are a direct result of that feedback, and it is important that our residents make the final decision on whether to proceed.”

The district continues to apply for grants and other funding to leverage taxpayer dollars, offset the costs of these projects and reduce the overall cost of the referendum, the release said.

The park district said that without the referendum funding, repairs to existing parks and playgrounds would have to be postponed, new walking trails, pickleball courts or other facilities could not be built, and the opportunity to preserve open space may be lost.

The county said the impact to taxpayers if the bonds go through on a $299,000 home would be about $71 a year, or $6 a month.

“While we make tangible improvements throughout the park district each year, such as the renovation of Kiley Park and Cottontail Park, we will need more funding to upgrade the remaining current amenities and provide new amenities requested by residents to achieve the impact and return on our taxpayer investment,” said Scott Crowe, executive director of the Huntley Park District, in the release. “We have learned from feedback from residents that they are willing to make additional investments to protect the progress we have made and continue to have access to quality outdoor spaces, quality facilities and new amenities.”

The park district will hold a public meeting about the referendum on Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cosman Theater in the Rec Center, 12015 Mill St. The Cosman Theater is also slated for upgrades as part of the referendum.

Voters can learn more about the Huntley Park District bond sale referendum at huntleyparks.org/PlanToPlay.