Will County Gazette

Village of Homer Glen Parks & Recreation Committee met June 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Parks and Recreation Committee met outside in Heritage Park Active Core to look at the progress of the additional parking, future of the nature play area, possible location for music amphitheater, the sled hill, and pavilion for the inclusive playground. The Parks and Recreation Committee then came back to the Village Hall Community Room for a recorded discussion.

1. Call to Order.

The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. by Chairperson Rose Reynders.

2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

3. Roll Call.

Present at 10:15 a.m. were Chair-Trustee Reynders, Members: Bob Kman, Dale Janssen, Dan Kenney, Martin Pavlik and Russell Knaack

Members Absent: Amy Blank and Matt Hosteny

Also Present: Committee Secretary Ashley Kocolowski and Village Planner Taylor Udarbe.

Approval of Minutes-

May 3, 2024

Member Dale Janssen Motioned to approve the minutes for May 3, 2024 at Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting: Seconded by Committee Member Bob Kman.

The motion passed.

4. Public Comment- none

5. Reports from Chairs- none

6. New Business- none

7. Old Business- none

8. Discussion-

Village Planner, Taylor Udarbe talked about location of memorial plaque to go under existing tree. Udarbe talked about a few locations in Culver Park. The applicant would like the plaque near a walk way for visibility.

Committee Member Bob Kman let Village Planner, Taylor Udarbe know that there might be a possible expansion around the path and might not be a good location for the memorial plaque.

Committee Member Russell Knaack asked if this was for a special occasion. Trustee Rose Reynders let Committee Russell Knaack know that this goes to the Environmental Committee first then the Environmental Committee brings it to the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Trustee Reynders confirmed with Taylor Udarbe that this is just a plaque going under an existing tree. Udarbe confirmed that is only a plaque that will be going under an existing tree.

Committee Member Martin Pavlik would like to know more about the Environmental Committee program. Village Planner, Taylor Udarbe said it is a memorial plaque and tree program. Udarbe said the Environmental Committee did this last year and this is their third application. Udarbe said this is the first plaque that will be set in concrete. The other memorial plaques are at the football field and on the path where Homer Fest is. Reynders said its on the west side where there is a sidewalk.

Village Planner, Taylor Udarbe talked about what the Environmental Committee offers. The Environmental Committee offers a plaque to go under an existing tree, a tree plus a plaque, and a trough holder.

Committee Member Martin Pavlik asked about the cost of the Memorial plaques. Village Planner, Taylor Udarbe said the tree with the plaque is seven hundred dollars, just the plaque is five hundred dollars, and the bolder is approximately one thousand two hundred dollars.

Committee Member Russell Knaack asked what the size of the plaque. Udarbe let the Parks Committee know that the plaque size is 8x6. Committee Member Dan Kenney asked Village Planner Taylor Udarbe how residents are being aware of this program. Udarbe said it is on the Village website. Udarbe said the Environmental Committee did talk about doing some marketing for the program.

Committee Member Russell Knaack asked Village Planner Taylor Udarbe if someone were to vandalize or damages it who fixes it. Udarbe said there is a small contingency cost fund set up.

Trustee Rose Reynders asked the Parks Committee if there are any objections to the Memorial plaque. Parks Committee is ok with the Memorial plaque going in Culver.

Trustee Rose Reynders asked if anyone had any questions on the OSLAD grant. Committee Member Martin Pavlik asked who presented the OSLAD grant. Reynders said the presentation came out of the Department of Natural Resources.

Trustee Rose Reynders said as a Village we have a lot of work to do to qualify for these grants. Reynders let the Parks Committee know the different types of grants they had.

Committee Member Russell Knaack mentioned that they would just apply every year for whatever we could for Grants for the parks. Knaack said half the time they got them and half the time they did not. Knaack thinks we should try for every opportunity. Knaack remembers filling out Grant applications himself when they did not have the staff.

Trustee Rose Reynders let the Parks Committee know that that there is a lot of changes coming to the program. The workshop was to make everyone aware of what is going to be required. Reynders let the Committee know about some of the grants such as snow which is snow mobile local government and that is fifty to one hundred percent reimbursement, snow mobile trail establishment fund that is one hundred percent reimbursement, off highway vehicle which is one hundred percent reimbursement, museum capital grant program eighty percent reimbursement, park and recreational facilities construction program up to seventy five percent reimbursement for development.

Trustee Rose Reynders talked about some of the things that are eligible for the development are the playgrounds, athletic fields such as soccer, baseball, softball, football, lacrosse, skate parks, swimming pools, aquatic facilities, Frisbee golf, dog parks, trails, shelters, fishing piers, small boat canoe launches, observation decks, band shells, safety towns, nature center, native plantings, tennis, basketball, pickleball courts, fitness stations, shooting range, camp grounds, use of green technology, infrastructure support elements such as restroom buildings and interior roadways and park way areas etc.

Trustee Rose Reynders talked about the OSLAD workshop and the current OSLAD priority projects which include acquisition of land for a new park or site, promoting recreational use of surface, promoting conservation education support, and significant enhancement of natural areas with endangered species. Reynders let the Parks Committee know that there is so much more to this that we never knew. Reynders thinks it would be great for all of the Parks Committee to have all this information.

Trustee Rose Reynders let the Parks Committee know that Lakota Group is updating the master plan for the park. Lakota Group wants to see what the comprehensive plan is for the municipality. Trustee Rose Reynders said our comprehensive plan is from 2005. Lakota Group would prefer that there are points taken off for a not up to date comprehensive plan.

Trustee Rose Reynders said the Plan Commission has brought up the comprehensive plan at the last couple meetings.

Trustee Rose Reynders said the comprehensive plan will also help with projections such as revenue, and where you think you will be generating your revenue for the future.

Committee Member Dan Kenney asked Trustee Rose Reynders in order for us to take advantage of some of these grants, we would need an updated comprehensive plan. Trustee Rose Reynders confirmed and said yes. Committee Member Dan Kenny asked if there has been discussion at the board level. Reynders said there has been discussion in executive session.

Trustee Rose Reynders talked about the meeting with Lakota Group. Reynders said that Lakota Group is very happy that we gave them all the information that they will need to move forward. Reynders let the Parks Committee know they are working on placement. Committee Member Dan Kenny asked if there is a timeline. Reynders said she will be contacting Village Engineer Brett Westcott to see if he was given a timeline.

Committee Member Russell Knaack would like the Parks and Recreation meetings to continue to be in the Village Hall Community Room unless there is a specific reason to meet at a park.

Trustee Rose Reynders talked about Hunt Club Woods. Reynders said we do not have anything out there. Reynders said the areas that are there is a lot of flooding. Reynders also said unless someone is willing to donate some property to the Village or if they get a new developer that is going to develop some more land out there. Reynders said Hunt Club Woods definitely needs a park.

9. Reports and Communications from Staff-none.

10. Committee Member Updates-

Committee Member Bob Kman asked about update on path at Culver park. Trustee Rose Reynders let Committee Member Bob Kman know they are waiting on stone.

Committee Member Bob Kman said he has been to a lot of parks and in Heritage there is a water fountain, dog water fountain and a refill station. Kman would like any new park to have a refill station.

11. Adjournment. 10:52 a.m.

Member Russell Knaack Motioned to Adjourn. Seconded by Committee Member Bob Kman.

http://www.homerglenil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06072024-2738