Village of Homer Glen Parks & Recreation Committee met Nov. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. by Chairperson Rose Reynders.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
• Roll Call.
Present at 4:02 p.m. were Chair-Trustee Reynders, Members: Bob Kman, Dale Janssen, Dan Kenney, Matt Hosteny and Amy Blank
Members who arrived late: Member Russell Knaack 4:07p.m.
Members who left early: Member Matt Hosteny 4:55 p.m.
Approval of Amendments to the Agenda- None.
• Public Comment- None.
Approval of Minutes-
October 20, 2025
Member Bob Kman motioned to approve the minutes for October 20, 2025 at Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting. Seconded by Committee Member Matt Hosteny.
The motion passed.
Reports from Chairs-
Trustee Rose Reynders and Village Engineer Brett Westcott met with Lakota Group; when we get to discussion on the Agenda, we will go through Heritage Park Phase 1.
Homer for the Holidays is December 6th in Heritage Park from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Report from Staff- None.
Report from Members- None.
Discussion-
Trustee Rose Reynders reviewed renderings for phase one of Heritage Park and turned it over to Village Engineer Brett Westcott. Westcott and the Committee referred to a packet with the overall plan for phase one in Heritage Park. The first page shows all of our basic features and the formal entrance will be pulled back away from the parking lot. Phase one has all of our main elements such as formal entrance, Veteran’s Memorial, splash pad and central pavilion. On the next page, Lakota Group took our previously discussed ideas and refined them in a labeled rendering. The Veteran’s Memorial includes letters C, E, F, G in the photo. Letter E will be a circular monument with a large plaque on it. Letter G represents the Veteran’s Memorial Wall and H shows Military branch flags and seal monument. While there are several options presented for the Memorial Wall, Westcott said that we are leaning at study model A, which shows a central memorial wall with the brass donor plaques that will be adhered to that wall. Each Military Branch will also have their own plaque located behind the wall. As of now, we are looking to expand the wall in order to maximize space for memorial plaques. The size of the brass donor plaque will be 4×8. In study Model A, we can get three hundred brass donor plaques, but we are looking to make this a bit larger. Wescott also added that benches and seating will be on the south edge.
Lakota Group gave a couple different options for the floor plan of the pavilion, which included sizing for the picnic tables. Our request was that it be able to seat one hundred people. The floor plan also included the men’s and women’s washrooms, along with two partitions for a potential shower. This will then tie into the splash pad. In the packet, there were different variations of the splash pad. The committee liked option V1.3 the best, which was an open top and stone at the bottom of the pillars. Page A1.3 was a drawing with the same elevation; what we requested is that Lakota Group keeps the stone the same height, which will be uniform to what we currently have out in the park now.
Committee Member Bob Kman asked what the difference was in V1 and V2. Westcott said that V1 does not have an open roof and is closed off. All the other options have open exposed timbers.
Committee Member Dan Kenney asked what the difference was between V3 and V4 in the packet of the pavilion. Westcott replied that it would be the height of the brick.
Westcott moved on to discuss the front of the pavilion having an entry gable and the back will just slope off. There are subtle differences with some of the pavilion options.
Committee Member Russell Knaack asked if the pillars for the pavilion are structural or are they boxing in steel beams. Westcott confirmed these will all be structural.
Two options were then presented for the splash pad. Exhibit A (the first option) shows jets, some misters, and then low spray heads. Westcott mentioned that they liked exhibit B because everything was spaced out. The jets were all around the splash pad and as you move in, you have two jets, misters and more of a centralized drain. Westcott will be providing a cost break down that shows what the difference between a recirculation system and a drain-to-waste system and what the benefits are for each option. Recirculation systems save water because this would lead into required water for showers. The splash pad would need to be inspected two or three times per day, as well as being treated. Drain-to-waste bathrooms would not be required because the water is not recirculating. This is a huge cost savings and you would not need someone on site to test the water. Westcott will be evaluating these things and what the water usage will be. The designers will also be able to give us a better calculation.
Committee Member Dan Kenney asked why everything in the packet is referred to a splash pad, since he thought we made the decision to call it a water feature. Trustee Reynders clarified that we are calling it a splash pad because we have the ability to put showers in. Reynders said this will depend on whether we go recirculating or drain-to-waste. Due to inconsistencies with labeling this as a “water feature” vs “splash pad”, Kenny does not want to mislead the community and would like the wording changed to “interactive water feature”.
Committee Member Dale Janssen asked about the drain-to-waste system and asked if there was any treatment to the water. Engineer Brett Westcott said this is the lowest maintenance requirement since there is no filtration and no chemicals needed. We would just have to check for debris, clean the nozzles and sanitize the surface. Westcott said this will also have to be done with any of the other options.
In regards to landscaping, Lakota Group is trying to coordinate the colors to be red, white and blue. Committee Member Amy Blank said the landscaping looks beautiful and would love for Heritage Park to be like the Morton Arboretum, but feels really nervous about that. Blank feels like this is a lot of maintenance for the Parks Department. Blank also said that simple is better and less is more. Trustee Reynders and Wescott agreed that this would put additional strain on the Parks Department. Reynders talked to Village Manager Joe Baber and have heard from our residents that our park is nice, but is not an arboretum and it is not very colorful. Reynders suggested to Village Manager Joe Baber that we come up with a beautification program, but this should be handled by a landscaper and not to the Parks Department. Reynders would like for somebody to come out Heritage Park to tend to the flowers, bushes, beds, etc. and she shared that Baber agreed. Committee Member Blank was in agreement, with the understanding that it be affordable. Blank recently visited Village Hall in Romeoville and commented all they had to offer. They have an amphitheater, playground, pavilion, and minimal landscaping. She commented that the minimal landscaping looks better as opposed to having several planting beds that are not taken care of. Engineer Westcott agreed that the Parks Department spends a lot of time mowing and would likely be unable to keep up with these other things, such as beautification and repairs.
Committee Member Knaack feels our first step is to determine the operational cost of this phase which consists of the water feature (all the different scenarios) and all the different options for plantings. Knaack said after that, then we can decide.
Committee Member Amy Blank is happy with what she sees so far for phase one of Heritage Park.
Committee Member Dale Janssen likes the open pavilion but also feels this attracts a lot of birds therefore making nests. Trustee Reynders would like to recreate what we did in Stonebridge Park and put netting up.
Old Business-
Trustee Rose Reynders asked if everyone received a copy of the Heritage Park Active Core draft. When this was built, the structures that the Parks Department removed were supposed to be removed when this park was being installed.
Committee Member Blank uploaded the Parks Master Plan to ChatGPT with the prompt “give me a very brief condensed updated version based on this current year, current parks that we have, and current population.” She would like for everyone to read the recommendations that were given before our next meeting.
Committee Secretary Ashley Kocolowski also made a copy to give to all the committee members of the park recommendations. Blank said that we have talked about this at our last meeting and Committee Member Russell Knaack had said “why don’t we have a table with the parks and recommendations?” Blank said that we do.
Trustee Rose Reynders let the committee know one of the things Lakota Group brought up was how soon will we be putting the program together for the plaques. Reynders let Lakota Group know that as soon as she gets the exact dimension because the plaque size was either going to by 4×6 or 4×8.
New Business- none.
Adjournment. – 5:20 p.m.
Member Bob Kman Motioned to Adjourn. Seconded by Committee Member Amy Blank.
https://www.homerglenil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11172025-3035
