Bensenville, Ill. (August 5, 2024)—The Bensenville Park District Board of Commissioners—President Rich Johnson, Vice President Val Karg, Secretary Nancy Gibbs, Treasurer Jay Snyder and Commissioner Christopher Hernandez—announced an update to its 2024-2025 capital plan. The plan update includes improvements to the Deer Grove Leisure Center, White Pines infrastructure improvements and Veterans Park updates in addition to previously announced work at Sunrise Park, Fischer Farm, the Bensenville Water Park & Splash Pad and Arbor Park.
The Deer Grove Leisure Center (DGLC) will soon receive upgrades to the lighting in its parking lot, as the park district modernizes the light standards and replaces existing lighting with more efficient LED service. The facility recently had new automatic doors installed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Upgrades to the Wood Street Fitness Center, located inside the DGLC, are planned for 2025.
White Pines projects include infrastructure (electric and water) relocation, asphalt improvements, security cameras and new signage. Additional upcoming projects include demolition of the driving range barn to be replaced at a later date. Parking lot improvements are planned for the Pine Room event space, located on Church Rd., in the northwest corner of the club. The Halfway House also received renovation to its bathrooms at the start of the season, and a new gaming room was constructed adjacent to the 37 Bar & Grill. Continued improvements for the club are planned in 2025.
Veterans Park updates will include the multi-phase installation of a dog park where the baseball field is currently located. The dog park will have two separated areas based on the size/weight of the dog. The park will eventually include a dog water park and other amenities. The historic locomotive and railroad museum will be updated for ADA compliance as well, with new ramps, sidewalks and entryways, making the facility more accessible. Work continues on the train itself. The building on the grounds will be rehabilitated and brought into ADA compliance with new bathrooms and also a new roof, creating program space for both the railroad programs and also canine obedience/dog training programs in addition to a party space to be available for community use.
The park district plans for 2025 include a Rose Park playground improvement, Woodcrest Park playground addition and an upgrade to the Krempels Park playground, along with continued improvements at Fischer Farm.
“The Bensenville Park District is continuing to reinvest in its important community resources through the Bensenville Park District 2.0 initiative,” says Board President Rich Johnson. “This represents our commitment to residents to provide activities and programming at first-class facilities that can make our community proud. We are thankful to the support we’ve received in terms of state and community grants to help us execute our vision.”
The Park Board approved a $3.5 million capital expenditure for 2024-2025 at the board’s regular meeting Wednesday, April 17, in addition to another $1.4 million in grant funding. Improvements to park district facilities announced at that time included Fischer Farm, Sunrise Park, Bensenville Water Park & Splash Pad and White Pines Golf Club, among other projects at Hyatt-Hubbard Park (driveway) and Arbor Park phase two improvements.
Improvements at many of these parks and facilities are already underway. At the Water Park, a new swimming pool basin was installed and slides were given an update, and a new water pump has also been installed. The pool house roof is planned to be replaced in 2025. Baseball/softball infields were renovated at DiOrio Park. Outdoor basketball courts have also been resealed.
In 2023, the park district commissioned an assessment of each of the district’s park sites and facilities that included infrastructure, topography, vegetation, access, circulation, parking, drainage, current land use, play fields and exterior recreational spaces, open space, development constraints and other conditions for planning purposes. For more information about Bensenville Park District facilities, parks and programs, visit BvilleParks.org.
