Park Board 9/14/26 Special Meeting

Wilmette Park District, IL · · More Wilmette Park District, IL meetings · More Illinois meetings

View original source →

Transcript

Download: Text · SRT
SOURCE TRANSCRIPT

This transcript is downloaded from the source you provided but we haven't reviewed it for accuracy. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record. You can also request an AI-transcription of the audio file with the button to the left.

[0:00] Evening I'd like to call to order the special meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of the Wilmette Park District for. Monday, September 14th at 6534. Could I have a roll call, please?
[0:11] Commissioner Duffy present. Commissioner Adrian Oakley here. Commissioner Fraizer here. Commissioner Clarke here. Commissioner Murdock here. Commissioner Goebel here.
[0:22] Great.
[0:22] Thank you. Well, we have a special meeting today, and we're looking forward to getting to our visitors in a moment before we move to that topic. Do we have any public comment or recognition of visitors for this evening?
[0:37] Seeing none, we're going to turn it over to the team with White and Company.
[0:41] Okay. Good evening everyone. It's good to see some familiar faces again. My name is Jim Thormeyer. I'm a project manager with White Company. Uh, we are heading up the recreational facility, uh, feasibility study. And so we're here twofold. Thank you for this time this evening. Um, first is we'd like to give a quick update on where we stand with the progress on the project. And then primarily it's to go through a visioning session with the board. Um, so we're going to try to go very quickly through, uh, status. So, uh, late July, early August in earnest, we started the initial steps in the feasibility study. Um, first step was a facility assessment of the three properties, Centennial Recreation Complex, community rec Center, as well as the property at 3220 Victory Lane, um White and company, along with our aquatics and Ice system consultants and engineers, visited three facilities over two days in mid mid August. Um, we are in the process of gathering all that data based on, uh, feedback from staff and personnel as well as, um, a lot of photographs that we took on those days. So the reports should be done late September, early October. Those reports will have data in regards to primarily deferred maintenance items that we've identified that have a need for perhaps improvement or replacement. And then also at the same time, for this first month and a half or so of the project, we've been going through some community engagement and outreach. So I'm going to hand it over to Bobby, who will discuss where we stand with that.
[2:14] Thanks. Um, I brought my notes so I can make sure I got the numbers right because they're pretty, I think, incredible. I've been really happy with the community engagement so far. So since the project kicked off, we've been trying to make initial outreach to the community, both to just collect a little bit of basic information, but also collect, um, contact information for those that not only want to have input in the project, but or to stay informed along the way. So through the end of August, we had collected, um, and big kudos to the park district for getting the word out so much. 844 of those postcards Really impressive and I'm excited to see the final stack kind of make it through so I can finish scanning and processing those cards. Uh, we'll be using that, uh, contact information. Uh, we're currently in the process of testing the community survey that we'll get sent out, um, both directly to those that asked to be involved, but then also they'll be links made available to the public at large to collect more information from the community. And it was really nice to see, um, we had a very busy block party, uh, tent, uh, going again, thanks to the park district for their help. Um, the day itself was a great one, but we actually talked to almost 200 different groups over the course of the day. And, uh, that amounted to just over 350 people at the block party. And so we had several activities where we were both sharing information about the project. Um, also just allowing people to know what their top concerns are when it came to recreation facilities in the community and then also had a really great activity where we gave people whiteboard magnetic whiteboards and allowed them to actually kind of design a recreation facility. Picking the amenities that they want to see was really great. We're looking forward to digging into more not only what we heard in the aggregate, but also sort of what some of the top choices were from, um, youth, teens and adults. And usually I feel really good when we can get like youth, teens and adults all doing the same activity. So we thought it was really successful and it was nice to see some of you there as well.
[4:27] Oh, timing. So I mentioned that we're getting ready to send out the survey. It'll be sent out later this month. And then we're um will likely be closing. Of course, we'll sort of monitor and making sure that we're getting the responses that we need and expect from it, but expect that to close kind of in the third week of October. Um, so that then, um, kind of by mid to late November. Those initial results back to bring in together with, uh, the other community feedback that we've done so far.
[4:59] The surveys that go into every single residence, or is this only going to like our email addresses that the park district has.
[5:06] The ones that they, we've talked about, um, sending out invites to those that have self identified through, um, the earlier process that they want to be involved. Um, also sending an invite to those that have been engaged with the park district in the past year. And then, um, we're also creating Public links that will then also be shared kind of at large and so sent through, um, newsletters or also trying to engage some of the park district's partners as well to help get that word out so that it will hopefully reach a broader audience. All right.
[5:39] Also, I, I, and I may have misheard you, but you were mentioning that you're asking people to draw a recreational facility. I mean, are you just focusing on a new recreation facility, or are you taking ideas of multiple ideas of how that can be, you know, be used in a, perhaps a passing park or perhaps some other type of thing. So because you were just like, seemed like you're focusing on a new recreational facility and, um, you know, I don't know, you know, that that will require a referendum and I do not know anymore what the community's, um, appetite for that.
[6:21] Yeah. So in that, um, for example, that block party exercise that we did, there was a whole selection, I think of, well, outdoor kind of would be. Um, so things like outdoor spaces, gardens, outdoor playgrounds, like out outdoor spaces were also included as well. And we also made sure that the amenities included things that the park district currently offered because we wanted to make sure that we heard from people if What was offered both in the amount or the accessibility of it. To find out if that's working for the community as well. But we, um, we, like I said, we had things like outdoor passive spaces, picnic areas. There were quite a few outdoor choices as well.
[7:04] Thanks for clarifying. Does not sound like you steered.
[7:07] Or say at all, but let let them lead you to where.
[7:12] Correct? Yeah, we were trying essentially tried to come up with, um, a large list of all the things that could be, uh, associated with a recreation center, but also thinking about what would be outdoors potentially or also to see. So like I said.
[7:29] Recreation center, I guess that's kind of fun.
[7:32] And that makes you think of a building there versus it potentially just being an open, open land.
[7:39] And again, I don't know, maybe that is, you know, what it's going to be, but but I just want to make sure that there isn't sort of this implicit direct deduction.
[8:50] That's actually a great point. There is no implied direction here. We're early enough in this stage of this, uh, this study that we're asking the what if questions. What if for the community in particular, what don't you see right now that you might want to see? What do you see at your facilities that could be improved? So with the three primary properties, we're focused on those three properties. But as I'm looking at the condition of the buildings, Bobby's also looking at market analysis, looking at the programing currently what's underutilized, what's better use of some of the spaces. There might be a correlation between the three properties where just for example, programing that might be at one building might be better suited at another. And here's why it's so early. So these are all what if questions to the community you help guide us. What are you lacking? What can be improved and then we'll take it from there.
[9:47] No, I was just going to ask. Aside from the feedback from the community as part of your process, are you also landscaping what's happening in our larger surrounding community? I know what the Mecca is. The Playfields are also doing some facilities and grounds analysis. Um, there's a new recreational center being proposed in Evanston. Um, so just kind of trying to, uh, is part of your process going to also be helping us take that into consideration as we think about how to prioritize?
[10:23] Uh, yeah. So we're actually currently, um, we have worked to identify similar providers with, of, um, activities that are kind of similar to your current recreation centers or kind of offer the same sorts of activities at that same level that that's currently being offered in those centers, or ones that we're hearing from the community are kind of rising to the top, but they don't currently exist. But we're looking at all facilities within a ten mile radius of the community. And then beyond just identifying the communities, we're in the process right now of, um, kind of tracking what are all the amenities, starting to understand some of the programing and services that are offered with those as well. So if anything is identified as there being a need, we can kind of understand where not only what's happening within the community's borders, but outside of the community's borders, where those services are already being provided and as much as possible are trying to stay on top of what is up and coming as well. But, um, you know, that that will likely be a spreadsheet and map that we continue to update until we reach the end of the project.
[11:38] Then on the other side of that, are you you're also looking at what amenities we have that some of our peer park districts don't, and vice versa. I mean, obviously we have the lakefront and, you know, Northbrook doesn't have that. But you know how many tennis courts we have relative to some of our others, or pickleball or gymnasiums or whatever. Um, is there going to be some data base, some data about what, what facilities we have compared to other similar park districts?
[12:05] Um, across the whole system, I think we're more utilizing some of the data that was already collected through the comprehensive master plan. So we're really sticking more to the scope of this project, which is centered a little bit more on facilities. But if anything is kind of attached during a similar area, then it would be counted. So for example, we are would be comparing the number of indoor tennis courts and one tennis club to what might be in yours. But also, if someone has kind of in that adjacent area also, um, Uh, also has additional outdoor courts that would kind of be seen as part of the state facility that will be captured, but from the full scale, um, system approach, we're utilizing a comprehensive plan. Comprehensive master plan was done so recently using that to kind of inform.
[12:58] But so we will have information about what we have in our park district relative to other park districts.
[13:04] Uh, yes. So what were the comparison that we are doing is not necessarily like how many of every single outdoor park amenity that you have versus what other communities have? There's some of that analysis though, was done. Um, that should, should still be up to date in, um, as part of the comprehensive plan that I believe was completed in 2024.
[13:25] 24.
[13:26] Was.
[13:26] Approved so that it goes into the level of service standards that is part of the comprehensive plan that we did. And so what that does is exactly that it looks at national standards as well as kind of our our peers, comparable agencies. And so that that is a checklist that shows us how many courts we have relative to our population and what others have for the same amount. So we have white has all of that data, and it is relatively new. It's only a couple of years old, is 100% relevant. And it's great that we did it so recently so that we have that extra data point to work on. Excellent.
[14:09] So to get back to Cecilia's question, I'm sorry I walked by the booth, but it was so crowded, which was awesome. So the way it was presented to the public was what, like if if you were to give it like the two sentence, hey, come by our booth, because what was that pitch to the public?
[14:32] Sure. I think we were we were framing it as. We're trying to understand what the community wants in terms of the future of recreation. And so in the community. And so we had the opportunity, like I said, for people either to explain the project, tell us what matters to you most. If that's you just want to get kind of one thing out, or if you got to design a recreation facility, what would be in it? And so again, they had a table full of many different options to kind of pick from both indoor and outdoor. So there was everything, like I said, from open and natural spaces to nature classrooms and event lawns and picnic and gathering areas kind of on the exterior to things that were, um, things that you already offered and then things that you do not have in any of your facilities that are all in kind of like people take that option. But um, we limit them to the size of the board. So they have to pick some.
[15:30] So I'm sorry I understood that part. I think to link it back to what Cecilia is saying. Were people do. Did they understand? Do you think when they left you that we're we're trying to gather this data because we have existing facilities, but we also have this new space. So we're trying to figure out how they can all work together. I think that was.
[15:52] As much.
[15:53] As we could.
[15:53] I think as much as we could, we tried. We it was really nice to have Park District staff that as people were maybe waiting their turn to do the activity, we're having conversations with people. We also had, um, the postcard and like I said, where we were asking people, not only giving them the opportunity to, um, give us a little bit of feedback and, and learn how they can stay connected to the project. But it also has an explanation of the project as well. On the back of it that specifically called those things out in a QR code that would take them to the project page on the website as well. Um, we collected 21 of those postcards back during the block party event. Um, like I said, we collected just under 850 so far. Um, but um, we handed out way more than that. So, um, every person we talked to as much as we had their attention, tried to also say, and here's a postcard where you can learn more about the project and, um, and also have an opportunity to get involved. So I would like to say that I have the chance to explain that to everyone, but it was quick or also we were collecting feedback from all ages and it was nice to have a parents ear sometimes by the, the child was doing the activity. But um, but yeah.
[17:12] Yeah, I was, I couldn't talk much the next day because it was nonstop talking. I'm sure you were the same. Bobby. Um, and it was great because people first they saw our tent and came to us not knowing what was even there, which was kind of neat to see. They're like, oh, Park District, what are they got going on? And, and we got to really explain. You know, I got to spend a lot of time with parents as kids were engaged or, um, it was really neat to see how interested people were because it's a busy, fun event and for someone to grab your ear for, you know, a few minutes and say, hey, you know, we have this great, uh, feasibility study we're doing, we're looking at our existing facilities as well as we have this property that we purchased. And, you know, we're, we're trying to envision what's the best use of that site and what's the best use of our existing sites. And I think people were overwhelmingly appreciative that we are taking that approach as opposed to let's just look at Big Tree Lane. Let's just build the biggest building we can build and go from there. I mean, it was really thoughtful. I felt like and, um, was fun to engage folks. Um, really interested. A lot of people said, oh yeah, I remember seeing that. It's exciting. When's it going to, you know, when are you going to do something? And it's like, well, it's the first step. So it was good.
[19:03] Think about it. So we've got about 50 minutes here. So we'll get right into it. Uh, I want to jump into this visioning session. I think this is a fun exercise. So, um, I'm going to introduce Anna Schultz, who's associate principal at Dwight helping my turn.
[19:19] It's actually your turn. Um, I really hope you'll find it, uh, fun and helpful. Uh, you had a chance to ask us a lot of questions during the interview. Now it's our turn. Um, the visioning session is here to probably kick it off with you as a board and for us to understand what is in your heads. And if you have a message for us as a team, um, and you want to tell us something that we should be, um, careful when we're working on this feasibility study or something that we should keep in mind or something that you want us to be aware or think about, or something that you would like to get out from, from this, um, feasibility study. Um, and whatever you say today, we will use to guide us through that process. Wherever we are in doubt, which way should we go? We'll look back what you said today and say like, hey, this was a priority. And we went through the same exercise or similar one would start with a longer session. We went more in depth. We spent a few good solid hours I think, so we're trying to streamline it here. What this is here. This is what we call visioning forward slash guiding principle forward slash uh, trash and treasure. It is divided into four quadrants. Here the top is what you want. The bottom is what you don't want. The left is what you have and the right what you don't have. And if you combine these two, what are the values that Wilmette Park District have, has that are unique and worth protecting? What would shape the future investments like, what is that you just want to make sure We stick to that is working for your rights now. And every time when we ask this question, it is about this process. Overall, the feasibility study. If you have something about the buildings, you can also say it here. And here is what you don't have to create. And again, you don't have to think about in terms of building and building walls or design or architecture. We're talking about this process. What should we do to make sure this process is successful and set us up to actually design and build something?
[22:09] Um, and the same here, the bottom left is what you have, what you don't want. Something is not working right now. You want to change it. We have it, but let's just move on and make it better. And here what you don't have and you don't want. So for example, like, you know, we don't want to have to tell people we're building a rec center, right? We just want to hear from them. We're just worried that, you know, they may misinterpret stats. So and the rules are there are some rules that are a little tough because you have to think big picture. You know, we have too many choices. Uh, we'll give you a sticky notes and markers and we'll, you'll have six sticky notes, one for preserve, one for create, one for improve, one for avoid, and two extra ones. If after, like, you know, when we all put it, put them here. If there's something that is in your head and you just forgot to say it and you know somebody else inspired you to do that. And the rules are also.
[23:21] Uh, please write.
[23:24] Big so.
[23:25] We can see.
[23:25] It.
[23:27] Um. Only one idea for now.
[23:33] No cheating.
[23:33] No cheating. Choose wisely. It may happen that somebody else. You know, you probably have a lot of ideas, but there's a chance that somebody else, uh, had the same idea. So after we go with one round, maybe it's already there, and we have six total. So you'll have a chance to add more if they're not here.
[23:57] Is it fair? Okay.
[24:18] Perfect.
[24:20] It doesn't matter. Colors don't matter.
[24:49] Yes we can. That's good.
[24:59] We'll start with the one on the left. After you are done, just let us know and we'll just collect it.
[25:06] So start with preserve or preserve?
[25:09] Yes. What you have. Um.
[25:50] Yes.
[25:53] That's correct.
[26:26] Options for all ages and abilities. You can just read out loud what you put in there.
[26:34] Just the open spaces.
[26:38] Community Playfields.
[26:45] Slides.
[26:51] You gotta work on the handwriting.
[26:54] Existing programing. Current programing.
[26:56] Yeah, I wrote it. Too small for those times.
[26:58] Okay. All right.
[27:12] Older man could go in between the two on the top. I think those are.
[27:16] Early childhood and space for either programs.
[27:24] Might actually be going near to existing open spaces because the. The nice part about Centennial as of now is it's essentially open space with trees and plants. There's very few pools in the area that don't look out on a parking lot, and you have a. So there's a. That's really what I'm getting. I mean, that's well used facility and it's also gorgeous and.
[27:51] Public. Community Playfields.
[28:04] Which yeah.
[28:05] Up there.
[28:09] That's what creates what we don't have.
[28:29] Indoor sports facility.
[28:31] All right.
[28:33] And if I see it, I should not write it. Is that right?
[28:37] Um, it's, you know, this way you can make the second idea. Okay.
[29:00] That sounds.
[29:02] Good.
[29:04] So.
[29:11] Open gym.
[29:13] Is similar to.
[29:14] Multi-use.
[29:15] So.
[29:16] Okay.
[29:17] Don't make fun of my spelling. I'm sorry.
[29:20] Lit. Lit.
[29:24] Like lighting.
[29:26] That? That's like outdoor or indoor.
[29:30] Do I have.
[29:30] To?
[29:32] Do I have to say that?
[29:37] That's the.
[29:44] Kind of building on that multi-use facility.
[29:47] We have facilities that are throughout.
[29:51] The destination.
[30:01] So I said health, longevity and fitness trends. So kind of thinking about where things are going. Like Cadel water, Polo's really growing.
[30:13] But there are others.
[30:17] After school.
[30:25] Programs like theater programs that bring people in. Okay. And the next one. What could we improve?
[30:40] Our.
[30:44] Facilities. Yeah. Aging.
[30:51] Well, I thought we were going up and down.
[30:53] One time in our entire system.
[30:57] I just wrote I'm.
[31:03] Sorry, I wish I guess I will. That's great. That means everybody's patient.
[31:12] Is there any specific types of improvements you're thinking of?
[31:16] Oh, I put this up. This is an opportunity to address the needs.
[31:23] I mean, I guess I could I could narrow out Gillson Park Gillson Park.
[31:29] I feel like Pacific.
[31:31] Gilson is excluded, right? I think making.
[31:35] Sure we kind of understand is it quality, size or is it around it like those some of that. Right. Kind of.
[31:50] Evanston having entirely new Ice facility. We have an entire facility. So we're trying to do we keep up with the Joneses or do we start.
[32:25] To make everyone happy.
[32:29] Yes.
[32:36] Expensive.
[32:38] Expensive.
[32:48] Whatever we do needs to survive or be a revenue generation opportunity.
[32:58] Sometimes I feel like I've gone through some of these processes with other institutions. Uh, Michigan stores being a good example that people came in and wanted to just sort of give us a cookie cutter, um, Whatever's happening everywhere else. I don't want to make sure that we everybody understands what a unique community we are and should meet the needs of this community, as opposed to what's sort of happening out there.
[33:22] Yeah.
[34:03] Minority.
[34:14] So that's kind of like this.
[34:30] 719 number seven. I don't think I have anything to add. Okay. Are you saving your sticker? I'm not.
[34:43] I like it, I like it. I was thinking through, you know, tactic. I want people to be excited when they were here and discover the parks. You know, a lot of our new members are people leaving the city or transplants, and they are coming to the community probably for schools, and they discover a whole lot more. What I was trying to think about how to write was, how do we make this experience an additive versus a letdown. I think we have a very good reputation. I think people are generally very pleased with the parks. We only hear, you know, small matters. I think um and the vocal minority as well. So, um, I don't want it to be a letdown, but I don't know that that merits a sticker. You know, I want our park district to be an experience that adds to an already positive experience in life.
[35:33] So the extra stickers count. Very handy. This is something that's.
[35:40] So now it's the moment for the extra stickers. If if you feel like you know, there's something that you didn't say, but somebody else said something. But exactly what? Yes.
[36:04] To say Because they.
[36:09] Feel powerless.
[36:12] Now.
[36:16] I don't want to go.
[36:20] Over there.
[36:24] It must be Ada compliant.
[36:26] Somebody.
[36:28] Else.
[36:31] I know this is very.
[36:52] Positive. More excited for a Wilmette ARC district.
[37:01] Yes. So some of them.
[37:03] Whose writing is that? reading? Like I don't, I don't want I want it to be I don't want us to just leave something. The expression, don't fix it if it's not broke. Is that right? It's not cliche. Um, I want us to to pretend it almost didn't exist and address the community's needs from the start, and not just stick with something even in a location just because it's already there. And it well, we'll just we'll deal with that at another time. I think this is our opportunity in it being a plan to completely reimagine.
[37:45] I'll add that it doesn't.
[37:50] Have to get.
[37:53] Done in one shot.
[38:02] That word.
[38:07] Yes.
[38:27] You know, I thought we might, um, indoor pool.
[38:32] I was going to comment on that, but I was going to wait until everybody had all their stuff up.
[38:36] I don't know where I want it on the board, though.
[38:40] All right. So I said if it's a facility, bring the parks inside.
[38:44] I've seen some really great buildings that sometimes you almost feel like you're in a green space or apartment indoor.
[39:03] So I guess this is where I would have like something I'm in.
[39:08] The question I asked for that is are we too cool? And I don't think any of us are qualified to really address that with the revenue piece or any of the other sides of it. So what would that look like? You know, is it a four lane, 20 yard pool at lifetime? Right. Or is it a f m sequel to the indoor pool? Question is a series of many other questions, but how will you inform us? My question?
[39:40] I'll just add to that. Like, if I knew something else was happening in the nearby community, I would be excited for given the broader context of what our community has access to in close proximity and where we can add value. It's. So of course we're not going to answer this today.
[40:06] No, I'm just giving you like.
[40:08] Absolutely.
[40:08] If I had more answers to those questions, I might be like, right. But, you know, and some of the specificity I started off with was more conceptual. Whoever put, you know, bring outside spaces and doors is kind of what I'm talking about. You look at Centennial Pool, that's a fairly unusual feel for a facility that's very unique to Wilmette. You're kind of catching all of that in here.
[40:34] So I just put up on the board.
[40:36] I think I would put in each category, create beautiful cohesive spaces.
[40:41] Of.
[40:42] Down in the bottom right. Um, improve upon beautiful, cohesive spaces, preserve beautiful, sort of in that same vein, like we have some good, I don't think any of us are saying scrap it all, but how is it reimagined to just work better? I think that if I were to think of one thing that at the end I would want my message to be to you is how do we work with what we have? Because we have so many great things that our community loves, and there's just something that's off. If I'm looking at that board, it's our aging facilities. That's what's most off. And so that to me, would rise to the top of opportunities to address folks.
[41:34] Like here because it's, you know, we have them, we whatever is good, if we want to preserve whatever is not, we want to beautify it. And if we don't have it, we would like to have a beautiful space.
[41:44] So preserve I struggle with as well because, you know, we had talked to the Buffalo people when we purchased it and I can't remember to talk to her. Talk about talking about honoring the this fact. We have purchased a place that was essentially a community space for generations of people that lived right there. Right? And in building or doing something over there, not necessarily honoring it, but at least reflecting on the fact that that space was community space. Additionally, Commissioner Duffy sent around some interesting historical information about that space and all that could be integrated into whatever we do there is that down the line information that you would want, or is that something you wanted?
[42:29] I'd like to see that.
[42:31] Would you share that big tree? Yeah. Stuff with them.
[42:34] Yeah.
[42:35] Okay. Thank you. So there's history there used somewhere in that vicinity. There was a very large tree, um, under the century, like turn of the 1800s and 1900s that and supposedly, uh, it was hollowed out and used as a gathering place. And, um, I've sent everybody on the board, and it's information that I would say is second, third hand. Um, tell us a pretty good story, but there is a photo of this tree that we believe is the tree that used to be in this location, which gave the street its name, Victory Lane. So we can share that with you. It's like two and a half pages long.
[43:16] Please, please.
[43:19] Perfect.
[43:22] Okay, there's one more step. This is either the easiest or the hardest. Uh, before we go there, is there anything that I should combine together here? Especially, I guess this this board over here is there's a lot of information here. So a lot of, um, on this side, we were talking about facilities, um, multi-use indoor sports, gym space, open space, indoor fields, um, etc.. lift bridge facility.
[43:58] Basically just for fields, for recreational things. Having it be a spot that it doesn't have to end. Our Community Playfields and West Park are two of our only outdoor facilities that um, can be that are after dark. They you shut down entirely. Yeah. And our one lit facility, which is Howard Park, is not actually ours.
[44:41] So it's like looking at, I believe, I don't know who wrote it. Julia. Julie who wrote it? I you're speaking to well, what don't we have that we could incorporate into an existing or new facility?
[44:53] Yeah, I think just be innovative, you know.
[44:55] Be ahead.
[44:56] Of.
[44:57] Step ahead rather.
[44:58] Than.
[44:58] You know, proactive rather.
[44:59] Than.
[44:59] Reactive.
[45:00] So, you know, as we think about kind of directionally, you know.
[45:05] What we have.
[45:06] Also like.
[45:06] What.
[45:07] Are some of the emerging.
[45:08] Sports or fitness or health trends that.
[45:11] Our.
[45:12] Community.
[45:13] Might want.
[45:14] The future?
[45:15] So, so I'm, I'm going to ask you, this exercise is a little bit I felt difficult. I know we're not done with it, but I felt difficult because as board members, we really don't have a pony in the race. And so I, I felt it was hard for me to say, well, what I would like to see this. I would like to see this where as I. That's why I said really it's about community feedback, because community is going to say, hey, we want to see this. And then it's going to be if it's going to be a building there and then a series of improvements through other facilities to accommodate moving or whatever it may be of of activities or new activities. They're going to have to vote to pay for it if it gets to that point. And so for us, I want to avoid personally Miss Patrick speaking, not the board. I want to avoid influencing a direction. Um, and so, you know, I kind of felt, uh, Cecilia's question about how things were presented at the block party and, um, you know, to, to kind of influence. And so I think it's for me, it was very difficult to have this exercise. And that's why I thought I felt bad. I was putting out more vague concepts as opposed to, um, hey, let's trash this and let's build that and let's do. So I, I, I'm not sure if I played right.
[46:46] But you played perfect.
[46:47] Oh, this, this is, um, we just, we as a design firm, we just want to hear what's in your head and what you think will will be important. And we know we're talking about some kind of recreational spaces, probably indoors, what they are. We don't know if there's going to be a new building on this site or not. And we're just going to update the existing ones. We have no idea. Right. That's fine. We you know, we all want to put it out there. And, you know, we are saying that just in case we do it, let's not forget about maybe we'll keep track. But just like, look at all the options and evaluate everything, including these things, we know it's going to happen, right? We hired architects, we deal with spaces, indoor, outdoor, everything here. And that's a part of the project, right? This is visibility study. We want to know what this may include. So this is perfect. But I also I love to hear other spaces because I know I hear quality. You know, this is what Wilmette is all about. Uh, we want to create beautiful spaces, you know? So I'm hearing we most likely should think about upgrading the existing facilities. And I hear, hear, loud and clear. Uh, 1234. And you know, whoever said that they're not they're right. This this gives us a lot of information. Um, and, you know, to say more excitement for Wilmette Park district. Yes. You're not looking just to update. Yes. We're looking for new we're looking for exciting. It's, you know, we we should be reaching out. Um, and really thinking big picture, uh, here. So yes, this, this all makes sense. We will sort through it. Yes, I know some things are about, um, brick and mortar and some things are about just, you know, big picture, touch and feel and, and the vision and, um, in the community is and absolutely. And so please don't feel like, you know, you are just deciding right now. Future for a Wilmette residents. Uh, they're going to get the pool, not going to get the pool or anything, anything like that. Right. This will, this is what the surveys are for. This is part of the equation. And this is very important one for us. And like I said, we did the same thing with staff. So we have more information. We have over 100 sticky notes there. So like we have a preview what the pain points are of the staff of the staff are and where we have tons of information from, uh, community. So all together, you know, from your perspective, this is, this is what it looks like.
[49:31] And can I just add to what Patrick was saying? Because I do think that's a really important point. Um, we've talked about that at the board level before, but I'm just kind of curious beyond the surveys, you know, because this is an exercise that starts to make people prioritize and kind of things more than just putting everything on the table. So I'm kind of wondering if there will be facilitated sessions with community members similar to this to allow them to, you know, really have a have the same conversation and for you to hear from them because I would, I would love for you to hear from them in a similar way and come back to us so that we kind of see what their perspective, their perspective, or maybe the survey kind of gets at this too. But yeah, we also have plans for three facilitated groups we're kind of building a little bit about from what we learned at each stage, that's kind of helping us shape the questions or the audience. We might, we may want to talk to, but we have three, um, of those types of sessions that are planned as well as also like a public open house to have an opportunity to share a little bit about what we learned along the way and make sure that what we're hearing is accurate. What the community wants as well.
[51:03] The last exercise.
[51:04] Here.
[51:05] Is we'll ask you to vote on your top three most important to you priorities from the board. And it could be anywhere. And this is why I was asking if you think anything needs to be combined for more impact on the topic. If the topic is similar, please feel free to, you know, come up when you're coming up with your votes to say like, hey, I really think we should put together.
[51:37] One general idea or group.
[51:39] Wants us to rank them or, you.
[51:41] Know, just what you think is important and the rules are you can put dots on different ideas or all three on one.
[51:51] You don't get to vote.
[52:37] Well.
[52:38] Yeah.
[52:44] You have to use your system.
[52:46] What was vocal minority?
[52:48] That's the.
[52:50] Agreement that.
[52:55] This should be combined with listening to the community feedback. You know sometimes that maybe this is.
[53:24] Just kind of improvised.
[53:26] Yeah, I think so.
[53:29] All this together.
[53:30] Yeah.
[53:31] It should be community. And you know what? You're right. Minority. And it's just all about it's all about community.
[53:44] You.
[53:47] Know, I had a.
[53:50] Uh.
[54:27] The one with the most votes we have, uh, we.
[54:31] Have update aging facilities.
[54:34] Who might put all three of those.
[54:35] Things.
[54:35] Right. So so that doesn't count that one.
[54:40] And then the.
[54:41] Facilities, new facilities.
[54:43] And then the.
[54:44] Communication and community feedback.
[54:48] Which is just.
[54:51] From the beginning of the project here. And then let's create spaces that are cohesive and beautiful. All of them, um, but also diversity of options for all ages and abilities. And it needs to generate revenue and let's avoid expensive ego project. Hear loud and clear.
[55:20] On the community feedback thing, just as my notes some of the time, it's not just doing it. It's making sure we're going to people that people see us. And I think it's almost theatrical, right? We're at Centennial doing you guys. You did a great job with the block, right? Because we're there and it was there. That's what we're talking about, right? It's not just surveys. It's you people know this a survey. It's getting a hold of the surveys. I think the feeling and again I want to speak for the community. Feedback is super important to every project. Sure. But our assessment as board members in this community is people like me come to them. So that's that would be nice.
[56:09] If we could in any way help you to gather feedback. Thursday I was with a group of people. Um, and I asked him if they had received the, the original, uh, email or the QR code that the district sent out a little while ago. And we all responded to that. And that's different than the postcard that you were handing out at the block party. And everybody had no idea they'd never seen anything. They never. And I'm like, okay, that's going to be on me to communicate to my friends and friend groups, hey guys, participate or hey, families participate. Um, so please share with us how we can assist you in gathering information. So to help make this decision and give us direction.
[56:56] Yeah. Similarly, I had a fellow parent, um, say, is that survey still open? We'd love to share some feedback, but we don't really want to go to an open house because we feel like it's a lot of the same people talking. And if you have a different opinion, they're just going to shout at you. So we don't really want to go. And I was like, I'm sorry, that's been your experience and you can always share it with me. I'm happy to pass it along. But I do think that why I put Vocal Minority on there is that many of these smaller sessions are attended by the same folks, and it has become such a theater that it drives people who would like to participate away if their viewpoint is different. And that is not the community that I know any of us want to be. We hope to be inclusive and welcoming of all ideas. Um, I mean, the fact that I think all of us are expressing a little PTSD in even doing this. We're afraid to have this be viewed as well. That's what they want. So that's what's going to happen. I think we just want to get ahead of that messaging being like, no, we are we're doing everything we possibly can in surveys and talks and open houses and going to the different groups to make to prove that we want everyone in town to know about this. And until everyone in town is knowing about it, we probably none of us will feel comfortable.
[58:27] Absolutely. We hear you.
[58:31] And I guess I'm wondering too, as you're putting the survey together, If there is a way to ask or get at any special interest or connection that the individual responding already has to the community. So, you know, I'm a I'm a paddle player or a tennis player or a swimmer or a golfer or because then we can look at the data and say, okay, the golf community kind of existing, right? It kind of separates it out a little bit. If we understand a little bit more about who's responding. Yeah. How do you self-identify almost?
[59:14] Right. So in a lot of surveys, there's demographic data at the end. Is there usage data at the end too. That'd be great. So yeah.
[59:21] Yeah. So part of the survey builds in um, kind of asking the respondent for themselves and their household what they not only what are you, what types of activities are you doing, but also what do you have? What are you not doing that you have an interest in as well? And so we won't we're not wanting to bombard people with questions about what that what that might mean in terms of how your household has a need for certain types of facilities. If they've said like, no, we're not interested in this activity at all, but it kind of helps lead into some of those questions. Um, we also where people have, um, given us that, that information, that sort of initial card, um, where we were asking if they're interested in getting those updates. That gives us a little bit of insight into what types of activities they said that were most important to them. So we where it makes sense. And of course, in a way where we're protecting any individual responses, we don't want anyone to think we're looking at any of their answers or their demographic information on an individual level, but we'll be able to kind of, um, uh, cross tabulate the responses based on that demographic information, but also the type of activities that they said were important to them or that they participated with in the past as well.
[1:00:40] And I do think, um, just in terms of, uh, the future sort of, um, workshops or the facilitated sessions that we're talking about doing with the public as well. There's a reason we are still, I think, kind of taking some of this feedback when we're trying to determine who's the best audience and how we want to best utilize those to make sure that they are authentic. And we're reaching out to a good representative group, even with things like the public open house. Um, we're already moving away from just like an hour meeting where someone talks or someone's talk really loudly and maybe others don't say anything at all to something that allows people to, um, come in and maybe move and learn and ask questions and give feedback in a way that even if you, um, don't feel like you want to have a loud voice. You still have the opportunity to give feedback. Um, but of course we'll be there to have conversations as well so that if we, um, if someone has something really important that they want to share with us, or, um, we need more context to like why they might feel a certain way about what we've learned or what they have to share. Or we can accept it now too. So I think we're trying to be really thoughtful about creating a setting that, um, maybe not so typical or hopefully will make people feel like they were really heard and that we are asking the right questions.
[1:02:11] Thank you.
[1:02:13] Thank you.
[1:02:14] Thank you. Thank you.
[1:02:16] Thank you.
[1:02:19] Okay. Well, I think that.
[1:02:22] There are no.
[1:02:22] Other discussion items. We'll adjourn the meeting to adjourn.
[1:02:28] I'll second.
[1:02:29] Thank you. Thank you.