Lake Ellyn Master Plan Public Meeting Review

Thanks to everyone who came out to the master plan meeting at the boathouse. We had over 60 residents there and lots of great discussions on the future of the park. A good summary of the meeting was printed in the Chicago Tribune.

One of the things that was presented at the meeting was our goals and priorities for the Lake Ellyn Master Plan. This gives a nice look into what we hope to accomplish with this master plan, so I'm including a copy of it here. I will also post here when we have the date for the next public meeting date.

Lake Ellyn Park Master Plan

GOALS and PRIORITIES

DRAFT August 27^th, 2012

PARK EXPERIENCE

1.   A variety of experiences, especially connected to water and the lake, will support greater use and improve the value of Lake Ellyn Park to the community;   

2.   The use and enjoyment of the park will be optimized through the preservation and enhancement of primarily passive recreation uses;

3.   Enhanced play space for all children will contribute to the health and vitality of the neighborhood and community;

4.    The community will benefit to the degree the park can provide space for shared, mutually beneficial use by Glenbard West High School, the Village of Glen Ellyn, and the Glen Ellyn Park District;

5.   The use of the boathouse for various functions will be enhanced through historically sensitive improvements such as separation of private events and general public access to facilities and the lake;

6.   The enjoyment and safety of the park will be enhanced though appropriately improved lighting, wayfinding, and accessibility for people of all abilities;

BEAUTY and AUTHENTICITY

1.   Improved views and access to Lake Ellyn from various vantage points will greatly enhance the scenery and appreciation for the lake;

2.   The preservation and enhancement of historic vegetation and tree canopy is of utmost importance to the character and enjoyment of the park;

3.   Recognition and celebration of Lake Ellyn’s cultural significance to the Glen Ellyn community will increase admiration of the park; i.e. through the integration of local art, craft, and fabrication of certain site features;

4.   Park visitors will appreciate an opportunity to learn about Lake Ellyn’s rich history through interpretive elements woven into the site improvements, i.e. display of historic documents and photographs in the boathouse;

5.   The visibility and appreciation of the park can be expanded and improved through renewal and upgrades to paths, furnishings, landscapes, and other amenities that unify all three parcels;

SUSTAINABILITY and ECOLOGY

1.   Clean water in Lake Ellyn will improve its health and beauty;

-      improved management of all precipitation both on-site and within the tributary watershed will benefit Lake Ellyn and downstream conditions;

-      Improved water quality will provide better habitat for aquatic vegetation, fish, and other species;

2.   Comprehensive solutions that address multiple objectives gain greater value for the investment made;

-      Planned infrastructure improvements can provide an opportunity to create enhancements, i.e. the lake overflow reconstruction could be designed to create a water/park gateway feature;

-      Off-site redevelopment can be done in a way that improves the park, i.e. planned reconstruction of Lenox Road as a green street;

-      An integrated, holistic approach other sources of funding may become available;

3.   Expanded park programming and improved facilities can increase revenue streams, which can then in turn help fund and support a higher quality, more functional and beautiful park;

4.   On-going operations, maintenance, and stewardship are design considerations that are closely linked to first cost decisions, and when properly addressed, will lower costs and improve park performance.