Plans for the Northbrook Leisure Center could include putting up a new building around the existing theater. Photo courtesy of Northbrook Park District.
NORTHBROOK — As the Northbrook Park District develops its 10-year master plan, the Leisure Center on Walters Avenue is near the top of the list of considerations.
The Park District Board of Commissioners has been working with a consultant on the plan, which it hopes to finish by year’s end.
“This is part of an ongoing process where we are looking for details and opportunities to discuss,” said Michael Schyman, the president of the Board of Commissioners.
Two major issues are how to deal with the aging Leisure Center and how to develop the six-acre tract the Park District owns adjacent to the 100-acre Techny Prairie, the village’s largest park, according to Schyman.
Schyman said the commissioners are not ready to discuss the economics of the plan until they receive the completed product from the Hitchcock Design Group, the consultant helping to develop the strategy.
Should the total cost of all projects exceed $10 million, Schyman anticipates a referendum will be necessary. He also said should the voters turn the plan down, it will be valuable input.
“We want this to be completely open and transparent,” said Schyman. “We want community involvement. If we have a referendum that will be the community saying what is important to them.”
The Leisure Center, which houses the senior center and Northbrook Community Theater among other facilities, is most in need of attention, according to Schyman. He said it was built as a school in 1960 and has been repurposed over time.
“It’s very old and tired,” said Schyman. “We have several options from renovation to tearing it down and starting over. We could just save the theater and build around it.” If the decision is rebuilding, Schyman said it would likely trigger a referendum.
Some of the Leisure Center’s facilities are so dated they cannot work as fitness facilities for seniors, he said. This causes seniors to go elsewhere.
Schyman said that when the Park District bought the six-acre tract adjacent to Techny Prairie, the board was aware of environmental issues. He said the Park District has been working with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to remediate the situation and the work is nearly done.
Another concern is finding more park space in east Northbrook. Schyman said the Park District will look for opportunities in that part of town. Other possibilities are a community center, additional golf course facilities and open land for sports fields.
Though not part of the master plan, Green Acres Country Club has recently been listed for sale, according to a Northbrook Star story, and Schyman said the availability of the 125-acre golf course is something that requires a look.
“When an opportunity like that becomes available, we owe it to the community to look at it,” said Schyman.
The Park District operates the 27-hole Sportsman’s Country Club as well as the nine-hole Anetsberger course. Schyman said it is unlikely the Park District will use Green Acres to replace Sportsman’s.
Schyman said Sportsman’s was purchased through a referendum and could only be sold with the approval of the voters. He also said Sportsman’s is a more forgiving course making it playable for a wider variety of golfers.
Seniors attend a Valentine’s Day party at the Leisure Center. The rooms are in need of renovation, according to Michael Schyman, the president of the Board of Commissioners of the Northbrook Park District. Photo courtesy of Northbrook Park District.