Park Perspectives: Boat Storage

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Carol Spain, President of the Glencoe Park District, and Kyle Kuhs, Director of Parks and Planning, discussed essential improvements at Glencoe Beach, particularly focusing on boat storage. Their conversation highlighted the need for upgrades, including addressing the aging boater lockers and storage racks, which have become a significant concern for both functionality and aesthetics.

Addressing the Aging Lockers
As Carol Spain observed, "Wow, these lockers look really old, quaint, but old." This observation marks the beginning of much-needed upgrades to the boater lockers.

Kyle Kuhs explained why changes are overdue: "The lockers are over 20 years old. They were constructed in-house, being of wood construction the wood is rotting, popping, and paint is peeling. The improvements we can make is replacing them to meet the modern expectations and needs."

Enhancing Paddle Board and Kayak Storage
The discussion also highlighted feedback from community members. Carol Spain pointed out, "We're also standing in front of some of our paddle board and kayak storage. We hear a lot from our residents about wanting to increase storage capacity."

Kyle added, "As we address all the beach elements, we're looking for ways to maximize the usage of the space to make things more efficient and potentially to accommodate more boats and boaters without impacting the usage of the beach and the things that people come down here to really enjoy."

Looking Ahead
Plans for renovations are aimed at creating a balance between functionality and preserving the charm that everyone loves about Glencoe Beach. As Kyle puts it, the goal is "to accommodate more boats and boaters without impacting the usage of the beach."

Glencoe Park District Board of Commissioners has placed a $14.7 million bond referendum on the November 5, 2024 ballot to address beach, park, and facility improvements without a tax rate increase. If passed, this referendum will facilitate a range of enhancements at Glencoe Beach, including upgrades to boat storage, the playground, Safran Beach House, boat house, boardwalk, sun shelters, ramps, and beach access points. Additionally, improvements will be made to the Takiff Athletic Field, as well as the construction of a new community greenhouse and parks maintenance facility.

The District is dedicated to prioritizing these essential facility upgrades while upholding fiscal responsibility. By planning to pay off long-term debt by 2025, utilizing existing reserves, and capping the request at $14.7 million, the proposed enhancements can be realized without increasing the current debt service tax rate. Learn more about the referendum here.