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FAQ's

Questions And Answers

Aquatics

Is there a Summer Pool Closing Policy?

The following conditions may warrant closing of the outdoor pools:

Inclement weather – pools will close immediately if lightning is seen, tornado warnings are posted, or thunder is heard. Patrons will be asked to take shelter in the bathhouse. The pools will reopen if a 15-minute period passes without further incidence. Staff will always proceed with caution for participant and staff safety.
Air temperature below 67 degrees, as recorded at O’Hare.
Low attendance – portions of the pool or the entire pool may be closed.
Fecal accidents – staff will follow rules established by the State of Illinois when determining how long the pool needs to be closed after a fecal or vomit accident.
Mechanical problems

There are certain times when the pool will be closed to the public and only open to event participants. Please check the bulletin board of your local pool to make sure that a change hasn’t been made in the daily schedule.

Olympic Indoor Swim Center is open rain or shine for your swimming enjoyment. However, Olympic will be closed if severe weather is imminent.

Arlington Park

Can you give me information about the Race Track?

Arlington Park, formerly known as Arlington International Race Course, is NOT affiliated with the Arlington Heights Park District. If you would like information about Arlington Park please call 847-255-4300 or visit their website at arlingtonpark.com.

Athletics

Where do I find my schedules for the sport I play (basketball, soccer, football, t-ball, etc.)?

Follow the link from Programs to Athletics and choose the sport. You'll find a link to the schedules there. Most schedules are posted on Quick Scores.

Before and After School

Do you have a before and after school program?

If your children need supervision before and after school, the CAP program is just what you need. This recreational program runs Monday-Friday from 7-9 am and 3:30-6 pm at Dryden, Greenbrier, Ivy Hill, Juliette Low, Olive, Patton, Poe, Riley, Westgate and Windsor Schools. Children may be registered for full or partial weeks.

Camps

Do you offer camps for the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Check out our Camps information.

Pee Wee Tennis and Swim Camp - How many counselors are there?

There will be one camp director and then a ratio of one counselor to six campers.

Cancelled Programs

How do I know if a class is cancelled due to the weather?

If classes in School District 25 are cancelled for the entire day due to inclement weather, Recreation Department programs will be cancelled until 3 pm. Decisions on classes held between 3-6 pm are made by 2 pm and decisions on classes held after 6 pm are made by 4 pm. For specific information on classes held at Forest View Racquet and Fitness Center (847-640-2574), Heritage Tennis Club (847-398-7780) and the Senior Center (847-797-5341), please call these facilities directly regarding class cancellation.

Are classes cancelled during the week of a holiday or when district 25 has no school?

Check the Program Guide, "no class" information is listed under the individual program information.

Directions

How do I get directions to a Park or Facility?

We have an interactive map for all of our facilities location under Parks & Facilities

Dogs

Are dogs allowed in any Arlington Heights Park District park?

Dogs are not allowed in Arlington Heights Park District parks. They are allowed in the Village of Arlington Heights parks such as Harmony Park (Campbell and Vail) and Dunton Park at the corner of Northwest Highway and Arlington Heights Road. Dogs are also allowed, on a leash, at the eastern portion of Melas Park only. This has the basin and concession building on the right as you pull into the park. This part of Melas is managed by Mount Prospect Park District. You cannot bring your dog on the west side where the baseball diamonds and playground are located. This section of the park is managed by Arlington Heights Park District.

Emerald Ash Borer

Where did the emerald ash borer come from?

The natural range of Agrilus planipennis, or the emerald ash borer, is eastern Russia, northern China, Japan, and Korea. Before June of 2002, it had never been found in Northern America.

How did the emerald ash borer get here?

We don't know for sure, but it most likely came in ash wood used for stabilizing cargo in ships or for packing or crating heavy consumer products.

What types of trees does the emerald ash borer attack?

In North America, it has only been found in ash trees. Trees in woodlots as well as landscaped areas are affected. Larval galleries have been found in trees or branches measuring as little as 1-inch in diameter. All species of Northern American ash appear to be susceptible.

Where has emerald ash borer been found?

In 2002, EAB was thought to occer in six counties in southeastern Michigan: Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, and in Essex County Ontario. Our ability to detect and find EAB has substantially improved since then, however, and now realized that a much greater area was infested than what was initially thought. Now there are only four counties in Michigan where EAB has not been detected. It has also been found in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Maryland, making EAB a national pest problem. Most of these infestations are not new. We are simply getting better at finding infestations as survey methods improve. However, it is important to watch for signs and symptoms of EAB in non-quarantine areas where the beetle may have been accidentally transported in ash firewood.

What do emerald ash borders look like?

The adult beetle is dark metallic green in color, 1/2 inch-long and 1/8 inch wide.

What is the life cycle of this emerald ash borer?

Recent research shows that the beetle can have a one-, two-, or even three-year life cycle. Adults begin emerging in mid to late May with peak emergence in late June. Females usually begin laying eggs about 2 weeks after emergence. Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks, and the tiny larvae bore through the bark and into the cambium - the area between the bark and wood where nutrient levels are high. The larvae feed under the bark for several weeks, usually from late July or early August through October. The larvae typically pas through four stages, eventually reaching a size of roughly 1 to 1.25 inches long. Most EAB larvae over winter in a small chamber in the outer bark or inthe outer inch of wood. Pupation occurs in spring and the new generation of adults will emerge in May or early June, to begin the cycle again.

How is the emerald ash borer spread?

We know EAB adults can fly at least 1/2 mile from the tree where they emerge. Many infestations, however, we started when people moved infested ash nursery trees, logs, or firewood into uninfested areas. Shipments of ash nursery trees and ash logs with bark are now regulated, and transporting firewood outside of the quarantined areas is illegal, but transport of infested firewood remains a problem. PLEASE - do not move any ash firewood or logs outside of the quarantined area.

How long has the emerald ash borere been in Michigan?

No one know for sure. Experts feel that it may have been in the Detroit area for at least 12 years. The initial infestation probably started from a small number of beetles. Over the next few years, the population began to build and spread. By 2002, many trees in the souteastern Michigan were dead or dying. In North America, native ash trees have little or no resistance to EAB and natural enemies have so far had little effect whe EAB populations are high.

Do emerald ash borer only attack dying or stressed trees?

Healthy ash trees are also susceptible, although beetles may prefer to lay eggs or feed on stressed trees. When EAB populations are high, small trees may die within 1-2 years of becoming infested and large trees can be killed in 3-4 years.

What is being done on a statewide basis about the emerald ash borer?

Agencies are working together to educate citizens abot identification of ash trees and EAB, options for protecting valuable shad trees, and loactions where dead or dying ash trees can be taken for disposal. State and federal agencies have programs in place to heop restore the urban forest in cities that sustained heavy EAB damage. Research is underway to learn more about the biology of EAB, its rate of spread, methods for EAB detection, predators and other natural enemies that attack EAB, and how insecticides can be used to protect trees in infested areas.

How big a problem is EAB?

EAB is becoming an international problem, with infestations in Canada as well as Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio, and eradicated infestations in Virginia. The scope of this problem could reach the billions of dollars nationwide if not dealt with. State and federal agencies have made this problem a priority. Homeowners can also help by carefully monitoring their ash trees for signs and symptoms of EAB throughout the year.

How many ash trees does the AHPD plan on taking down?

There is a possibility that out of the 435 ash trees that the AHPD manages in the parks approximately 337 that could succumb to the emerald ash borer. We have identified 100 ash trees that are under 10" that will remove this spring/summer. We will continue to evaluate our ash tree population through out the year and update our website to inform the residents of the current situation.

How many ash trees does the AHPD plan on treating?

In January the AHPD went out and evaluated the 435 ash trees that we manage in the parks and identified 98 ash trees that we intend to treat. As the year progresses that number could rise or fall depending on how much damage is visible or if the damage affects over 50% of the tree. As conditions or numbers change the AHPD will update information on our website.

What is going to happen with the village parkway trees adjacent to the parks?

In March of 2012 the AHPD and VAH went out and evaluated all the village owned parkway trees adjacent to park property. As of 3/27/12 there are 142 parkway trees and we are identifying the number of ash trees that we intend to treat. Since these trees are village owned we intend to work closely with the village to save as many as possible. As the spring/summer evolves there may be some parkway ash trees that have damage which affects over 50% of the tree and will have to come out. The AHPD will update information on our website as the year unfolds.

Employment

What jobs do you have for 14- and 15-year-olds?

14-year-olds can be employed as soccer referees, and 15-year-olds can be employed as soccer referees or lifeguards. Please note you must be 14 or 15 years old by your first day of work.

I'm a very responsible 15-year-old, so why can't I be a cashier or work in concessions?

Some jobs in the Park District do have minimum age requirements. For example, child labor laws prohibit anyone younger than age 18 from working in our Park Department because of the equipment these workers use. Once an applicant reaches age 16, s/he can apply for most park district jobs.

Are you hiring? How do I know what jobs are available at the Park District?

Our available jobs are posted on our website in the Jobs section. Our job information is updated regularly and has all of our current vacancies posted.

Why do I have to apply for a job online?

The Park District uses an online job application because it is the most efficient way to process your application and get it to the appropriate hiring supervisor. It's also much easier for you to keep your online job application up to date. When you submit an online job application, it's immediately sent to the hiring supervisor, whereas a paper job application could take up to two days to process. And once you've submitted an online job application, you can access it at any time, to either make changes to the application or to apply for additional jobs at the Park District.

On the job application, why do I need to apply for a specific job if I'm willing to work any job in the Park District?

The Park District appreciates your willingness to work in any position that we may have open. By asking you to apply for specific jobs, we can determine your interests and how well your skills and interests match our available jobs. So, to process your job application appropriately, we need to know what jobs you're truly interested in so we can match the right person to the right job.

When do you start accepting applications for summer jobs?

It really depends on what jobs we need to fill. We generally start recruiting for day camp counselors each year in the fall, and for our aquatic positions in January. Listings for our other summer jobs are posted as soon as the hiring supervisor knows how many openings s/he has to fill. The best thing to do is to check the Arlington Heights Park District job postings regularly for the most up to date information on our available jobs.

What paperwork and documents do I need if I'm hired?

When you're hired, you'll be given a New Hire Packet with all of the hiring documents. You will be required to complete the New Hire Packet and also successfully complete a criminal background investigation through the Illinois State Police. You will need to present your social security card (for payroll purposes) as well as the appropriate documents to complete the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. If you are under age 16, you will also need to provide a valid Work Permit from your school.

If I worked for the Park District last year (or am currently employed at the Park District) and want to apply for a different position, do I need to fill out a new job application?

No, former and current employees do not need to submit a new job application if they want to apply for a different position for the coming season. Contact Human Resources at 847-577-3000 and let us know what job you wish to apply for. We will route your saved online job application to the appropriate hiring supervisor for his/her consideration.

What's it like working at the Park District?

Many former employees have told us they loved working for the Arlington Heights Park District! Because of our neighborhood community centers and parks, our employees have the unique ability to work close to home, and many of their coworkers are their friends and classmates. We offer a variety of seasonal jobs, so there's a wide range of work you could be doing. Many of our seasonal employees start working for us in high school and return seasonally through college, and during that time, they develop both their job and interpersonal skills, which helps to prepare them for their future careers.

Forest View Raquet & Fitness Club

If I'm a member of Forest View am I also a member of Heritage Tennis Club?

FVRC members can play at HTC without paying guest fees and take classes at the HTC member rate, but cannot make reservations more than 24 hours in advance or register for classes before non-members.

Garden Plot

How do I get information about renting a garden plot?

You'll find Garden Plot information online and in the Spring Program Guide.

Heritage Tennis Club

If I’m a resident of Arlington Heights am I a member at the tennis club?

No, membership is a separate purchase.

How much is a membership?

Check out Heritage Tennis Club information. Please call 847-398-7780 for information about occasional specials on joining fees.

What does membership get me?

Membership privileges include priority in class registration and court reservations, lower fees for classes and court usage, and discounts on merchandise, and more. More information is available at HTC.

Can I play as a non-member?

Non-members can play at any time but may not reserve more than 24 hours in advance and must pay a guest fee. For guest fees check HTC

What does it cost to play?

Standard court rates are generally $26/hr on weekday evenings and weekend mornings & afternoons and $22/hr on weekday mornings & afternoons and weekend evenings. There are also guest fees of $3/juniors and $12/adults. For more information about specials and variations in court rates, see HTC.

Are there any specials on court rates?

Yes, such as Super Tuesday ($14/hr for Members, $17/hr & no guest fees for Non-Members on Tuesdays from 11 am - 4 pm) and Student Walk-On ($14/hr & guest fees for anyone playing without a reservation and with a student age 23 & under with school ID). More info is available at Heritage Tennis Club.

Do you have tennis leagues?

Yes, there are many leagues available to men and women at a variety of times in both singles and doubles. Call League Coordinator Barb Bonk at 847-398-7780 or view HTC

When can I register?

Registration dates are availalble at HTC

What’s my membership number?

Check your membership ID card or call 847-398-7780 to find out.

Can I make up a class I missed?

If there is another class at a similar level that is not full, your instructor will arrange for a make up in that class during Spring, Summer, and Fall I sessions (NOT during Fall II and Winter sessions).

Hours

What are the Arlington Heights Park District office hours?

Find more information about a specific Park District facility in the Parks & Facilities area.

What are the open gym hours?

Check out our Open Gym Hours page

New Address

I have a new address, how do I make sure the Park District has my correct information?

If you use online registration, login and change your address in your profile. You can write a letter to Registration, Arlington Heights Park District, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; send a fax to 847-577-3050 or Contact Us Online. Please put attention to Registration. Include the person(s) name, street address, phone number, and Email address.

North School Park Fountain

When does the fountain at North School Park turn on/turn off for the season?

The fountain turns on the second Saturday in April (weather permitting). It turns off the Friday before Halloween.

Preschool

Does the Arlington Heights Park District have a preschool program?

Yes, the preschool program runs from September through May. The child must be 3 years old by September 1 to participate in the 3-4 year old program and 4 years old by September 1 to participate in the 4-5 year old program. For more information

Registration

Why do I need to enter my credit card number again?

In order to register for programs online you must provide a credit card number. For security purposes, this information is not stored within the park district registration system. Due to PCI compliance regulations, credit card numbers not used in a 90 day period will need to be re-entered at the time of registration. If you have any further questions, please contact the Administration Center 847-577-3000.

Does the Park District offer assistance for residents who have lost their jobs?

Contact Carol Jancek at the Village of Arlington Heights at 847-368-5792.

I'm on a scholarship, why are certain classes not available to me?

Contractual classes are not available to those on scholarship. You should have received a letter listing those classes when you received your scholarship letter from the Park District.

Why can't I change my profile member/participant information?

Once a profile has been created, the member/participant information will be locked. You will only be able to update, add, or remove a member/participant in a profile by obtaining permission prior to making the change(s). Fill out the Update Online Profile Member/Participant form.

How do I receive a refund?

A refund request must be submitted to the Park District office no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the program in order to be considered for a full refund. Refund requests can be submitted Online or by calling one of the Park District offices. » View AHPD Refund Policy

Rental

What facility can I rent out for a party?

Check out our Rentals page.

Is there paperwork for renting a room for a birthday party or meeting?

Fill out an Application for Use Form

Resident

I live in Arlington Heights, why don't you consider me a resident?

Just as there are different boundaries for School Districts, there are different boundaries for Park Districts within a Village. Check your tax bill to see which Park District you pay.

Soccer

Why and when did the Park District begin the “Academy” travel soccer program?

In 2005 many parents came to Soccer Advisory Committee meetings to request that they look at a program with a unified trainer and another component of the travel program for the kids that could benefit from a more competitive program. In 2006 the “Academy” name was given and full time trainers would handle all practices and games for this program.

What is the maximum number of teams allowed in travel soccer per age division?

This depends on the age, the younger ages have as many as 4-5 teams because their rosters have less kids. The older age groups typically have 2-3 teams.

What is the Soccer Advisory Committee role with the AHPD soccer program?

This committee is a Park Board appointed committee, which meets regularly during the soccer season to advise Park District staff on the program as they see it. One of there main responsibilities is to accept coach applications for the Volunteer Coached program for travel soccer and interview candidates and select coaches for the various age groups.

Why do tryout participants need to declare if they want to tryout for the “Academy” or “Volunteer Coached” team prior to tryouts beginning?

When the “Academy” program began it was suggested by parents that only ones interested in a more competitive program should tryout for this, therefore two separate tryouts were held – “Academy” and “Volunteer Coach.” It has stayed that way since 2006.

It is apparent to Park District staff that this may not be working for the best for all players and their families. Adjustments are being made to fix this situation for future tryouts.

Is the Arlington Aces name only for the travel program?

The entire soccer league program (Travel and House) is considered the Arlington Aces program. Many people have thought that “Aces” refers to the Travel program.

At Arlington Heights Park District, our soccer program is more unique than at other Park Districts. We are the only Park District in the area that coordinates both type programs.

Who do I contact in case I would like to discuss something about the soccer program?

The soccer program has many staff working on this program. If you have questions about the house league program you can begin by contacting your local park (Camelot, Frontier, Heritage, Pioneer, Recreation) Supervisor. In addition there is an Athletic Supervisor, 847-506-7133 in charge of the soccer program who can be contacted. There is also a Superintendent of Recreation, 847-506-7131 in charge of athletics that may be contacted.

Please don’t hesitate to contact someone within the Park District if you ever have a question/concern. We hope to help you through every situation.

Why was there a $15 fee per family to tryout for AHPD travel soccer this year?

The fee was to be a deterrent for players to tryout at multiple clubs, as a result these players who do not accept their selection on an Aces team slows down the notification process. This was to attract the players who were serious about playing for the Arlington Aces Soccer Club.

Also their are many fees incurred by the park district during the tryout process. The park district pays a service fee to Elite Soccer for their services during the tryouts and coordinating the tryouts, and the $15 fee was put in place this year to help alleviate the costs that the park district incurs during the tryout process. This cost was in addition to the $290 Park District fee that was paid if your child made a travel soccer team.

In late August all participants who tried out were issued a refund of the $15. If your family paid by credit card, then the amount was credited back to your account. If you paid by cash or check, then you were issued a refund. If you have not received the $15 back, please let the park district know.

Swim Classes

Do you offer swim classes for adults?

Yes, check out our Aquatics information.

Vandalism / Maintenance

How do I report Vandalism or Maintenance problems?

Residents can report vandalism and park maintenance concerns on our 24-hour vandalism hotline: 847-577-3003 ext. 8. If any problems at a Park District facility is noted, one call will forward the information quickly any time, any day. A recorded message asks for a detailed description of the problem and location. This line does not supersede an emergency call to 911.

Walking Track

Do you have an indoor walking track?

Arlington Heights Park District does not have a walking track, but you are welcome to join us at Pioneer Park Community Center. You can walk in the gym Monday-Friday at 7 am until a program is scheduled.

Referendum - 11/06/12

Why is Olympic Indoor Swim Center being renovated?

Residents have continually asked for more fitness and wellness options. The referendum will help to create a 'one-stop' shop for fitness, swimming and other activities at Olympic Indoor Swim Center in a central part of town. The renovations will include an indoor walking track, a gymnasium and some pieces of cardio-exercise equipment will be made available in one of the new program rooms.

When will the renovations be completed?

The building projects will all be completed by 2017; in the following order: Camelot Park and Olympic Indoor Swim Center in 2014; Frontier Park in 2015; Recreation Park in 2016 and Heritage Park in 2017. The improvements at Sunset Meadows and Lake Arlington will be completed in 2014. Please visit the See the plans page of the Your Voice Your Choice website for more specifics.

I heard Camelot Park received a grant for its renovations. How does this impact the referendum?

The Arlington Heights Park District was very fortunate to be one of the few park districts selected to receive a park construction grant for the community center improvements at Camelot Park from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This $2.5 million grant allows the Park District to complete the renovations in a timely manner and pays for almost half of the costs to renovate Camelot.

Will more synthetic turf fields be added?

Two synthetic turf football/soccer fields will be installed at Sunset Meadows as the current lighted fields are renovated. A new lighted, synthetic turf soccer field will be added at Frontier Park, constructed in conjunction with the planned improvements at Frontier Park.

Is a dog park part of the referendum?

No. The Park District is looking to add a dog park as part of future capital improvement plans at Melas Park and Nickol Knoll Park by 2015.

How many new indoor walking tracks will be added and why are these important?

Three walking tracks will be added, one each at Camelot Park, Frontier Park and Olympic Park. Walking is the #1 activity for residents of the Arlington Heights Park District. These tracks will allow patrons to enjoy this wonderful activity in a controlled environment where they can gather with friends to remain active while socializing at the same time.

What will the future buildings and parks look like at Camelot, Frontier, Heritage, Olympic and Recreation?

All buildings will be designed and constructed to energy efficiency standards and will be completely ADA accessible. Camelot and Heritage will be renovations with Camelot getting a new gymnasium added to the south side of the current building. Recreation and Frontier will get new community centers. Frontier's will be in the location of the current building and will include a multi-purpose gymnasium that will be programmable for soccer. Recreation's new building will be along Douglas Avenue adjacent to the pool. The Olympic Indoor Swim Center improvements will include program rooms and a gymnasium built west of the current pool building. All buildings will be unique in character and architecture. For more information please visit the See the plans page on the Your Voice Your Choice website.

Why is Lake Arlington getting a second path?

The second path at Lake Arlington will allow for the separation of wheeled and non-wheeled activities to improve user safety. The Park District is looking at adding a concentric path (where applicable) that would be an alternative surface type which would be more user friendly for walkers, runners and joggers.

How much will this cost me as a homeowner?

For a home with a market value of $300,000, the annual property tax increase will be on average $71/year for the next 25 years. In the first three years, 2012-2015, the increase will be lower, averaging about $26. Please visit the Reinvest page of this website to see how the Park District retires debt and how the new debt will impact you specifically.

Why do I need to vote for these renovations to happen?

The Park District does not have the funds available to complete these needed renovations and additions. Through this referendum the Park District Board of Commissioners is asking the community if it is a worthwhile idea to, through an increase in property taxes, complete these projects in a timely manner for the benefit of the entire community. This is each and every citizens opportunity to decide what the community wants its Park District to be.

Can't the Park District work with schools to use their gyms and fields?

The park district already has long-term agreements with every public school district in Arlington Heights from elementary to high school levels. Park programs for youth, adults and seniors are currently using school gym and athletic fields in every part of town. Even so, programs such as the Park District's youth basketball programs are still maxed out as teams are limited in available practice time and asked to share gymnasium space with other teams.

Is this proposal just for kids and sports?

No. The improvements are intended to answer needs of every age group and a variety of recreational pursuits. For example, in addition to some sports related renovations, the proposal also includes creative planning for more green space, indoor walking tracks, an additional path at Lake Arlington and more.

This is false. Commissioners reviewed qualifications and interviewed three architecture firms during Park Board meetings before selecting the current vendors.

I have learned recently that as part of the Rec Park overhaul, the Park District plans to relocate the ballfield by about 16 feet to have a new parking lot at a cost of about $1 million. What?

This figure is incorrect. The Legion ball field would be moved in order to create more usable green space in the center of the park at an estimated cost of $234,000, not one million.

What’s in store for Recreation Park?

The original building will remain standing and will be renovated for use as the bathhouse, which was its original purpose in 1939. A new community center will be constructed and it will include recreation programming space and a new gymnasium. A new youth activity pool will also be added. The grounds at Recreation Park will still be the home to the annual Frontier Days Festival, with construction scheduled so as not to disrupt any of the upcoming Festival celebrations. The Frontier Days committee is fully aware of these changes.

How will the renovations impact operating costs, staffing levels and program fees?

The Park District does not expect, nor is it planning to, increase full-time staffing levels because of the renovations. Since the expectation is that recreation programming will be increasing part-time staffing levels will increase, as the District will need to provide instructors for these additional programs. As is currently the case at the Pioneer Community Center, revenue from program fees held in this facility pay all of the direct costs of operating the programs and also cover the indirect costs (electric, heat, building maintenance, etc.,) of programs. Program fees will pay for the operational costs for the renovated buildings. The District will not have to increase program fees to cover these operational costs.

Is there money set aside in the referendum for the building at Hasbrook Park?

No, the referendum does not include funding for the Hasbrook Park building. The programs currently offered in this building will be shifted to Frontier Park and OIympic Park should there be approval of the referendum. If the referendum is approved, the Park District will meet with the neighbors of Hasbrook Park to collaborate on what should be done with the building. Currently, there are no plans for that building and the District will look to community input before any decision is made.

I understand that the average annual tax increase is $71 and the increase will average $26 more than I am currently paying, but how long will I have to pay it?

The bonds are for 25 years and will be paid off in 2037.

Was a plan considered that would not increase taxes after the referendum approved pool bonds are paid off in 2016?

Yes, the Board of Commissioners did consider such a plan. Unfortunately, the only way to accomplish the plans in the time period preferred is to ask the community for the funds through a referendum. The District does have the ability to sell bonds without referendum but that ability is limited by law. If that method were chosen the District could renovate/rebuild one building every 20 years.

How much open space will be lost to the new construction? For example, it appears as if the tennis courts at Olympic Park will be eliminated.

Most of the renovations and new building will be taking place in areas that are already an asphalt surface or in the area of a current building. Parking will have to be expanded at the facilities to comply with the requirements of the Village of Arlington Heights. The District will continue to work diligently to minimize the loss of open space as plans are finalized. The plan at Recreation Park actually adds open space to the middle of the park, the area currently being used for parking. Specifically, the tennis courts at Olympic will be moved to a new location in the park to accommodate the required expanded parking but will remain at Olympic.

Will the new cardio equipment at Olympic require a membership (like at Forest View) and how many pieces will there be?

The plan is for this exercise area to be a drop-in type of operation. There will be 5-10 pieces of cardio equipment such as stationary bicycles, ellipticals and treadmills that will be available to residents as they are using the Olympic indoor Swim Center. There will be no membership required and no fee charged.

How was the schedule for upgrades determined?

The schedule for completion is very aggressive and designed to get all of the improvements completed as quickly as possible. The Park District will continue to operate all of its programs and services during construction so a rolling schedule was decided upon. Camelot will be completed by June 2014 and was chosen to go first because of the requirements of the grant received for this work. Olympic will also be completed in June 2014 since construction there will not displace any current programs and can then operate as a replacement facility for programs disrupted by subsequent construction. Frontier will be completed in June 2015 as the work will immediately follow the work in the park (not related to the referendum) that will start next year. Recreation will be complete in June 2016. Construction will actually start at Rec Park in 2014 as this work is phased and accommodates the needs of Frontier Days. Park work will start in 2014 and building construction in 2015 to complete the work by 2016. Heritage will be complete by June 2017.

How were the decisions about Heritage Park made and why?

At the conclusion of the referendum for park improvements held in March 2012 the Arlington Heights Park District received a significant amount of feedback. Most prevalent among the comments was that the request was for too much money. Since the need for facilities improvements is still strong, the Board of Commissioners set out to determine a path that would reduce the cost and still provide needed improvements in the short term while setting the Park District on a path to successfully addressing long term needs.

The Park Board held several public meetings throughout the spring and summer of 2012 related to possible options for the Park District. The process of determining the components of the fall 2012 referendum package concluded with a vote of the Board of Commissioners at their August 14, 2012 meeting. At that point staff began the process of developing the informational materials you now see on the website.

Since building and facility needs are the first priority of these renovations the Board looked carefully at all of the master plans. In general, the Board views the entire Park District as one community with several different amenities available throughout the community to all residents.

In looking closely at the plans for Heritage Park it is apparent that a higher percentage and dollar amount allocated for this plan calls for improvements to the grounds because of the need to relocate the building. This relocation of external elements is necessary in order to fit the size of the building on to the site per the requests and consensus of the local residents (as determined during earlier Park District meetings with residents throughout 2009-2011). Unlike other community centers, it is not possible to add on to the existing building because of the layout of the building and its proximity to the pool and the street. This does not mean that Heritage Park is forgotten and excluded.

As discussed at all of the community information meetings the shorter term solution is for the community to decide whether or not the referendum plan is acceptable. The longer term solution is for the Board of Commissioners to use non-referendum bonds to pay for the improvements. The timeline for construction pending referendum approval calls for all work, including the renovations to the existing facility at Heritage, to be completed by June 2017. By setting the work for Heritage to be at the end of the referendum approved construction cycle allows the Board the most flexibility to use remaining referendum bond funds and other funds (both those normally available to the Park District as well as potential future grants) to determine the best renovations that can be afforded by 2017.

If the referendum were to fail the Board would be faced with Improving and maintaining facilities with less funding available. At this time it appears that the Camelot Community Center would be the first building to be renovated so the Park District can match the Illinois Department of Natural Resources $2.5 million matching grant awarded for this work.

Using non-referendum bond funding, in this fashion, to complete the other facilities would require a spread of 15-20 years between renovation projects. If Heritage were to be second on this list of improvements it’s expected completion date would be, at the earliest, sometime in 2029. But that would mean the other community centers would then wait approximately 15-20 years after that date. For instance, Recreation Park would be 90 years old in 2029. If a different park were selected for renovation in 2029 the Rec Park would not be eligible for funding to renovate until approximately 2049 when it would be 110 years old.

Hopefully, the above has shed some light on how these complicated decisions were made and the potential for future equally complicated choices in the future. Should you have any additional questions please let me know.

What is the Park District’s debt limit?

The referendum is not to expand and increase the debt limit of the Park District. It is for the community to decide if the Park District should sell bonds in the amount of $39 million to make capital improvements to facilities and parks.

The Park District’s debt limit is established by state law and cannot be changed by a vote of the local community. State law says that a Park District can incur debt up to 2.875% of the District’s equalized assessed valuation (the value of all taxable property within its corporate limits). For Arlington Heights that limit is $85,232,610. The Park District has current debt of $24,117,547, which leaves a legal debt margin of $61,115,063.

The legal debt limit for non-referendum bonds is .575% of assessed valuation. Non-Referendum Limited General Obligation Park Bonds are bonds that are secured by the full faith and credit of the issuer. The debt service on these bonds for Arlington Heights Park District is limited to $1,937,237 per year with an annual increase based on the Consumer Price Index.

The Park District’s non-referendum legal debt limit is $17,046,522, which is a part of the debt limit defined above. Also included in the current Park District debt described above is the $12,240,000 of non-referendum debt, leaving $4,806,522 of non-referendum bonding authority.

Currently, the Park District’s debt is 15.3% of the total operating budget. This would rise to approximately 16.5% should the referendum be approved. In comparison with 15 similar park districts in the suburban area their average debt to operating budget is 17.5%

What do you mean by "one-stop" fitness experience?

Community-wide surveys have found that walking is the #1 activity for residents and that 9 out of 10 residents would like to participate in more types of physical fitness (aerobics, cardio, etc.) but that they may not necessarily have the time to do so.

To use a specific example of how the district could address these needs in a "one-stop" fitness scenario, a study this year of parents who wait for their children during swim lessons at Olympic Pool found that if an elevated track and/or fitness facilities were added on to that building 12% would not use such facilities; 24% might use them; and, 64% would use those fitness options. The plan calls for an elevated walking track and fitness room at Olympic Indoor Swim Center. The fitness room would have 5-10 pieces of cardio equipment and the equipment and track would be available on a drop in basis.

I support some of the improvements but not all. Will there be meetings on the way an approved referendum will be allocated?

As has always been the practice and tradition of the Park District, neighborhood and user meetings will be held to help fully develop all of the plans for all of the improvements. These meetings will be held in a time period prior to any decision being made by the Board of Commissioners so all comments and opinions can be given significant thought.

The athletics fields at Sunset Meadows are only a few years old and others in the "bowl" are not used anymore. Why are you asking for improvements so soon?

Sunset Meadows was opened in 2008 for use for football and soccer. The issue has become the quality of the natural turf and trying to get it to support soccer in the spring and football in the fall. It is very difficult to restore natural turf in the time period between the end of football in the fall and soccer in the spring. In fact, the only soccer use that Sunset Meadows gets in the spring is a few kindergarten level games because the turf will not support more play. The addition of synthetic turf to these two lighted fields will allow them to be used throughout the spring for many soccer games, will improve the quality of the experience for all users and will improve the football experience and usability as well. The bowl on the east is used for the golf driving range and the bowl in the west is used for the sled hill. It is not used, on a scheduled basis, for athletic play because of the poor quality of the turf and the difficulty and cost of maintaining that turf because it is a storm water detention basin.

What are the dimensions of the three walking tracks? Are they oval or are you walking back and forth on the side of a basketball court?

The walking tracks will be elevated and will go around the interior circumference of the gymnasiums at Camelot, Frontier and Olympic. The Camelot and Olympic tracks will be about 15 laps per mile and the Frontier track will be about 12 laps per mile. Each track will have 3 lanes for walking, jogging and running.

So is the tax increase $71 or $1700?

Here are the quick facts (all based on a home with a market value of $300,000):

The average cost per year to pay back the new bonds is $71, about $5.90 per month
The increase over your current tax payments to the Park District is $26, about $2.20 per month
If you think of this as a cost over the entire 25 years to repay the bonds the total cost is $1775, still about $5.90 per month

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Arlington Heights Park District
410 N. Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: 847-577-3000
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Referendum - 11/06/12

Questions And Answers

Aquatics

Arlington Park

Athletics

Before and After School

Camps

Cancelled Programs

Directions

Dogs

Emerald Ash Borer

Employment

Forest View Raquet & Fitness Club

Garden Plot

Heritage Tennis Club

Hours

New Address

North School Park Fountain

Preschool

Registration

Rental

Resident

Soccer

Swim Classes

Vandalism / Maintenance

Walking Track

Referendum - 11/06/12

Can't find what you are looking for?

Facility Locator Find an AHPD location and hours

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