Washington Park Project Praised by Park District, Village Officials

Washington Park officially re-opened Sunday, Sept. 19, with children throwing pennies into the splendid three-tier fountain.

It was a wishful end to what Park Board President Bob Gelwicks said had started with a dream.

"One of the dreams had to do with a fountain and the other had to do with the village approaching us, the park district, with their stormwater detention problem," he said.

"We formed an intergovermental agreement and a true partnership was developed to save taxpayer dollars and improve the stormwater infrastructure within our community," Gelwicks said, noting the new park facilities were also part of the agreement.

Sandack commended the park neighbors for their patience during the two-year project, saying "eventually they're going to be the real beneficiaries of this."

"When you walk through this wonderful new park, you're going to see new equipment, new destinational draws and some really wonderful fields, but I'm going to look at it a little different," Sandack said.

"Frankly, I'm looking forward to the next big rain once we get our systems hooked in here, because in addition to being a state-of-the-art destination park it's a regional stormwater detention for all those rains we seem to have."

Sandack predicted partnerships such as the village's IGA with the park district will be increasingly necessary in the future.

"Taxpayer dollars are limited. Resources, however  have to be maximized and partnerships and sharing arrangements are required," he said. "This is an example of a great sharing arrangement."

Visitors to the ceremony enjoyed refreshments from the Lemon Tree Grocer, 5101 Mochel Drive, free park district frisbees and music by the American Wind Band brass.