Rocky Relations In Darien Cast Aside With Meeting

DARIEN, IL – In most states, parks are a city government function, but in Illinois, that's often not the case.

In Darien, the city is separate from the Darien Park District. Both have their own elected boards.

Last week, the City Council met with the park board to smooth relations between the two entities. They've encountered difficulties before.

In a joint statement afterward, the entities called the meeting "a highly productive joint brainstorming session."

"While the City and the Park District are separate taxing entities, their missions are fundamentally intertwined with the well-being of the residents each serves," the statement said. "The spirit of cooperation was outstanding, with all attendees eager to continue this momentum."

The government bodies pledged to focus on coordinating community events. This, they said, would "maximize exposure for resident participation and enjoyment without duplication."

They also said they would enhance communications by establishing formal channels for regular dialogue between elected officials in both organizations.

They said they plan to hold follow-up meetings.

In a story last month, Patch recounted some of the rough spots in the entities' relationship over the last five years.