Bandshell Battle: Elmhurst Park Officials Strike Compromise

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst park board members have apparently achieved something that has eluded them for months – compromise.

At a meeting late last month, board members generally agreed to spend $12,000 for the park district's consultants to create the designs for two possible sites for a bandshell at Wilder Park. A vote is expected Monday.

The agreed-upon process involves a second survey on the bandshell, allowing residents to compare the sites. The first survey failed to include a question on the site, an issue that has split the board for months.

The two finalists for location are Wilder Mansion's east lawn and the old ice rink site.

In May, a 4-3 board majority favored the site east of the mansion, but members took no vote. Since then, many residents have opposed the location, saying it would interrupt the sight lines to the iconic building.

In November, voters approved $90 million for park district improvements, including the bandshell.

At the Aug. 25 board meeting, all members present but board President Kevin Graf said they were for spending the $12,000.

"Good compromise, good discussion, I like it," said member Vince Spaeth, who was in the minority in May.

Graf, who was in the majority, said he wants the "referendum location."

"But I'll go with the board's direction," he said.

In a Facebook post last week, member Carolyn Ubriaco wrote about references on social media to the "referendum site." She said the referendum's language for the Wilder bandshell listed no specific site.

She said Jim Rogers, the district's executive director, mentioned the site near the mansion during speeches around town before the referendum.

"The Elmhurst Park District executive director speaking to a group does not a board action make," Ubriaco said. "It is beyond the Elmhurst Park District executive director’s Executive Limitations to simply speak a board action into existence, regardless of the size, audience, or nature of the group and even if an underlying statement was videotaped and shared on YouTube."

The $12,000 is in addition to the consultants' original $44,870, which the board approved in April.