Elmhurst Bandshell Battle May Come To End With Vote

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst park board is expected to vote Monday on where to build a bandshell at Wilder Park, settling a months-long battle.

In December, the Elmhurst Park District released the results of its survey about the bandshell's site.

Seventy percent favored the ice rink site north of Wilder Mansion, while the rest chose the lawn east of the iconic building.

In May, the board majority said it had already been established that the bandshell should be on the lawn east of the mansion. They said the spot was included in maps in literature before voters approved $90 million in park district projects.

But at least two members said they didn't know that the board had settled on a site. They said consultants had selected it.

In later meetings, residents showed up to protest the east lawn site, saying it would block the sight lines to the mansion.

In a letter to the editor Tuesday, Andrea Hutchinson, one of the leaders in the resistance to the east lawn site, said she has seen indications that suggest a park board majority still supports that site.

If that happens, she said, the board would be "seemingly disregarding the expressed will of the community."

"Will the Park Board honor the clearly stated preferences of the citizens it serves — or will it impose the personal preferences of commissioners over the voices of the many?" Hutchinson said.

The board's debates over the location have been heated, even getting personal in July and August.

The park board meets at 7 p.m. Monday at Wilder Mansion.