Remove 'Cloud' Over Elmhurst Parks In Bandshell Dispute: Official

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst park board argued again this week over how to gather local feedback for the site of a proposed bandshell, with a member suggesting a park district official created the problem in the first place.

Many residents oppose putting the bandshell east of the Wilder Mansion, saying it would block the sight lines for the iconic building.

In May, four of the seven park board members supported the location because they said it was included in the map of Wilder Park improvements before the district's successful November referendum. Voters approved letting the district go into debt by $90 million for park district improvements, including the bandshell.

At Monday's park board meeting, member Vince Spaeth said the district never surveyed residents for bandshell site options in Wilder Park. And he noted a new district survey on the proposed bandshell and other Wilder improvements failed to include a location question.

Because the park district has not asked, a local group recently put out a survey to gauge opinions on the location, letting people choose among four sites. According to the group, the vast majority of the more than 250 participants chose sites other than the one east of the mansion.

At the meeting, Jim Rogers, the park district's executive director, said he must respect the will of the board majority, noting what members said in May.

As a board employee, Rogers said he was put in a "tough spot" when a board member suggested going in a different direction from the majority.

Spaeth agreed that Rogers was in a tough spot.

"But you kind of created it from the beginning, frankly," he said.

He said a consultant recommended the location without the district seeking residents' feedback.

Board member Susan Smentek questioned the criticism about seeking feedback for the location. She said the board did not gather local opinions on the site of the new Wagner Community Center, the referendum's biggest project. The structure is going in roughly the same spot as the current Wagner, which is being torn down.

Member Carolyn Ubriaco called Wagner and the bandshell a "false comparison." She said moving Wagner to another spot in Berens Park would require doing away with an amenity.

By contrast, Wilder Park is like no other, which means the district should take its time with any changes, she said.

Smentek replied, "Thank you for belittling my comment."

"I'm not belittling it," Ubriaco said.

"Yes, you discounted it," Smentek said.

Spaeth called the existing survey "convoluted" and suggested a new one including a question about the location.

"To rely on (the survey) in any shape or form just keeps the cloud over us," he said.

He said he wanted the board to have consensus on the final information, which would let the park board "stand tall" with residents.

About the tension, Spaeth said, "We've never been like this before. That's because we're disagreeing, and we don't feel like something's fair. Let's clean that up, and let's stand together again."

Board members said they could include a question on location in a second planned survey on the bandshell and Wilder Park improvements. That questionnaire is expected in September.

The board is set to hear the results of the first survey, which closes Friday, at its Aug. 11 meeting.

No formal vote has been taken on the bandshell site.