What’s Wrong With The Elmhurst Park District Board – And Whose Interests Are They Serving?

This letter to the editor is from Elmhurst resident Andrea Hutchinson:

In November 2024, Elmhurst residents made a significant commitment to their community. Voters approved a $90 million referendum — accepting a meaningful tax increase — to support beautiful and functional public spaces. The funding included $85 million for a new Wagner Community Center, $2.5 million for a bandshell at Wilder Park, and $2.5 million for four smaller projects. As is often the case, however, the details matter.

Notably, the voter-approved referendum described the proposed bandshell only in terms of cost and provided no further details beyond stating that it would be a “bandshell with year-round heated restrooms at Wilder Park.” There was no mandate regarding where the structure should be placed within Wilder Park.

Despite this, a majority of the Park District Board has resisted public input on the bandshell’s location while repeatedly pushing for its preferred site on the lawn east of the historic Wilder Mansion. This placement would significantly obstruct views of the mansion and permanently alter one of Elmhurst’s most treasured landscapes.

Built in 1868, Wilder Mansion is widely regarded as the cultural heart of Elmhurst. Each week, thousands of residents, students, churchgoers, and visitors enjoy its iconic view from Cottage Hill Avenue. To compromise this setting would be to irreversibly diminish one of the community’s most valued historic assets.

By contrast, Elmhurst residents have spoken clearly. In the Park District’s own recent survey, an overwhelming 70% of respondents – taxpayers funding the project – favored the alternative “Ice Rink Location,” situated north of the mansion. This site previously housed an ice-skating rink prior to 1990 and offers numerous, well-reasoned advantages.

The Ice Rink Location preserves unobstructed views of Wilder Mansion for current and future generations. It keeps the heart of Wilder Park open and green, maintaining its beauty and sense of calm. It separates event-related traffic from nearby schools and churches, improving safety and accessibility. It also allows the bandshell to face north, reducing noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. In short, it is the more thoughtful and community-minded choice.

Yet despite these clear survey results, the issue remains unresolved. Although a discussion of the survey findings was listed on the agenda for the Park Board’s December 8 meeting, they received minimal discussion. Indications suggest that a majority of commissioners may still support the East Lawn Location, seemingly disregarding the expressed will of the community.

The Park Board is scheduled to vote on the final bandshell location at its January 12 meeting. The question before Elmhurst residents is both simple and consequential: 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?

Now is the time for residents to speak up. Attend the January 12 Park Board meeting. Submit public comments. Contact Park Board commissioners directly and urge them to respect the results of their own survey.

Elmhurst residents approved this referendum in good faith, trusting the Park District to act transparently and in the community’s best interest. The Board must demonstrate that trust was not misplaced. A decision of this magnitude demands accountability, responsiveness, and respect for the will of the people.