Proposed Naperville Park District Referendum 'Will Be Divisive:' Fry Family YMCA

NAPERVILLE, IL — Fry Family YMCA is urging the Naperville Park District to "pause" its expansion plans, which include a new aquatic center. In a letter shared Wednesday, by Fry Family YMCA administration, the organization said the proposed $135 million bond referendum will be "divisive."

The park district is in the process of weighing whether to put a bond referendum question on the March 2026 ballot. Community open houses were held in October, followed by public surveys.

The proposed expansions include site improvements at Country Lakes Park, Nike Sports Complex and Wolf’s Crossing Community Park. The bond referendum would allocate funding for a new activity center at Frontier Sports Complex.

Per preliminary plans shared by the park district, the new activity center would include an eight-lane lap pool, a warm water therapy pool and an activity pool with water play features. Other elements include gymnasiums, an indoor playground, a track for walking and jogging, tumbling and gymnastic spaces and rooms for group fitness and exercising.

In their letter, Fry Family YMCA representatives said they agree more indoor recreation is needed in the city, but urged the park district to "rethink its plans and collaborate with partners from across the community to scale and adjust its proposed facility improvement plan."

"Proceeding to a referendum at this time will be divisive, and we believe there is a smarter way
forward," the letter said.

The proposed activity center was at the heart of much of the opposition presented by Fry Family The District’s pending plan spends 86% of the referendum resources south of 95th Street to constructa 138,000-square-foot fitness and aquatic complex at Frontier Park. The proposed facility is 3,800 feet from the Fry Family YMCA, which has served the community since 1995, and is approximately 4,100 feet from a new private facility under construction. There are numerous other operations across the community offering various forms of fitness, recreation, training, and wellness services, as well."

The letter also cited property tax increases and other expenses as a concern. "Every property owner in Naperville will have to financially support the $120 million indoor recreation and three-pool facility, regardless of whether they use it or its programming."

Homeowners can use click the link to see the referendum's estimated property tax impact.

The letter concluded, "Over the years, we have discussed how the Fry Family YMCA could be augmented to assist the Park District in providing indoor recreation in south Naperville. We remain willing to explore further whether this type of partnership could be a more cost-effective solution for adding indoor space south of 95th Street and for reserving community resources for future central and east Naperville expansions. We remain open to thoroughly vetting this opportunity. While we have a difference of opinion at the moment, we remain deeply grateful for our decades-long partnership. We know that we will continue to collaborate for the benefit of the families and residents we serve.