Title
Doogan Park Redevelopment Plan
History
On August 21, 2023, staff presented a conceptual plan (attached) for the redevelopment of Doogan Park to the Committee of the Whole (COTW). The initial plan included 10 lighted pickleball courts, a restroom building with two restrooms, two bocce ball courts, a playground, pavilion, half-basketball court, sledding hill, 360’ x 210’ soccer field, 60’ baseline baseball field and parking lot improvements.
The COWT unanimously approved recommending the concept to the Village Board.
On September 5, 2023, the Village Board approved the conceptual plan.
The development of the conceptual plan was the result of input derived from a public engagement session on July 12, 2023, as well as input from the August 1, 2023 Recreation Advisory Board (RAB) meeting.
Specifically, postcards were mailed to 259 residents living with 1000’ of Doogan Park inviting them to an engagement meeting. Additionally, staff connected with the pickleball community encouraging participants to attend the meeting.
Wight & Co., along with Village staff, hosted the public engagement session to garner input on two conceptual plans for the redevelopment of Doogan Park. Approximately 37 attended providing a variety of input related to pickleball, a playground, parking, vandalism concerns and other potential park elements.
Wight & Co. incorporated this input into a second concept which was presented to the RAB during the August 1, 2023, meeting. Approximately 17 attended the meeting providing additional input on the Doogan Park redevelopment plan. This included expressing appreciation for taking public input into consideration, a desire to include infrastructure to support the installation of lights for the pickleball complex, interest in providing input to the playground, a desire to include a half basketball court in phase I, concern of a future skate park at Doogan Park and a desire to add one additional bocce ball court for a total of two.
The RAB unanimously approved the plan specifically noting that the aforementioned items be considered in the final plan.
In January 2024, staff learned the Doogan Park project was awarded a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grant in support of this redevelopment.
On October 7, 2024, the Village Board approved awarding RFP #24-059 to Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD (CBBEL) to develop and provide construction and engineering documents to retain a general contractor for the projects. This includes developing the final concept layout that will be utilized as a basis to develop construction and engineering documents that will be used to bid the project out in 2025.
Village and CBBEL staff have collectively worked to develop an updated redevelopment plan (attached) for consideration by the Committee of the Whole. Changes from the original concept include: the removal of the bocce ball courts and sledding hill, the addition of a detention basin and lights for the two existing tennis courts. Please note, the removal of the bocce ball courts, and sledding hill are pending approval by the State related to the OSLAD grant.
In recent years, due to a lack of use, bocce ball courts have been removed from some Village parks. Removing these courts from the redevelopment of Doogan Park results in a cost savings of approximately $12,000.
The sledding hill was removed to allow for a detention basin on the SW corner of the property. This will allow stormwater to drain to this basin while eliminating the need for additional storm sewer structures.
The geotechnical report of Doogan Park indicates unsuitable soils under the proposed pickleball courts, parking lots and restroom/shelter building. Remediations to these areas are estimated at $211,000 for pickleball court underdrains, $25,000 for new areas of the parking lots and $55,000 for 8’ deep footings for the restroom building. Undertaking these remediations is optional and will be bid as alternates in the final plans. If not included, the parking lot and pickleball courts would require similar maintenance that is currently undertaken. The restroom building could be impacted by settling.
CBBEL has provided a cost estimate of $3,164,573.90 for the project. An 8% contingency which is typical of a project of this size and scope totals $253,165.91, bringing the total project cost to $3,417,739.81. Specific details are summarized in the attached. This cost estimate is based on the reduced scope.
In 2025 funds are budgeted in Capital Improvements, Natural Resources and Facilities (NRF) and Recreation and Parks as follows:
2025 Funding
Capital
Doogan Park Construction: $2,500,00
Natural Resources and Facilities
Pavilion: $40,000
Playground: $250,000
ComEd Transformer Relocation: $125,000
Stormwater Repairs: $250,000
Recreation & Parks Athletics Division
Athletic Court and Field Repairs, Improvement, Enhancements: $135,000
Total: $3,300,000
The 2026 Capital Budget includes $340,000 for pickleball court lighting and windscreens bringing total available funding to $3,640,000. Please note, infrastructure work is planned for 2025 in support of adding the light fixtures, including the two existing tennis courts in 2026.
Additionally, 2026 Capital funds include an additional $175,000 for construction oversight. An RFP will be issued to solicit proposals from qualified firms to provide this service.
The majority of work is expected to be accomplished in 2025. The complex is anticipated to open in the spring of 2026. The OSLAD deadline is March 31, 2026.
Work is not expected to negatively impact athletic group users. Baseball/softball groups will be scheduled to use one the Village’s other 36 baseball/softball fields. St. Michael’s will continue to utilize Centennial Park for the 2025 season.
A public hearing was held with the Village Plan Commission on April 15, 2025. The Plan Commission explored issues related to hours of usage, parking, flooding, a crosswalk, whether the public was engaged in the final park design, the number of restrooms serving the pickleball courts and increased traffic in the neighborhood.
• Pickleball court hours will be discussed at an upcoming Recreation Advisory Board meeting(s) The Plan Commission suggested hours of 8am - 9pm. Hours will ultimately be brought to the Village Board for consideration and approval.
• Two restrooms are planned adjacent to the new courts. The Plan Commission suggested additional restrooms, however, this would substantially increase the project cost and exceed available funding.
• Total available parking will include 137 spaces, 5 above what is required by code.
• The new detention basin is expected to alleviate flooding which occurs after heavy rain.
• A crosswalk along Park Lane would negatively affect resident driveways. Park lane is curved to the north and south making a crossway unsafe in these locations. As such, plans do not include a crosswalk.
• It was noted by the Plan Commission that previous use of the site including the former library, subsequent Cultural Center and Robert Davidson Center all resulted in moderate traffic volume with minimal impact to the subdivision. Traffic is expected to be similar outside of peak periods.
Staff seek approval for the final plan (attached) including 10 lighted pickleball courts, adding lighting to the existing tennis courts, a restroom building with shaded gathering area, the redevelopment of the soccer field and baseball field, a playground, half basketball court, a looped trail, improvements/expansion of the north and south parking lots, landscape improvements, detention basin and all amenities (e.g. fencing, nets, benches) in support of the redevelopment.
Staff will work to issue bid documents and specifications to solicit a general contractor to redevelop Doogan Park with Board approval of the redevelopment plan.
On April 7, 2025, this item was reviewed and approved by the Committee of the Whole and referred to the Board for approval.
Financial Impact
$2,500,000 is budgeted in 300000 570700, $290,000 in 1008010 470250, $125,000 1008010 570100, $250,000 in 5008170 570500 and $135,000 in 2009100 443250. The 2026 Capital Budget includes $340,000 for the pickleball lighting and windscreens, as well as $175,000 for construction oversite. The Village was awarded a $600,000 reimbursable OSLAD grant in support of this project.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve the redevelopment of Doogan Park including 10 lighted pickleball courts, adding lighting to the existing tennis courts, a restroom building with shaded gathering area, the redevelopment of the soccer field and baseball field, a playground, half basketball court, a looped trail, improvements/expansion of the north and south parking lots, landscape improvements, detention basin and all amenities in support of the redevelopment.