As part of the Sycamore Park District’s long-range plan—VISION 20/20—the success of completing all the projects found in the plan were tied to three key sources of revenue:
- At least $1.1 million in FUNDRAISING
- At least $3 million in GRANTS
- A Successful Referendum
“We intentionally tried to create a plan that was not entirely resting on the back of property tax payers”, says Sycamore Park District Board Treasurer, Ann Tucker. The park district spelled this out clearly in over 70 public meetings and presentations leading up to last November’s successful referendum.
“Now the fundraising must begin”, said Board President Ted Strack, who Chairs the Fundraising Group for the park district. “In creating our pro-active plan to accomplish VISION 20/20, the Board has formulated ACTION 2020”, says Board Vice President Michelle Schulz. We are putting together a strategy that we hope will make the park district successful.
This spring, the park district will complete and submit the first three of several grants they will apply for over the next five years. “Staff is working diligently to pull together all the engineering studies, budgets, and site plans necessary for the submittal of these grants”, explains Executive Director Daniel Gibble. Funding for all of these grants was not sacrificed in the recent compromise budget passed in Springfield and signed by Governor Rauner.
Treasurer Tucker indicates that those grants will go a long way toward the $3 million goal we have set, and the Fundraising Group will focus on local support to raise the $1.1 million needed to be paired with the grants and referendum dollars necessary for the entire VISION 20/20 plan to become a reality by the year 2020.
“Even our Executive Director has gotten into the action”, Strack said. “Daniel Gibble has said he will allow his head to be shaved at a Regular Board meeting in 2016 if we raise $1.1 million in the next twelve months!!!” Other members serving on the Fundraising Group, besides Gibble and Strack, include Ann Tucker, Board Treasurer, and Jackie Hienbuecher, Superintendent of Finance for the park district. The group has had great support from the DeKalb County Community Foundation, as well.
“So many people have asked me when we are going to get started on the projects proposed by the park district in its long-range plan: Vision 20/20”, says Sycamore Park District Board Vice President, Michelle Schulz.
Such is the dilemma after a successful November 4, 2014 referendum in which the community of Sycamore voted in favor of a tax rate referendum to carry out Vision 20/20. Ted Strack, Board President, reminds citizens that the referendum passed last year, but we won’t see the first of the new revenue until later in 2015. “In addition, there are a number of steps we must take before we will have enough funds available to issue the bonds we will need to complete the projects.”
The Sycamore Park District has not been wasting time, however. In the meantime, they have begun reviewing budgets, creating timelines, and, most importantly, preparing for what it feels is the most important aspect of the planning for the future: Citizen Involvement. Two citizen committees have already formed for the Dog Park and Splashpad projects in ACTION 2020.
“If all moves without unforeseeable delays”, says Daniel Gibble, Executive Director of the Sycamore Park District, “we hope our projects will take place in the following timeline:”
ACTION 2020 PROJECT TIMELINE SUMMARY | |||
Citizen | |||
Committees | Construction | GRAND | |
Report to Board | Begins | OPENING | |
TRAIL: Old Mill to Brickville | n/a | Summer 2016 | Spring 2017 |
SPORTS COMPLEX: South | Continue w/Affiliates | Spring 2017 | Fall 2018 |
SPORTS COMPLEX: North | Continue w/Affiliates | Fall 2018 | Spring 2020 |
COMMUNITY CENTER: | Feb-16 | Summer 2017 | Winter 2018-19 |
@ Splashpad | Mar-16 |
| Summer 2019 |
@ Dog Park | Mar-16 |
| Fall 2019 |
@ Sled Hill | Mar-16 |
| Winter 2019-20 |
TRAIL: Sycamore Park-Old Mill | Dec-16 | Summer 2018 | Spring 2019 |
GOLF IRRIGATION | Aug-18 | Fall 2019 | Summer 2020 |
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