ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Monday, the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District Board of Commissioners heard an update from Executive Director Jackee Ohlinger on its Helms Park project. 

The project is aimed at changing Helms Park to more of a park district-like use. The grounds were acquired by the park district in 2002 after they were no longer utilized by Rochelle Township High School. Public meetings have been held recently on the project to solicit feedback. The park district circulated a survey locally on what the community would like to see at the site, which received around 700 responses. 

The concept plan for the site includes the football, baseball and softball fields remaining with continued enhancements, a fitness area on the southern corner of the property near The REC Center, a multi-sport court with a rubber surface for soccer, volleyball and basketball, a universal play space, a skate park on the northeast corner of the property, tennis courts and pickleball courts, a pavilion and restrooms, new parking, batting cages, a walking path and green space. The plans are not yet finalized. Current work at the park includes the removal of the track around the football field, painting at the stadium, and crack repair and new nets and wind screens at the tennis courts. The green shed at the location will also be removed.

The park district recently submitted an Open Space Lands Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grant application for the project for matching funds of $600,000, but was notified recently that it will not be receiving those funds. Ohlinger has said in the past that the grant funds would impact the project's scope, size, and timeline, but the park district wasn't counting on the funds for the project and would be able to do it without them.

"After that news, we are reworking our design plans and things like that to move forward," Ohlinger said. "That will take a little bit of time as we're into the outdoor season."

Spring Lake

Ohlinger provided an update on the status of Spring Lake as the summer months approach. The park district is currently looking at a long list of projects at the pool facility including: cleaning and maintenancing the pool heater, landscaping, purchasing a reserve pool pump, water slide sealing, replacement of chemical pumps, recaulking pools, crack filling and painting of pools, and speaker replacement.

Over the winter, the park district may replace a pool heater with three smaller heaters. 

Server

The board unanimously approved the purchase of a server not to exceed $18,000, and a hosting services agreement for not to exceed $10,000. Ohlinger said the expenditures were due to increased activity at the park district. 

"In the last six years, we've had considerable growth here," Ohlinger said. "Which has resulted in increased demand on our IT infrastructure and our current servers can no longer efficiently support them."

Mower

The board unanimously approved the purchase of an Exmark zero turn mower for $16,399. After the district's trade in, the cost of the expenditure will be $9,845.