Chart Our Future City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation Master Plan | Page 114

Foundation and
Park Board Input
The following summary is an overview of input received from the joint board workshop completed by the Friends of Lake
Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation and Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Board.
The seven-member Parks and Recreation Board and
approximately 10 members of the Friends of
Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation
met on June 19th to provide suggestions for the
Department’s direction over the next 10 years.
Participants were asked to approach the question
from their perspectives as residents and users of
the parks and recreation amenities and as elected
officials or volunteers. Each person contributed the
three ideas most important to them and the group
voted on the ideas to determine which had the
most support.
Indoor Space and Facilities
The Friends and Board members had numerous
suggestions for indoor space improvements and
rated the category of Expand Indoor Space as
the second highest priority. Within this category,
suggestions included updating and expanding the
entire Recreation Center to add multipurpose space
and improve the fitness center and locker rooms.
Participants also suggested new indoor amenities
for the City including indoor turf for multiple sports,
an ice rink, and an indoor pool/aquatics center.
Indoor ice specifically was the third most supported
suggestion while indoor pool also received a small
number of votes. Through group discussion, it was
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determined that these amenities would require
a new facility which could be located at Townline
Park. This category received a small number of
votes as well.
Programs
The Friends and Board members had few
suggestions for the Parks and Recreation
Department programs. One suggestion was made
that the number of programs for families could
be expanded. A few people commented on the
Kinderhaven program, suggesting that space is
expanded at its current location.
Parks and Open Space
Participants had several recommendations for Lake
Forest parks and outdoor amenities. Providing
high-quality sports fields was widely suggested and
adding outdoor fields with synthetic turf and sports
lighting was the most highly prioritized suggestion.
with both Townline Community Park and Deerpath
Community Park recommended as field locations.
In addition to or instead of these improvements,
some participants suggested the City focus on filed
drainage to improve quality.
CITY OF LAKE FOREST PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
A number of other outdoor amenities were
proposed at the workshop including improving
and adding outdoor ice rinks, adding a sled hill,
adding an amphitheater, and providing bottle fillers
at drinking fountains. A few general comments
about park condition were also received regarding
maintenance and cleanliness expectations and an
interest in eco-friendly herbicide and fertilizer.
Friends and Board members also had a few
comments about adding and improving paths,
both within parks, and throughout the City.
Specifically, Waveland Park was mentioned as
needing improvements and better connectivity for
both bikes and walking was mentioned as a general
need.
Beach
As with the other groups, the Forest Park Beach
was classified as a separate category from the other
open space. Most of the comments regarding the
beach focused on adding indoor space for storage,
programming, and a restaurant. One participant
also suggested changes to beach access regulations
during the weekdays while another commented on
the importance of good maintenance.
CHAPTER 4