South Cook News

City of Palos Heights Recreation Committee met Feb. 11

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Key called the regular meeting of the Recreation Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Palos Heights City Hall, 7607 W. College Drive. In attendance were Chairman Key, Alderman Basso and Alderman Brennan. Also present were Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Joe Smith, Superintendent of Recreation Rachel Bauer, Lake Katherine Director Gareth Blakesley, recording secretary Morgan Pukula and guest, Superintendent Dr. Merryl Brownlow.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Chairman Key motioned to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2025 meeting, seconded by Alderman Basso. On a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

LAKE KATHERINE REPORT

Lake Katherine Director Gareth Blakesley reported:

• The membership program being developed, is due to be open in April.

• We’ve had 6 Canada Geese deaths due to the Avian flu outbreak in a one-week period, whose symptoms were consistent with HPAI. State biologists have been notified and they consider any ‘unusual’ or ‘infrequent’ mortalities to be a result of the Avian flu. We are abiding by IDPH clean up protocols as well, because there is a small chance it can be transmitted to humans.

• Volunteers and staff did trail cleaning near Harlem Avenue and on the bike trail west of Lake Katherine.

• Fitness February was held on February 8th, with 20 participants who joined staff for a guided 2 mile walk, followed by yoga with the ‘Do Good Movement’

• We had 3 gently used double kayaks that were donated by the nature conservancy.

• Staff worked with CivicPlus to redo the website for a cleaner look and easier navigation.

• The Trailhead Parking Lot official opening is March 25th at noon. All the aldermen are invited to attend.

• Our Christmas tree drop off was completed and these trees will be chipped and distributed throughout the grounds.

• Education classes and programs:

○ Staff met with Palos Heights Public Library youth department to discuss nature backpack partnerships and host a scout event.

○ Staff attended animal care meetings and volunteers were trained on animal care.

○ We attended the EEAI roundtable at Morton Arboretum to teach about climate change to their youth programs.

○ Little Explorers offered 1 session on tracks and scat, 2 sessions on space and the night sky, and 1 session on ice experiments. Junior Explorers offered 1 session on snowshoeing, 1 session on winter outdoor skills and 1 session on ice experiments. Nature Tots offered 3 sessions about animals in the snow.

PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT

Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Joe Smith and Superintendent of Recreation Rachel Bauer gave the recreation report:

• Pool Phase 1 Update: The Palos Heights Pool improvement project continues to progress on schedule. The slide was installed and needs to be caulked once the weather improves. The overhead doors were installed, the lighting, piping and linear fixtures are also complete. The only product we may have a significant delay on, is the new lockers. The manufacturing facility sustained hurricane-related damage and is affecting the production. 

The tentative substantial completion date is still April 1, 2025. The grand re-opening will have to be scheduled at another time based on the delivery of the lockers.

• Recreation Update: Our Little Learners Preschool came back from break on January 6th and 7th. Registration is now being accepted for 2025-26 school year. We held an open house with 15 new families attending, inquiring about our preschool.

Little Sprouts started again on January 14th and will continue until May 8th. We currently have 8 students in one class and 9 in the second. The Twinkles class, ‘My Time to Shine’ held their auditions for ARF! on January 22nd. 

Dance recitals programs started the first week of February with 62 participants. The youth basketball league began with the first week of practices January 20-24. 

The first games took place on Saturday, February 1st. The program has 524 participants compared to the 543 participants in 2024. The last games of the youth basketball league will end on Saturday, March 22nd.

Youth athletic classes will return on April after youth basketball has concluded.

The first session of 2025 for group fitness started January 13th. We have a total of 105 participants in 15 classes.

Power Play returned from break on January 7th, and have been working on upcoming holiday activities.

NEW BUSINESS

a) Chairman Key motioned to approve payment #6 to Simpson Construction in the amount of $209,727.72 for work completed for the Pool Improvement Project seconded by Alderman Basso. On a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.

b) Chairman Key motioned to approve Intergovernmental Agreement with School District 128 for use of rooms at Independence Middle School for the summer camp programs. There are no financial obligations attached to this agreement. The motion was seconded by Alderman Brennan. On a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.

c) Chairman Key motioned to approve hiring J&M Displays Fireworks in the amount of $20,000.00 for the July 3, 2025 Independence Day Celebration, seconded by Alderman Brennan. On a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.

d) Chairman Key motioned to approve FP United Landscaping proposal in the amount of $16,560.00 for spring and fall clean up at parks, the swimming pool, and recreation center.

This includes weekly maintenance visits to the Recreation Center and monthly maintenance visits to Orchard Park, Walsh-Westgate Park and bi-weekly for Dream Big Park, seconded by Alderman Basso. On a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.

e) Chairman Key motioned to approve $47,770.00 for the second installment of the 2024-25 membership contribution to the South West Special Recreation Association (SWSRA), seconded by Alderman Brennan. On a voice vote the motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

SD 128 proposal for a fence at Passarelli Park.

Dr. Brownlow stated the fence would be used as a visual barricade for specifically kids who are cognitively impaired. It was agreed, the least intrusive design would most likely be the split-rail fence and would not cause any issues with future designs and projects for Passarelli Park. Joe discussed the fence being installed with gravel, instead of concrete for easier removal as well. The quote from K Brothers came out to $4,300.00, that the school district offered to split with the city.

The committee agreed that this would be on the agenda for next meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Chairman Key moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Alderman Brennan. All in favor.

Meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.

https://palosheights.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112025-1144