Thank you to the Barrington Community for supporting the Park District’s referendum to construct a new pool and pickleball/ paddle tennis facility. Our team is preparing to embark with these improvements.
The Park District is in the process of formally engaging the architect and construction manager to assist the Park District with the design and implementation. Once the design in complete we will engage the Village of Barrington to discuss the formal approval process for the design.
The following preliminary timeline is proposed:
- Pickleball, Platform Tennis, shelter with bathrooms and lights targeted completion 2024
- Pool, Bathhouse, Concession Stand and Program Room target completion 2025
The District will continue to provide updates of the process with the community as the project is progressing. Please check our social media pages and website for updates.
Thank you again for all your support.
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND IMAGES
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- Dedicated drop-off and pick-up lane.
- Direct access to the pool deck without going through the locker rooms.
Lounging steps are tiered steps entering the water for the purpose of access to the pool, sitting and relaxing. These steps have been incorporated into the leisure pool’s conceptual design.
A current channel is a water feature similar to a “lazy river” but without the use of floating inner tubes. Patrons can use it for play or exercise, moving with or against the current. This feature also includes seating.
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Yes, shade will be extended over a portion of the zero depth area of the leisure pool and concession deck. Increased shade stations will also be strategically placed around the pool deck.
A family/gender neutral changing room is a private room consisting of a shower, toilet, sink and baby changing station.
Platform tennis is a racket sport played on a raised, heated court allowing outdoor play during colder weather and uses a heavier, spongier ball compared to a regular tennis ball.
The number of courts will depend on the land and space that is needed for storm water management requirements.
REFERENDUM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A bond referendum is a voting process that gives voters residing within the corporate limits of the Barrington Park District, the power to authorize the Park District to raise funds through the sale of general obligation bonds. A general obligation bond is a long-term borrowing tool in which a Park District pledges its full faith and credit (taxing power) to repay the debt over a specific term (in this case twenty years).
The Park District has historically taken its fiscal responsibility seriously, going to referendum only when necessary. Given that history, the Park District evaluated the current needs of the community and condition of existing amenities. Based on the following circumstances, it was determined a referendum would be necessary in order to fund these improvements.
The current pools were built in 1998. The locker room infrastructure dates back to the 1970s. Extensive repairs have been required and are made on a regular basis to the pool surface, expansion joints, flume and drop slides, deck and concrete staircases. Substantial pool leaks are more frequent. Building mechanicals and plumbing are aging, some being as old as 50 years. Due to iron and other deposits inherent in well water, pipes, valves and plumbing fixtures have deteriorated. The new pool will convert from well water to municipal water, greatly reducing wear and tear on the system. Four of the five Langendorf Aquatic Center building’s HVAC systems are obsolete. Costly HVAC systems, pool gutters, pool pumps and surge tank strainers must be addressed. A new pool and bathhouse will address these issues, improve site logistics, provide more featured amenities, increase aquatic opportunities, and enhance ADA accessibility.
Pickleball is here and is very popular at the Park District and across the country. With six to eight new pickleball courts and four platform tennis courts, we will be able to offer increased outdoor open play, additional classes, leagues and tournaments. These courts will have lights and include a warming hut, shade, seating and bathrooms.
The current picnic shelter is strategically located near the Freddie Herriman Pederson Splashpad, two playgrounds, picnic groves and the Joe Kelsch Dream Way Trail. This shelter is home to one of our largest summer camps and is in high demand for rentals. The existing, decades-old structure is too small to meet usage demands. The shelter’s electric cables are deteriorating and bathrooms are old, run down and supplied by well water. A new picnic shelter will address all these issues and provide an enhanced resource for our community.
Amount: $18,800,000.
What is included:
• NEW pool and bathhouse.
• 6 – 8 NEW outdoor lighted pickleball courts.
• 4 NEW outdoor lighted platform tennis courts.
• NEW warming hut for courts that includes bathrooms, shade, and seating.
• NEW picnic shelter.
When a bond referendum passes, bonds are sold by the taxing body which will levy an annual tax on property within the District to pay the principal and interest on the bonds, until they are repaid in full. This repayment is generally spread out over a 20 year repayment schedule. For instance, bonds sold after the 2002 Citizens Park referendum passed have been repaid in full after 20 years. You will no longer be paying the tax that was assessed for those bonds, and your 2023 taxes, payable in 2024, will decrease because of this. Also, in 2008, bonds were sold after the Fitness and Recreation Center referendum passed. When the bond repayment is complete in 2028, you will no longer be assessed that tax and your taxes will reduce accordingly in 2029. If this referendum passes, you will be assessed for the repayment of the bonds, which will also be spread out over the next 20 years. Your taxes were scheduled to decline because of the repayment of the bonds listed above, but the decline will not be as much because of the issuance of these new bonds. The following chart is a rough ESTIMATE of what impact that new tax might have on your next 2023 property tax bill paid in 2024, based upon the value of your home. For comparison purposes, the impact if the referendum does not pass is also included:
While care has been taken to calculate the tax impact, we highlight that this is an ESTIMATE for the following reasons:
1. The exact rate of interest that will be paid on the bonds is unknown until such time as they are sold. That rate has been estimated based on current market conditions, which may be more or less at the time the bonds are actually sold because of changing market conditions.
2. The estimate is based only on what is levied by Barrington Park District, not other taxing districts.
3. Property taxes are subject to changes outside the control of Barrington Park District, such as county and township valuation reassessments and state equalization factors, which may vary depending if your property is in Cook or Lake County
The Board of Park Commissioners examined current resources, grants and other options available to finance a project of this size. The total project cost is $21.75 million. The Board of Park Commissioners determined that it could reasonably dedicate $2.95 million of fund balances toward the project over a period of years, lowering the referendum amount to $18.8 million, therefore reducing the tax impact. The District will continue to explore additional funding options to provide quality parks, facilities and programs in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Construction of platform tennis courts and warming hut will not happen at this time.
• The existing pool, bathhouse, pickleball courts and picnic shelter will remain as is.
• Due to the aging infrastructure, it is anticipated pool and bathhouse repairs and maintenance will become more frequent and extensive.
Non-residents (non-taxpayers) will continue to pay higher fees, contributing to overhead and capital expenses. Taxpayers will continue to benefit from lower fees and priority registration. Both residents and non-residents are essential so the District can provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities.
The Executive Director and Administrative Staff visited ten pools at eight park districts during the summer of 2022. Questions were asked directly to their lifeguards, pool managers and supervisors as to the pros and cons of their facilities. Pickleball and platform tennis opportunities were also explored. Staff had numerous meetings with Williams Architects/ Aquatics and started creating conceptual plans. The Park District created a Steering Committee of community residents and leaders from various groups in the Barrington taxing area. The Steering Committee meeting took place in November 2022. Conceptual designs were presented along with preliminary costs and tax impact of the project. The Committee provided feedback and suggestions to the Staff and Board of Park Commissioners. The Board of Park Commissioners approved the submission of the referendum question at its December 2022 Board Meeting.
It is anticipated that construction of the pool and bathhouse could take place from late summer 2024 through early summer 2025. Construction time frame is contingent on approvals, permits and material lead times. The Park District’s goal is to have a pool open each summer, however reduced seasons will be necessary in 2024 and 2025.
The Skatepark will be relocated within Langendorf Park.
No. Construction will only take place on the existing pool and court locations.
Attend a Referendum Information Meeting for more information. After the presentation, Park District Staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Saturday
February 25, 2023
10:00am
or
Tuesday
March 21, 2023
7:00pm
Langendorf Park
Fitness and Recreation Center
235 Lions Drive
.
* This page will be updated regularly.
