SET TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION RELATIVE TO RESTORE ILLINOIS ORDER
Park District to open additional facilities and some programs beginning June 1
At its meeting on Thursday, May 14, the Naperville Park District’s Park Board of Commissioners voted to pursue legal action seeking a determination that it may exercise its statutory authority to make decisions about the District’s essential functions, including District programs and the use of District property, independently of specific dictates in the Governor’s Executive Order.
The Board also announced that consistent with current regulations, the Park District will reopen additional facilities and programs beginning June 1. Additionally, staff that have been working remotely will transition back to in-office work also on June 1.
“As a local unit of government, the Park District’s operations are recognized as essential under the Governor’s Executive Order and the District is vested with the statutory power over the District’s properties and programs. We intend to fulfill our mission to provide recreation opportunities for our residents,” explained Park Board President Rich Janor. “We understand that an important part of being healthy includes staying active and that includes being able to use some of the outdoor amenities and operate some of the programs that the District provides. The Governor’s Executive Order improperly interferes with the Board’s ability to make those decisions.”
Facilities that will reopen to public use on June 1 include: Paddleboats at the Quarry, disc golf at Knoch Knolls Park, skate parks, sport courts and parking lots. Basketball rims will be installed beginning June 1 and will open sometime that week as staff completes the reinstallation work. These facilities will join the District’s already reopened golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, and the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots. The 3rd annual 95th Street Farmers Market will open for the season on Thursday, June 4.
Although the Summer Program Guide will be available in digital format only beginning May 26 at www.napervilleparks.org/programguides, registration for the seasonal programs will begin for residents on June 1 via phone-in, online or drop off to 320 W. Jackson Ave. only. Registration for the fall Naperville Youth Soccer and Premier Soccer will begin on June 2.
Summer camps, which are a mainstay for the Park District every year, will be run this summer but with significant modifications to promote health and safety of participants through smaller size groups and social distancing practices. Additionally, the Park District will commence youth athletic programs like baseball, t-ball and softball, but with reduced roster sizes. Summer camps and youth athletic programs are set to begin June 15, and registration for these programs is currently available online.
Regarding Centennial Beach operations, the District is awaiting regulatory guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, although a tentative opening date of June 20 has been established.
The Park District also continues to offer a variety of virtual programs for those who choose to remain active remotely. Information on virtual programs can be found at www.napervilleparks.org/virtualprograms.
