Public Forum on Park Land Acquisition and Issuance of Bonds
On November 16, 2009 the Village Board and Plan Commission held meetings to discuss the acquisition of land for a community park. The Village Board also discussed the issuance of bonds to finance the acquisition. The meeting was held at Homer Junior High School.
The following power point presentation (in PDF form) was prepared by Edmund Cage, Community Development Director:
Public Park Forum (PDF)
The following power point presentation (in PDF form) was prepared by Trustees Ward and Knaack in support of the Dunn Farm property acquisition for purposes of a community park:
The public is encouraged to send comments and questions to the Village Board.
Email your comments and questions.
Park and Recreation Master Plan
The Park and Recreation Master Plan was passed by the Village Board on October 23, 2007. Please be aware that the Plan document, linked below, is very large (about 48MB).
Park and Recreation Master Plan (PDF 48MB)
A copy of the Plan is also available for review at the Village Administration office.
Planning New Parks
A reorganized Parks & Recreation Committee began meeting in November of 2005 to plan and develop a park system for the Village.
Since incorporation, the Village has received five park sites from developers (in the Meadowview West, Erin Hills, Kingston Hills, Glenview Walk Estates, and Stonebridge Woods subdivisions) and began to accumulate cash donations from developers in an amount that will allow the development of some of the park sites.
Stonebridge Park
Stonebridge Park is located west of Parker Road on the south side of 159th Street.
Homer Glen has a new park! On October 25, 2008, the Village of Homer Glen held a grand opening ceremony for Stonebridge Park, located at 14200 Stonebridge Drive. The Mayor, along with the co-chairs of the Parks & Recreation Committee, Trustees De Vivo and Knaack, and the developers for the Stonebridge Subdivision Tom Hahn and partner Greg Chentnik helped in the celebration of the park opening.
The park property was dedicated as part of the Stonebridge Subdivision park donation and developed with the help of an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Stonebridge Park is the second Village owned park and includes many amenities including tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, exciting playground equipment, a covered pavilion with picnic tables, a walking/bike path, and a large open area for kids to play softball, football, soccer or other outdoor activities.
Homer Glen is continuing to add additional park space throughout the Village. The Village recently applied for an OSLAD grant for the purchase of land adjacent to a proposed park in the Erin Hills Subdivision. If approved, the acquisition would double the size of the park parcel allowing for future expanded park facilities. The application is currently under review with awards announced in early 2009.
Kingston Hills Park
Homer Glen's first neighborhood park on Carlton Lane in the Kingston Hills Subdivision has been a welcome addition to the neighborhood and Village. The park abuts a walking/biking path constructed between 151st Street and Martingale Lane and includes state-of-the-art playground equipment and a shelter. This park was built using developer donations from the Village's Park Fund.
Erin Hills Park Site
The Village is preparing a grant application to obtain funds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The proposed project will enlarge and develop the Erin Hills Subdivision park site, located on S. Dublin Drive west of Parker Road. This park is along the Long Run Creek.
A preliminary site plan is being prepared for a May 19, 2008 public meeting, to be held at the Village Hall at 7:30 PM. Comments are being accepted on the plan through May 29, 2008.
The Village should learn in early 2009 whether its application has been approved and could then proceed with construction.
Park Donation Ordinance
One of the first actions by the Parks & Recreation Committee was to recommend changes to the Village's Park Donation Ordinance. This ordinance requires developers who subdivide land in Homer Glen to donate 11 acres of buildable land for each 1,000 people, or the Village may require a cash payment in lieu of land. The two major changes to the ordinance were to increase the value of a buildable acre from $100,000 to $160,000 for the calculation of cash payments and to require a developer to turnover any park sites in a development within three years following approval of the final plat or once 75% of the lots are occupied, whichever is sooner.