Shaping the Future of Oak Park Parks
Scoville Park Site Master
Plan Development
As part of the Park District of Oak Park's Capital Improvement Plan, a site master plan is being developed for Scoville Park. The overall objective of a site plan is to provide “a framework or blueprint for future park renewal.” The following is an outline of the planning process.
History
Acquired in 1913, Scoville Park was named after Charles B. Scoville, the previous owner of the land and an advocate for the creation of the Park District. It was the first park built after the creation of the Park District in 1912, and served as a village green, with the installation of a “Liberty” flag pole in 1915, a World War I monument dedicated by the Vice President of the United States in 1925, and bronze marker noting the location of the home of Joseph Kettlestrings, the first white settler in Oak Park in 1927. Scoville Park was originally designed by Jens Jensen and is one of the parks that retains the most of Jensen’s design. The southeast corner features a replica of a fountain originally designed by sculptor Richard Bock and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The play equipment was last replaced in 1991. In partnership with the Village of Oak Park and the Library, Grove Avenue was vacated in 2001 and a new plaza was constructed adjacent to the park. Scoville Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Current features include a playground, three tennis courts, and an open space used for summer concerts and events.
Focus Groups
Six focus groups were held in early March 2010 to collect information regarding the current and future use of Scoville Park.
First Community Meeting
The first community meeting to gather initial public input regarding the current and future use of Scoville Park was held on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7pm in the Veteran’s Room at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street. (meeting notes) To view the PowerPoint presentation shown at this meeting, click here (large file).
Residents who could not attend the first community meeting were invited to provide their input regarding the Scoville Park plan by completing a questionnaire available on this web page from March 25 through April 7. Those who attended the community meeting were also invited to complete the questionnaire and provide additional input. (questionnaire results)
Second Community Meeting
A second community meeting to review preliminary site options and collect additional public input was held on Wednesday, April 21 at 7pm in the Veteran’s Room at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street. (meeting notes)
PowerPoint presentation (large file)
The following concepts were presented at the 2nd community meeting. A second questionnaire for the Scoville Park Site Plan was available from April 23 through May 5 to gather additional community input. Here are the results of this questionnaire. (questionnaire results)
Third Community Meeting
A third community meeting was held on Tuesday, May 11 at 7pm in the Veteran’s Room at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street where results of the second questionnaire were presented and specific park areas and features needing consensus were discussed. (meeting notes) To view the PowerPoint presentation for this meeting, click here (large file).
A third questionnaire for the Scoville Park Site Plan was available to gather additional community input. Here are the results of this questionnaire. (questionnaire results)
Fourth Community Meeting
A fourth community meeting was held to present and discuss final site plan concepts for Scoville Park. (meeting notes) Please view the Powerpoint presentation from the 4th community meeting below.
Part 1 - 4th Community Meeting PowerPoint presentation
Part 2 - 4th Community Meeting PowerPoint presentation
Next Steps
The Park Board of Commissioners reviewed the site planning process and the site plan concepts for Scoville Park at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at the Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield Street. Please view the Powerpoint presentation from this meeting below.
Part 1 - June 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting Powepoint presentation (very large file)
Part 2 - June 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting Powepoint presentation (very large file)
At the Regular Park Board Meeting on Thursday, June 17, 2010, the Park Board further discussed the Scoville Park site plan. It was decided to keep the fountain in its current location.
It was also the directive of the Park Board to preserve the number of tennis courts currently in the park. However, the Park District is trying to work within the USTA standards for tennis courts without affecting the 70 year old Hickory Tree directly to the east of the tennis courts.
June 17 Park Board Meeting presentation
A final site plan recommendation was presented to the Park Board at the Regular Park Board Meeting scheduled for July 15. A phasing plan for the implementation of the site plan was also presented at this meeting accompanied by an itemized description of the phasing plan. In addition, an enlarged rendering of the playground equipment was also presented. The Park Board will take action on the final site plan draft recommendation at the Regular Park Board Meeting on Thursday, August 19, 2010.
The Park District of Oak Park values public input and feedback. To provide input or for further information, please contact Diane Stanke at (708) 725-2022 or dianes@oakparkparks.com.
Scoville Park Site Master Plan Schedule
Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 7 pm, Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street
First Community Meeting to collect initial community input.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 7pm, Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street
Second Community Meeting to review preliminary site concepts and collect additional public input.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 7 pm, Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street
Third Community Meeting to present a draft recommendations and collect public input.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 7 pm, Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street
Fourth Community Meeting to present a revised draft recommendations and collect public input
Thursday, June 3, 2010, 7:30pm, Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield
Park Board Committee of the Whole Meeting to discuss site plan recommendation.
Thursday, June 17, 2010, 7:30pm, Administrative Center, 218 Madison
Park Board Meeting to further discuss site plan
Thursday, July 15, 2010, 7:30pm, Administrative Center, 218 Madison
Park Board Meeting to review final site plan draft recommendation
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 7:30pm, Administrative Center, 218 Madison
Park Board to consider site plan acceptance
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