Batavia Illinois – The 5th Ward

As the weather warms up, crews are preparing to clean up the local ponds during the first week of April, making sure debris is pulled directly from the ground level to keep the water beautiful and clear. If you’re already dreaming of sunny days, you’ll be thrilled to know that Quarry passes are currently available during an early bird sale, offering the earliest and cheapest prices of the year before the quarry opens in just over two months.

The district is also looking to the future by approving a multi-generational site plan study for Mooseheart, which will combine recent needs assessments with ongoing public input to develop three new concept sketches.

Administrative Actions and Consent Agenda

The special board meeting commenced with a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the approval of the consent agenda without any modifications. The agenda bundled several standard administrative and financial approvals into a single motion.

• The board approved the regular and executive session minutes from the February 17th meeting.
• Approvals were granted for paid expenditures, expense approval reports, investment summaries, income statements, and specific purchases.
• A construction easement was approved for the City of Batavia to perform utility upgrades at Woodland Hills Park.

Upcoming Community Events and Announcements

The board announced several upcoming spring and summer events designed to engage the community. These events range from historical presentations to outdoor family activities.

• The community egg hunt is scheduled for March 28th at Prairie Path Park, starting with activities at 9:30 a.m. and the egg scramble starting promptly at 10:00 a.m..
• A special presentation about the “Fly Girls of World War II” will be held on March 26th by a historian and certified FAA pilot at the Callahan Community Center.
• Tickets are currently on sale for Batavia Uncorked, a casual wine-tasting event scheduled for June 6th featuring experts from ten different companies.
• Season passes are available for Haw Quarry Beach, which is scheduled to open in just over two months.

Staff and Departmental Updates

Various departments provided operational updates, covering ongoing programs, maintenance training, financial standings, and staffing progress[cite: 40]. Significant milestones included the printing of the seasonal guide and the finalization of financial audits.

• Virtual fitness programming continues to be successful, with participants joining from locations as far away as Egypt.
• Parks and Trades staff are coordinating with a local youth baseball organization to provide field maintenance training for coaches.
• Pond cleanup is scheduled for the first week of April to remove debris from the ground level.
• The Mike Wild project has commenced with undesirable tree removal, and construction fencing and heavy equipment will be brought in shortly for a project expected to last six to eight weeks.
• Auditors are finalizing reports for park grants and preparing for the 2025 financial statement audit.
• The district received $855,000 in bond proceeds for capital initiatives from the 2026 general application bond.
• The City of Batavia has indefinitely postponed a meeting regarding TIF number seven.
• The 116-page Summer Fun Guide, the district’s largest in several years, is at the printer and is expected to reach homes by early-to-mid April.
• Five community partners, including local emergency services, charitable organizations, and a scouting group, will attend the upcoming egg hunt to engage with residents.
• The Parks Department is fully staffed after onboarding a new park technician, and seasonal hiring is nearly complete, featuring an 85% return rate of rehires.

Executive Director’s Marketing and Recreation Report

The Executive Director highlighted recent successes from the marketing and recreation teams, focusing on creative promotions, online engagement, and youth activities.

• A bracket-style college basketball tournament promotion was launched to drive traffic to the new website, featuring in-kind prizes like beach passes and a grand prize of a beach deck rental valued at $400.
• The recreation team organized a “Middle School Madness” basketball tournament for children ages 11 to 14, featuring various contests and food.
• The upcoming egg hunt will feature traditional egg zones for young children, as well as a more challenging flashlight hunt for older tweens after sunset.
• An early bird sale is currently running for summer passes to the Quarry Beach.

New Business and Contract Approvals

The board reviewed and approved several contracts and agreements related to facility maintenance, future planning, and park repairs.

• An intergovernmental license agreement with the City of Batavia was approved for parking lot storage and maintenance at the quarry beach, specifically to handle heavy trucks and sealing.
• The board approved a $68,000 agreement with a consulting firm to develop a multi-generational business and operations site plan for Mooseheart, which will incorporate needs assessments, staff visioning, and public input to create three concept sketches.
• A contract for natural area maintenance and prescribed burn services for 2026, with extension options for 2027 and 2028, was awarded to a resource group for $27,585.
• Following a brief clarification that the work was for the northeast section from the lodge to Fabyan, a contract for landscape architectural services for Fox River Trail repairs was awarded for $42,280.

Executive Session

The meeting concluded with a motion to enter a closed session to discuss specific internal matters.

• The board moved into an executive session to discuss personnel matters alongside a staff member.
• It was noted that no further business would be conducted after the conclusion of the executive session.

Author: Jim Fahrenbach