The City of Batavia is actively searching for a site to build a much-needed police headquarters, and officials have their sights set on a prime 20-acre parcel off Main Street and Millview Drive. There is just one catch: the land is currently earmarked for the Batavia Park District.
As part of a 2012 annexation agreement, Mooseheart is scheduled to donate the parcel—located directly across from Batavia High School—to the Park District in 2031.
However, driven by failing infrastructure at the current police station and the looming threat of inflation, city officials are hoping to negotiate a land swap or a carve-out to break ground much sooner.
While the city has explored alternative sites, none offer the size and strategic access required to serve the entire city efficiently, with one station, without compromising response times. Here is a breakdown of the competing interests and what the negotiations mean for Batavia residents.
The Urgent Case for a New Police Station
The Batavia Police Department currently operates out of the municipal center at 100 North Island Avenue. Shared with city offices, the building is a former factory constructed more than 120 years ago. The section housing the police station hasn’t seen a significant remodel since the 1990s, and according to city administrators, it has severely outlived its utility.
A 2024 space-needs analysis conducted by city-hired consultants definitively concluded that the current layout is fundamentally inadequate for today’s law enforcement demands. Critical issues include:
- Severe Overcrowding: The facility is far too small to support current staffing levels, modern technology, and daily operational needs.
- Code Violations: The structure does not meet modern building codes and lacks adequate, compliant exit routes.
- Safety Deficiencies: The building lacks up-to-date fire suppression systems and relies on severely outdated general infrastructure.
Furthermore, the physical requirements for a police force have transformed dramatically over the last thirty years. In the 1990s, departments didn’t need heavy power and specialized climate control to house servers for body-worn cameras and digital evidence. Today’s strict chain-of-custody laws require specialized DNA processing areas, refrigerated evidence storage, and secure smart lockers.
The modern workforce also requires equitable locker room facilities, while modern policing practices demand trauma-informed interview rooms and dedicated spaces for mental health crisis intervention.
Also, additional space due to the increasing need for secure physical storage of records and evidence.
The $50 Million Price Tag
City officials have been planning the new facility for roughly two years and are highly motivated to move forward before construction costs skyrocket further. Architects currently estimate the new station will cost approximately $50 million. Delaying the project, the city fears, could add an estimated $3 million to $4 million annually to the final price tag due to inflation.
To finance the project proactively, the City Council raised the local sales tax on general merchandise by a half-percentage point in December. This increase will generate roughly $2.8 million a year, which will be paired with anticipated municipal borrowing.
The Pitch: Intergovernmental Cooperation
To secure the location near the West Side Fire Station, the city is asking the Park District for at least 5 of the 20 acres. Hoping to accelerate the deal, the city has presented two options:
- Direct Purchase: The city pays the Park District directly for the requested acreage.
- A Land Swap: The city trades an 11-acre, city-owned site on Main Street (just north of Grace McWayne Elementary School) in exchange for the Mooseheart parcel.
Additionally, the city has offered to help cover utility costs for the Park District’s future development on the site and install tangible infrastructure enhancements, such as EV chargers.
This type of intergovernmental cooperation is not unprecedented in Batavia. The scenic Batavia Riverwalk was built through a joint effort between the City, the Park District, and volunteers. More recently, the City and Batavia Public School District 101 partnered to install public EV charging stations at the high school. Officials hope this established spirit of collaboration will guide the current negotiations.
The Park District’s View
While the Park District acknowledges the city’s urgent need, the board is hesitant to give up a quarter of its future land before finalizing its own master plan. The Park Board recently approved $68,000 to hire a planning consultant to evaluate the best uses for the Mooseheart site based on community feedback.
District surveys from 2022 and 2025 have consistently shown that an indoor pool and fitness center remain top priorities for Batavia residents. The Park District has a long-standing eagerness to develop this land; in 2019, they formally asked Mooseheart for an early transfer to begin building a recreation center, though the request was denied.
During a recent special joint meeting, the Park Board President noted that it is simply too early to commit to the city’s proposal or determine exactly how many acres the district will ultimately need. The Park District also plans to engage with the local school district to explore potential cooperative uses for the site.
Next Steps
The clock is ticking for the city’s budget, but the Park District is asking for patience as they evaluate the community’s recreational demands. The Park Board has promised that their planning consultant will move expeditiously. Both sides have agreed to reconvene for a status meeting in three months to determine if a mutually beneficial agreement can be struck between civic safety and community recreation.
Author: Jim Fahrenbach
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