The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District board approved contracts for repairs to the bandshell roof at the Marie Irwin Center, and a new parking lot at Irons Oaks Center.
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District board approved contracts for repairs to the bandshell roof at the Marie Irwin Center, and a new parking lot at Irons Oaks Center.
The original copper roof over the bandshell dates from 1986 and is leaking and has become expensive to repair, said Doug Boehm, superintendent of parks and planning. He told commissioners the replacement roof, 22-gauge steel with a standard Kynar finish, will appear similar to the copper tone.
The copper roofing is being taken down and will be scrapped. Boehm estimates it is worth about $5,000.
Bee Liner Lean Services of Oak Lawn won the bid at $65,750. The bid did include an additional $10,000 to cover work that may be needed once the roofing under the copper is examined. Work also includes new gutters, patching plaster and painting the ceiling of the bandshell. Boehm said, weather permitting, the work would start in late March or early April. It should take three weeks.
Work is also ongoing within Irwin Center where the first floor restrooms are being remodeled.
Tight parking at Irons Oaks will get some relief when the parking lot is reconfigured to add 20 more spaces to the current 28 spaces around the Irons Oaks office building.
The park district has been working on this project for some time, according to Cheryl Vargo, manager of Irons Oaks. The intention is to better accommodate groups that rent space in the building. At times, as many as 80 people may be present and the guests have been forced to use the parking on Vollmer Road and walk through the woods. The path is not lighted.
Vargo said the work “will give added parking spaces to the main office and increase the number of patrons who are able to safely park and attend programs and rentals at Irons Oaks. “
At the request of the Village of Olympia Fields during the permit process, the park district added additional lighting and a bioswale to protect the wetlands, she said.
The parking lot reconfiguration and paving work will be done by Advantage Paving and Sealcoating for $107,568.25. The project is scheduled to be completed by April 30.