The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District board approved a $47,200 contract for work on plans for a revamp of Homewood Estates Park.
At its March 17 meeting, commissioners agreed to hire Upland Design Ltd. to design and oversee work at the park at 18200 California Ave. in Homewood. The firm has been assisting the park district over the past year with plans, drawings and work on the Open Space Land and Development (OSLAD) grant application.
The district was awarded $292,700 by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the grant administrator. H-F parks will pay the other half of the $585,700 cost.
The plan for the 15-acre park calls for new walking paths around the park, an upgraded youth soccer field, a new shelter that would replace the portable tent, new playground equipment and a redesign making three baseball fields into two.
Debbie Kopas, executive director of the park district, told commissioners having the Upland Design plans ready is step one of the redesign. Once those are approved, work can start at the park.
The grant has a two-year deadline. Circumstances beyond the district’s control may mean a delay that would move the work back but would still being within the timeframe.
“Not knowing what the future is, and the grant being good for two years, we could delay work to next spring or fall and still fall into the OSLAD (deadline) period,” she said.
Commissioners agreed to consider her suggestion.
“I totally appreciate and understand the need for (postponing). We need to be fiscally responsible,” said Commissioner Steve Johnson. “We just don’t know.”