West Chicago rec center OK’d by voters
West Chicago voters narrowly supported a park district plan to borrow $15.5 million to build a recreation center.
About 51 percent of voters supported the measure, with all 26 precincts unofficially reporting.
Park district officials downsized an earlier plan that was defeated by voters, and moved the proposed facility away from the downtown area in effort to win support. Tuesday’s ballot question sought permission to build a 65,000-square-foot facility at Reed-Keppler Park.
Plans call for the recreation center to have a walking/jogging track, an area for seniors, multipurpose gymnasiums, a fitness center, dance studios, event rental space and an indoor playground.
Approval of the project means property taxes for the owner of a $250,000 house are expected to increase about $60 a year. Right now, that same homeowner pays about $239 a year to the park district.