Construction on Maryknoll Center Will Resume

Construction on the Maryknoll Safety and Recreation Center will resume as soon as possible, after additional funds were secured.

The Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners lifted the work suspension Tuesday night after they approved a change order, which shaved $9,197 off the project.

The savings was through a package of pricing reductions the park district negotiated with contractors. Some of the reductions included revised floor framing and windows, as well changing the center’s entrance from a double to a single door.

“Hopefully it’ll be done in time for the paddle season in October,” said Melissa Creech, board president .

Construction began on the center in April, but the commissioners halted construction in May when it became apparent that more money was needed to complete the project. The task to raise more money for the center fell on the shoulders of the Glen Ellyn Platform Tennis Club. The group secured additional donations from Athletico, the American Platform Tennis Association, and an anonymous donor, which totaled $26,500. The club has committed an additional $10,000, according to the contract with the park district. 

To reflect the additional funding responsibilities, the park district’s board of commissioners signed off on an amendment to the original agreement with the Glen Ellyn Platform Tennis Club. Scott Park and Ryan Snyder of GEPTC were on hand to sign the new contract.

Both Park and Snyder expressed relief and enthusiasm for the renewal of construction.

“We’re going to keep an eye on things,” Park said, as GEPTC is also responsible for the construction project’s contingency funds.

However, Park and Snyder said their focus will now move to programming. Because they already have a following amongst men, Park and Snyder said their programming at Maryknoll will cater to women and children.

Park said the platform tennis is a great sport for men.

“There aren’t a lot of programs for men our age in the winter,” Park said.

HYDROLOGIC & HYDRAULIC STUDY

The board also signed off on the cost of an upcoming joint hydrologic and hydraulic study of Lake Ellyn.

The park district agreed to pay 50 percent of the study, which will look at how to minimize the frequency of the lake overflowing during heavy rainstorms. The Village of Glen Ellyn will pay for the other half of the study.

“I think this will be very useful for us,” said Dave Scarmardo, superintendent of parks. 

The study, which will be conducted by Rezek, Henry, Meisenheimer and Gende, Inc., will address four critical questions, including what is the “optimal normal water level” of Lake Ellyn, as well as the appropriate release rate for the lake. It will also look if it is possible to increase the lake’s capacity.

The board of commissioners were originally supposed to sign off on approving an exact dollar amount of $25,715, but some commissioners expressed reluctance at approving a preset dollar amount.

According to the proposal, work on the study will begin seven days after it is authorized, and should be done within 120 days.

Tuesday night’s meeting was shortened on account of the power outage that affected Glen Ellyn. The board room was illuminated only by a pair of emergency lights and the fading daylight that was coming in through the windows.

The board was originally supposed to discuss the findings of the athletic field survey. However, because of the fading daylight, Creech said it would be postponed to a later meeting. The board also cancelled that night’s executive session.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated the GEPTC raised $36,500 for the project. According to the contract, the group raised $26,500 and have committed to providing an additional $10,000.