D87 Considers Donation for Landscaping Project Near Memorial Field

The Glenbard High School District 87 Board of Education at its May 20 meeting will vote to accept a donation of about $92,000 for a landscaping project adjacent to Memorial Field. 

Spalding Point, a triangular land parcel immediately west of Memorial Field at the intersection of Park Avenue and Crescent Boulevard, would undergo a complete makeover. Designed by Glen Ellyn architect Tina Koral, the public space would include memorial components, designated dining areas, walkways and landscaping that are cohesive with the Memorial Field landscape, according to the project goals listed on the District 87 website. 

A similar project was completed last fall on a smaller parcel just west of the field. Glen Ellyn Park District board member Ron Aubrey in September proposed the project, which was funded by Make a Memory Foundation and dollars previously raised by the capital campaign committee for the improvement of Memorial Field, Peg Mannion, the district’s community relations coordinator told Patch. 

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Aubrey is also behind the Spalding Point project, which would also be a donation from the Make a Memory Foundation. The landscaping plan is estimated to cost $75,832 and the memorial dedication area is projected to cost $15,256. The Make a Memory Foundation would be the "customer of record," for the project, which would be donated to the district upon completion. 

The land has a long history, Aubrey told board members Monday. In the 1920s, community member Roy Spalding sold the parcel to the park district. The park district later sold the land to District 87, he said. Spalding Point has also been the location for the Village of Glen Ellyn Memorial Day celebrations. 

District 87 Board President Richard Heim said the plan is "phenomenal" for the space across the street from the District 87 offices and Glenbard West High School. 

Board member Mary Ozog said the space will be a "nice entryway" to the area. She said years ago, there was talk about putting a parking lot in the Spalding Point location, which, she said, would be a "poor idea," as commuters would be entering the parking lot at the same time 2,300 students would be going to school in the area. 

The work would be completed in the summer of 2013. The board will vote on approval of the donation at its May 20 meeting.