Issues facing Park District
Should the City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Park District explore merging their operations?
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For decades the Park District has faced financial crises. In recent years, more and more Park District facilities have fallen into disrepair.
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Two views of Marberry Arboretum, March 8, 2019 by Byron Hetzler, The Southern
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The Park District Board has not been clear in setting priorities that would allow the District to maintain its facilities and provide excellent programming.
The situation became public when several leases between the City and the Park District for parks owned by the City but operated by the Park District expired. Currently, the Park District is maintaining Turley and Tatum Heights Parks without a lease. When lease discussions began last year, the Park District requested $150,000, either as a one-time contribution to maintenance or as a continuing commitment.
At several City Council meetings City Council members expressed serious concerns about the condition of facilities at Turley Park, as well as at Evergreen Park and at the Superblock, where the Park District operates lands under leases with the City. (See articles in The Southern March 1, 2018, April 5, 2018.) They also expressed concerns about the condition of the Life Center, which regularly floods and is often closed due to maintenance issues (see the Southern Illinoisan April 13, 2018). Hickory Lodge has a lot of deferred maintenance, and as the recent photos at Marberry Arboretum show, the parking lot and trails have fallen into disrepair. The City has also taken back maintenance of the Piles Fork Creek Greenway and Trail which the Park District had leased from the City.
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A subcommittee of the City Council and Park District Board of Commissioners met several times over the course of last year. At one of these discussions, a member of the Park District's Finance Committee suggested that the City might take over Park District operations. The Park District Board has not formally discussed this option nor acted on reports from members of the subcommittee meeting with City Council members. Council members discussed the situation with the parks at the Nov. 13 City Council meeting, and at the December 11 meeting voted to put an advisory referendum on the April 2 ballot. (See article in Southern Illinoisan, Dec. 12, 2018.)
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The Southern Illinoisan interviewed all Park District, Council, and Mayor candidates, as well as Park District Director Kathy Renfro and City Manager Gary Williams about their views on the merger.
The question being put to voters is: “Should the City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Park District explore merging their operations?”
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Details about the merger are on the FAQ page.
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Documents relevant to understanding Park District finances are posted on this site - Park District Budget and Audits.
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Park District meetings, agendas, and minutes are posted on the Park District website.
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