The Westerns Springs Park District is in the process of starting a five-year Capitol Improvement Plan [CIP] to improve parks in the area. The board started the CIP process in July and has been discussing what they want to implement the estimated $100,000 budget for.

The board is looking for a consultant firm to hire. The firm will help the board plan where and how to allocate the money for the CIP.

“[The firm] is going to put the puzzle together for the parks in essence,” Executive Director of the Western Springs Parks Board John Robinson said. “They’re going to help guide us along the [CIP process] gradually over the next five-years.”

When Robinson first introduced the CIP to the board he mentioned splash pads, miniature golf and ice-skating as possibilities, but realistically those improvements are not going to be possible with the current budget.

“I was just trying to get the board to think outside the box, instead of just the regular path,” Robinson said.

The board is trying to determine what should go in each park, with the help of a consultant firm. Safety is their number one priority, but they are also looking at improving the surface of each park with a rubber-substitute for woodchips, as well as universalize the parks with signage, fences and water fountains.

“It’s a fairly tight budget, but we will figure out what we need and how we can fit [those needs] into the puzzle,” Robinson said. “That’s when the firm comes in.”

The typical lifespan for playgrounds is about 15 years. Spring Rock Park is 18 years old, so Robinson and the board hopes to improve that park in order to ensure safety and keep the park looking new and improved, like how some of the other newer parks in the surrounding area look.

“It will be nice to have safer and updated parks to bring kids when I’m babysitting,” Western Springs resident Liv Dallavo ‘16 said.

The board will likely make their decision on what consultant firm they will hire at the board meeting on Nov. 3. Robinson then hopes to open the plans to the community.

“I want to make sure we get the community’s input,” Robinson said. “I don’t want to do anything and have people say they didn’t know about [the plans]. That’s not fair to them. They are the taxpayers, they’re the ones that are bringing money in to pay for the parks, so we want to make sure [their voices] are heard.”

The board hopes to have the CIP plans finalized by March of 2016. The goal is to have the entire CIP completed in 2020.