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Legacy Park Phase 1 options discussed  Share
Plans for work on Phase 1 of Legacy Park were discussed during an Oct. 8 special joint meeting of the Village of Manteno Board of Trustees and the Manteno Township Board. Hitchcock Design Group of Naperville and Tyson Engineering of Kankakee created plans for the 67-acre future park that will sit at the northwest corner of Ronnie Gray Drive and Maple Drive. Phase 1 involves a portion of the park on the north end including a softball field, soccer field, temporary soccer field, parking area, ampitheatre, picnic area and playground. One aspect of starting work on the park is hiring a contractor to bid-out projects or opting for the village to handle the construction management. The village and township agreed to have Superintendent of Public Works Brian O'Keefe manage the construction. This will save a projected 10 to 15 percent on costs that would have gone to a hired contractor.
''It will be a strain on our department,'' O'Keefe said. ''We are to a limit now with what we can handle in the village. With Legacy Park, our park space will be doubled. Eventually, I can see us needing more manpower.'' Village President Timothy Nugent reminded the boards that maintenance of Legacy Park will be conducted by both the village and the township, so this will relieve some pressure on village public works employees. A major concern with the first phase of the park is water drainage. Excess storm water needs to be adequately channeled from Maple Drive and a field to the east, across Legacy Park and to a retention pond at the south end of the park. Hitchcock Design Group presented a design showing a box culvert underground partially across the park and then opening into a swale area on the west side of the park. Swales can be disguised as dry creeks providing interest to landscape when dry and acting to divert and direct water runoff after heavy rains. Water would exit the swale into other retention areas along the west side of the park and eventually lead to a larger retention pond at the south end of the park. Concerns were voiced by the boards about how the swale will appear to visitors and the space it will take up between a softball and soccer field at the north end of the park. With the partial culvert and swale design, a walkway would still be available for pedestrians to walk between the soccer and softball fields. Cost of this partial culvert and swale design is estimated at $145,000. To run a box culvert underground all the way across the park to the west side of the grounds would cost $240,000. This extra cost would cut into desires to spend money on other aspects at the park. The swale would be planted with native plants, and interpretive signage would be provided to explain the natural flow of water and plant species. The boards voted to create the partial box culvert design and swale. The culvert can be extended underground at a later time if desired and if funds are available. The boards also voted to bid-out grading of all land on the north end of the park at one time. If prices are favorable, the village and township boards will then decide whether to proceed with the additional grading. Leveling this land now will help in the progression of the park. Fields can be seeded, and with volunteer help, prepared for possible use by 2011. The north end of the park eventually will contain three softball fields. The boards also discussed placing piping underground now for future water and sewer access. The desire is to have flushable toilets at the park some day and means to irrigate fields. Placing the piping now will prevent tearing up soil and pavement later. Portions of the park that are not developed yet will continue to be farmed. The Legacy Park land was originally bought by the Manteno school district for a new high school and then was sold to the village and township. In June of 2008, the village and Manteno Township applied for an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant of $400,000 that would match $400,000 the village and township would each pay. That grant was received. It will take several phases to complete the park. Total cost of Phase 1 is estimated at $1,301,799. The entire project could cost $20 million to $25 million. The Phase 1 portion of the park will be open for citizens to use by 2011. It could take 10 to 15 years to complete the entire park. Tracy Ahrens is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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