News

As of November 5, 2024, unofficial results indicate that a majority of Elmhurst Park District voters answered “yes” to the bond referendum request to raise revenue to improve, equip and maintain parks and facilities throughout the District, including replacing the Wagner Community Center; building a community bandshell at Wilder Park; adding permanent, heated restrooms at three parks and along the Prairie Path; and converting a grass field to artificial turf at Berens Park.

The new Wagner Community Center will accommodate more residents and feature: 

• Free three-lane walking/jogging track
• Gymnasium for pickleball, basketball, volleyball and other sports
• Artificial turf field for soccer, football, baseball and other sports
• Larger spaces for dance and gymnastics programs
• Flexible multi-purpose spaces for more programming and community gatherings 
• Indoor play area for children
• Dedicated early childhood and preschool spaces with a secure entrance

“Our residents have been an essential part of this process from the beginning, sharing their vision during the Elevate Elmhurst Parks planning, providing feedback on projects during multiple open houses, answering our voter survey and then voting,” said Kevin Graf, Park Board President. “We are pleased to be able to deliver their vision.”

With the community’s approval of the bond request, the Park District will complete design development for the Wagner Community Center along with the other projects in 2025.  At the same time, plans will be made to temporarily relocate programs and services currently held at the Wagner Center beginning in fall 2025. Construction on the new Wagner Center is expected to start in 2026 with the new facility opening in fall 2027. The community bandshell, year-round heated restrooms, and upgrading a grass field to artificial turf will be completed in 2026-2028.  

Visit our website at www.epd.org/referendum and regularly follow us on social media to stay up to date on progress and details.

This evening, August 5, 2024, the Elmhurst Park District Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously to give residents the choice to fund high-priority projects identified by the community through a referendum on the November 5, 2024 ballot.

A successful referendum would enable the District to replace Wagner Community Center, which was built in the 1950s as an elementary school, and build a new facility that will serve all ages and reduce wait lists. It would also fund a bandshell in Wilder Park, year-round heated restrooms at Wilder, Eldridge, and Crestview parks as well as along the Prairie Path, and the conversion of a grass field to artificial turf at Berens Park. 

A new Wagner Community Center would offer year-round features such as:

• A free multi-lane walking track.
• Gym space for pickleball, basketball, volleyball and other sports.
• An artificial turf field for soccer, football, baseball, lacrosse and other sports.
• Dedicated early childhood and preschool spaces with secure entrance.
• Larger spaces for dance and gymnastics programs.
• An indoor play area for younger children.
• Flexible multi-purpose spaces for programming community gathering.

The proposed projects not only meet the needs identified by the community but they also significantly enhance the quality of life for all residents, offering amenities and programs that improve health, wellness, and community engagement. These improved amenities will help protect property tax values and make Elmhurst an even more attractive place to live, work and play. The cost of the projects is $89.95 million, and, if approved by tax payers, would not be a permanent tax increase but rather paid over the course of 25 years. 

The decision comes after the Park Board heard the results of a voter survey at their Monday, July 22 meeting. Jeff Andreasen of aQity Research presented the findings, which showed that 59% of registered voters in Elmhurst would support the projects that had been identified by residents as their top priorities. The Park Board also received overwhelming support to move forward with a referendum from the Elevate Advisory Committee, comprised of nearly 20 members from various community organizations, local businesses, and diverse demographics. 

“Our residents have been an essential part of this planning process from the beginning, sharing their vision during the Elevate Elmhurst planning project, providing feedback on projects during multiple open houses, and most recently answering questions on a voter survey,” said Kevin Graf, Park Board President, “We are excited to give the community the opportunity to determine the future of the Park District.”

The District last went to referendum in 1971 and currently has one of the lowest tax rates of all DuPage County park districts at just five cents of every property tax dollar paid. Despite being lauded for its financial stewardship, with consecutive accolades including the Government Finance Officers Association’s Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the District has faced the challenge of meeting escalating community demands with limited financial resources. 

Details of the proposed projects are available online now and additional details about the referendum will be provided in the coming days to ensure residents receive accurate and timely information. We invite you to learn more by attending a future educational session or visiting our informational website at epd.org/referendum.

Wilder Mansion was announced as a winner of the 2022 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®, which honors the top wedding vendors nationwide and abroad. Winners represent the top wedding professionals in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism reviewed by couples on WeddingWire, a leading wedding vendor marketplace.

Just 30 minutes outside of Chicago in Elmhurst, Illinois, Wilder Mansion is a historic wedding venue situated in beautiful Wilder Park. Built in 1868, it features a romantic setting, refined spaces, and modern amenities - perfect for any special occasion. In addition to the Mansion, couples can also take advantage of the property’s outdoor settings, including the intimate Wilder Park Formal Garden and the Victorian-era inspired Diana Nicolas Garden. 

Last year, with the ongoing pandemic continuing to effect the wedding industry, Wilder Mansion and its staff remained focused on providing an elegant and smooth experience for its couples and guests. The full-service venue offers a variety of thoughtful services and amenities and a team of professionals ready to make your day a memorable one. 

To learn more about how to plan your next special event at Wilder Mansion, contact us.

The reviews are in and Wilder Mansion is proud to make the list of The Knot Best of Weddings 2021. This accolade represents the highest-and most-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot, a leading wedding planning and registry brand and app.

Despite COVID-19 interrupting many weddings and events this year, Wilder Mansion continued to support to-be-weds throughout their wedding planning journeys. From adjusting schedules to make way for postponed weddings, to helping couples host socially distanced weddings following state and local guidelines, Wilder Mansion helped couples continue to celebrate life and love in a safe and memorable way.

Wilder Mansion is part of the five percent of local wedding professionals listed on The Knot who received this distinguished recognition. To determine the winners, The Knot analyzed its millions of user reviews across various vendor categories—including venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more—to find the highest rated vendors of the year.

To learn more about Wilder Mansion and how to plan your next great event, contact us.

The November/December issue of Chicagoland Gardening features a familiar facade, with Wilder Park Conservatory taking center stage on their cover. The facility was featured in their 'Tropical Escapes' article which highlights conservatories throughout the Chicagoland area.

Elmhurst Park District Horticulturist, David Price, was quoted in the piece, saying "One of the nicest things about the conservatory is it has a long history."

"We have photos of a grandmother bringing her grandchild here. When we asked, she told us of her memories of her grandmother bringing her. It's a wonderful tradition."

Check out the full issue here.