Presidential Park

TAKE ME OUT TO PRESIDENTIAL PARK!

The Presidential Park Reconstruction Project is wrapping up in winning fashion!

The contractor has completed major improvements, including the installation of new plantings, perennials, and turf seeding, along with all final concrete work.

This week, crews will be on site to complete punch list items and remove the construction fencing.

Check out the latest project progress!

Fall 2024

Spring 2025

ABOUT THE PROJECT

It's the Top of the 9th Inning!

Presidential Park is the Village’s second-largest active recreation park. After many years of service to the community, several of the park's amenities are in need of upgrades. The Village has been awarded a $400,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the state of Illinois to assist in the redevelopment of Presidential Park.

The local match for the initial phase of improvements at Presidential Park is estimated at $1.8 million, with the OSLAD grant providing an additional $400,000 to the project. More information can be found on the Village website.

PARK HISTORY

Presidential Park was first envisioned by Village President Vernon Harnish in the early 1980's. Development did not begin until a decade later in 1991. Harnish realized the need for a large sports park during a period of rapid population growth in the Village. Harnish and village officials quickly began contacting developers with the goal of a grand park in mind. Through strategic planning, Harnish had the foresight to combine two developer donations to create one contiguous land parcel and in 1991 park development began.

Board members wanted to honor Vern for his dedicated community service. "Harnish Park" was chosen as the name for the new park, but Vern was adamant many others were involved in bringing the park to fruition. The alternate name of Presidential Park was suggested as a tribute to the "presidnetial leadership" Vern exemplified and shortly thereafter it became the park's official name.