Worth Park District asks voters to support parks

The Worth Park District hopes to develop the Lucas-Berg site for public recreation. (Supplied photo)

Worth Park District officials will ask residents on April 4 if they are willing to pay a little more to support facilities.

The district will ask voters to approve a 0.2000 percent tax rate increase. If approved, residents would pay about an additional $5 per month for every $100,000 of equalized assessed value of their home.

The money would be earmarked to maintain existing services, improve parkland, and fund capital projects.

Worth Park District President Mike McElroy says the park board has been evaluating the need for a referendum for years.

“For over 60 years of the Worth Park District’s history, the tax rate has never been increased, McElroy said. “Throughout the pandemic and after, we are seeing a significant increase in park usage and our residents deserve high quality open space and amenities in the community. We hope that residents will look at this referendum as an investment in the future of our community for generations to come.

“Our residents deserve good neighborhoods, schools, and parks, which all adds to an overall increase in property values, natural aesthetics, and quality of life for our residents.”

“The Park District is committed to be responsible stewards of the additional funds,” Worth Park District Commissioner Kari Fickes said. “This referendum approval will allow us to make improvements, create innovative programming, seek grant opportunities, preserve our Veterans Memorial, and look toward future development for generations to come.”

The additional funding that will be allocated to:

• Parks, playgrounds, courts, landscaping improvements, and development.
• Grant Matching Projects.
• Altman Park Development and Maintenance.
• Veterans Memorial Park preservation.
• Replacement, repairs, and ADA accessibility of pathways and parking lots.
• Cooperative programming and development of the Lucas-Berg site for public recreation.

The question Worth Park District residents will see on the ballot is as follows: “Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the Worth Park District, Cook County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.2000% above the limiting rate for levy year 2021 for all lawful recreational and park purposes, including the future development of Altman Park and Veterans Memorial Park and to pursue an intergovernmental relationship to offer the Lucas-Berg site for public recreation, and be equal to 0.5846% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2023?”