The outgoing Orland Park village board voted Monday night to sink close to $1 million in upgrades for Centennial Park West, including video screens for its concerts.
The incoming village board was not pleased with that decision.
The board voted 5-1 to accept a proposal from Orland Park-based Dav-Com Electric for the $972,800 improvements, which include two 25-by-15-foot screens, fencing, security gates and water fountains with bottle-filling capabilities.
Trustee William Healy voted “no” at the April 21 meeting. Trustee Brian Riordan was absent.
Mayor Keith Pekau and trustees Riordon, Sean Kampas and Joni Radaszewski will be replaced at the May 5 meeting by Mayor-elect Jim Dodge and trustees Dina M. Lawrence, John Lawler and Joanna Liotine Leafblad.
In the days prior to the Centennial West vote, Dodge sent a news release criticizing the move.
“This is wasteful, last-minute spending,” he said. “We need to evaluate options for the future of the venue prior to even considering any additional spending on an already superfluous project.
“We are not going to spend more taxpayer dollars until we figure out its future. We will engage in the community with this decision-making process.”
Public Works Director Joel VanEssen and Pekau told the board at the April 21 Committee of the Whole meeting that people who have attended summer concerts and Taste of Orland Park have asked for video boards.
“It allows us to put the acts on the screens and sponsorships and so forth,” VanEssen said. “The screens can also be used for movie nights. It will be multi-purpose.”
Healy, who will be staying with the new board on May 5, isn’t sure the cost is worth it.
“To me, it seems like a lot of money for the number of days we will be getting out of it,” he said.
VanEssen said the improvements could be done by June.
Two of the three Concert Series shows planned at the park have been announced.
On July 12, it will be Yacht Rock and Soft Rock Night with Pablo Cruise, Ambrosia and Firefall.
On Aug. 30, country music star Trace Adkins and his “What Color’s Your Wild” tour comes to town.
Taste of Orland Park will take place at the facility on Aug. 1-3.
The Sixteen Candles Band headlines on Aug. 1 with ABBA tribute band Dancing Queen and Alika Arlynn opening.
Tommy DeCarlo (formerly of the band Boston) and Jason Scheff (former of the band Chicago) will headline on Aug. 2 with 7th Heaven and Altered Five Blues Band opening.
One Vision QUEEN featuring Marc Martel headlines Aug. 3 with Shake Baby Shake and Taylor Swift tribute band Sparks Fly opening.
This venue should never have been built. Incredible waste of taxpayer money. Use it for 3 months, the rest of the year it sits empty. PLUS your booking wannabe stars and tribute bands? Come on. Tear it down and build something for year round use.
I agree! I loved the taste of Orland when it was more accessible and convenient. This new venue is too big to enjoy and the middle is a waste of space since you cannot see thru the light and sound in the middle. It blocks it all. So far to walk and park for people with disabilities. Also in the middle of parking and disruption in a quiet neighborhood.
It’s not even fully utilized, Orland builds centennial west and yet they still allow a circus to set up at the mall where the surrounding neighborhoods have to listen to the whine of diesel engines filling water tanks for the shows. If your going to have it, move all the events there.
I wasn’t a fan of the music venue being built. That money could have gone to better use in neighborhood parks and street and sidewalk repairs.