Since taking over as mayor last May, James Dodge has been concerned about how money is being spent on village amenities – specifically Centennial Park West.
The mayor has renewed urgency to figure things out on the amenities front after the board approved $12 million in repairs for the pools at the fitness center and aquatic center.
“We have a lot of diagnostics and assessments going on,” Dodge said. “These facilities along with Centennial Park West – we have to do a lot of thinking about what we want to do with these amenities going forward.
“When we get done with these assessments, we’re going to do a deep diagnostic and we’re going to have a conversation with the people of Orland Park. We will ask ‘what kind of amenities do you want us to continue to provide for you?’’’
His comments came after the board approved $12 million for work that will be performed by Waukegan-based Stuckey Construction Company Inc.
“I don’t think these repairs are optional at this stage,” Dodge said. “They were put off for a long time and it’s effectively critical. If one of those filters or tanks gives way, we have a much bigger problem.”
Dodge tasked Director of Public Works Joel VanEssen with getting the job done quickly and to make sure it lasts for decades.
“I don’t have a problem making substantive capital investments like this,” Dodge said. “But you’re going to make it last for 30 years.
“It’s a 30-year horizon to basically maintain an asset.”
The Aquatic Center pool usually opens in late May.
“It’s a very short window and we gotta get it done,” VanEssen said.
Centennial Park West will continue to be analyzed.
In April, when Keith Pekau was winding down his tenure as mayor, the board approved $1 million for upgrades to the park, which housed national concerts and, for one year, Taste of Orland Park.
The upgrades included permanent video boards for the stage at the park.
In June, Dodge and the new board revised the proposal and shaved the upgrade price into the $300,000 range.
Dodge was not happy to find out the concert series was scheduled to lose $500,000.
“It’s a lot of money to be spending for a losing venture every year,” Dodge said in June.
At the time, he threw out the idea that the series might change in scope and bigger national rock bands might not be in the equation.
After Taste of Orland Park was moved to Centennial Park West in 2024, the new board returned the festival to its former home – the area near Village Hall – in 2025, where it will likely stay this year.