The Barrington Hills Park District Board of Commissioners will meet at 6:00 PM this evening at the district Riding Center located at 361 Bateman Rd. A copy of their agenda can be viewed here.
September 14th Park District Board meeting agenda released
September 14, 2015 by Barrington Hills Observer
Posted in Agendas, Barrington Hills Park District, BH Polo Club, FRVPC, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Taxes | 3 Comments
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Anyone considering moving to Barrington Hills with children would likely check out our Park District to see what we have to offer. As residents, we might want to visit the BH Park District web site at http://www.bhillsparkd.org/ to see what we represent. With all that Barrington Hills has to offer, the site and activities to offer are woefully inadequate. Was unable to find any posting of minutes from past meetings or copies of treasurer’s reports.
The last bulletin or newsletter posted is from 2008.
The most recent posting of anything in the Nature Program section is from 2006 with the following comment:
“In early May 2006 Barrington Hills Park District will offer a series of guided walks through the Spring Creek Forest Preserve. The walks will be led by experts who will show and discuss history and plant life just as Spring bursts on to our scene. Please check back for details on this new program and look for it in our Spring newsletter.” [none exist]
It’s not very clear, but it appears there are no in or out of district rates. But, there is a rebate form provided that residents can fill out to receive “up to” $70 in annual rebate presumably for non-use of the facility.
I wasn’t aware that the softball field at Countryside was open to residents for use beyond for the students there. Is that good for safety? If fine, wish that was well known for others to use.
The site takes you to the Riding Club of Barrington Hills which is a very beautiful site and completely up to date. Is that part of the BH park district? If not, what are the financial relationships between the Park District and the Riding Club’s use of the facility?
Visiting this site is quite illuminating. Are the Park District officers accountable to the Board of Trustees? Sure wish there was more regular communication open to the public. Seems as though a Village rich in nature should have more to offer its residents. Out of district fees for activity would be normal and might attract families interested in moving here. Is there a Trustee liaison assigned to the Park District who could report to the Board?
The current agenda posted in the Observer makes mention of Intergovernmental Agreements being reached with and discussed in areas such as Horizon Farms and Countryside School. There is also mention of discussion of partnerships with local businesses. We were under the impression that no commercial activity was allowed in Barrington Hills accept under the protection of Home Occupation. If this is promoting out of district activity, does it include fees paid to the District?
Wish more would speak to these issues on the Observer to enlighten the residents since the Park District does not appear to communicate actively outside of the Riding Club.
According to the Park District WEB site they LEASE the land for the tennis courts and baseball field from school district 220. Why are we even doing this or paying upkeep for these facilities when anyone from anywhere can use them on a first come basis? That’s just dumb.
Let 220 take them over and be done with the needless expense already. I get they’re trying to portray diversity of offerings beyond being just being Riding and Pony Club centric but wasting taxpayer’s money isn’t a good plan to try to accomplish it. Heck, those tennis courts are falling apart at the seams.
The questions mentioned above have no answers. The BH Park District Board is a close knit group that fly under the radar screen as much as possible.
What does the average taxpayer in BH receive in services and programs? Unfortunately, very little if you don’t use the Riding Center. Their mission seems to wholly be dedicated to this building and very little to public programs. This could be why the Riding Club of Barrington Hills gave it to the Park District originally. Old buildings cost $$ to manage and the long list of “Unfinished Business” on the agenda speaks to the fact that they may be overwhelmed with just the upkeep.
I agreed that tax dollars used for rental land which the general public throughout the whole Barrington Community can use at will is insane. Please, no more IAG’s here!
The BH Park District has operated for years with little or no accountability. As our tax bills are complicated with other taxing bodies, we all should pay closer attention to that which is in our own backyard.