Splish splash in Sandwich: This hot spot keeps kids cool - The Times: Life
Sandwich opened this fun splashpad just last year. Wonder if they had to have a grant from the State in order to build it? A shame that we don't have the funding to do this in Peru because if we did the splash pad would be a reality, I am sure. Oh well when the state of Illinois gets their house in order and has money for grants again, we may be able to get one.
33 comments:
Notice that the splash pad in the Sandwich Park District. Park districts are a very successful concept in today's times and should be considered in Peru. Comparing the existing recreation board in Peru to city's with park districts such as Geneseo and Sycamore I find recreation boards utilize the shelf life of what is left to them and do not replace it nor advance with any further progress. Even upon expanding normally they follow the local area until they reach a overkill i.e. baseball parks.
The park district is a governing board similar to a library board and manages the area involved on its own without a city council input. The council being a group which solely concerns itself with the business environment of Peru I believe that Mayor Harls idea of utilizing task force teams should be carried on with a knowledgeable group to study if Peru would be better off with a park district than a recreation and park board.
No! No! No! I will actively work to prevent the creation of a Park District. A Park District is another unit of local government with an elected board that has the power to tax, borrow through general obligation and revenue bonds, hire employees, acquire land through eminent domain, and much more.
We do not need more local governments - we need fewer! If you want more parks, swimming pools, festivals, fire works - Vote! Vote for different Aldermen. Run for office yourself. Don't create another taxing body.
11:02 PM
We have a problem with recreation and parks in Peru but that is my opinion only. I don't frequent the recreation board meetings and I would suggest before you belittle Park Districts, plan to attend more than one and then in an unbiased manner, tell us how recreation is being managed in Peru.
We just went through over a year of haggling about Pickle Ball in Peru and spent lots of money and I wonder how it has gained in popularity now that it was moved to Washington Park.
Every meeting most of the discussion is often on baseball diamonds but that is another huge topic that should be discussed and I would love to see someone bring it up in a knowledgeable manner which I don't have.
They do fireworks each year and at the last meeting a week ago it was discussed with the pyrotechnic and they could not decide if we will have this year and if so where will we have it and when because we need to put it into the pyrotechs schedule. Possible locations of Baker Lake and the Airport were downplayed.
We could discuss this all year and not run out of topics. BTW NO aldermen wee present at the last mtg to express their thoughts as a council member.
And yes someone wants another ball diamond in Peru.
A Park District may be unpalatable for some in Peru but it is time to find a way to provide recreation for all with the $70,000 we give the Rec Bd. each year. This also includes salaries for the RecreationDirector and all "teachers" in the summer and I understand they are paid even if their activity is rained out.
Many towns have Park Districts with beautiful parks and recreation but the population of Peru I am pretty sure will never approve that and we will continue to wander through this and wasting lots of dollars along the way providing baseball diamonds.
Also the city provides the Rec. Bd. another $20,000 plus the $50,000 mandated by the state. Are you getting your $70,000 worth?
You own the blog so you can promote your biases for park districts, splash pads, etc. but that doesn't mean you are right. Before you push harder for a park district why don't you go to a rec meeting and put in your request for an activity of your choice? You may be surprised to see how receptive they are to new ideas. And, if it is too expensive, maybe lobby a local industry to sponsor it. Tax breaks come in many forms. Try it, it might just work.
I don't want to see another taxing body because, as a senior without any weekly income paying mightily for our schools, it just puts another burden on the budget.
You asked and I believe we are. They do a good job with what they have. I feel like we also are heavy on the baseball and softball thing but as a parent there are a lot of opportunities for our kids. Our schools are hands down the stwo fear aspect of our community but I also think the recreation area provides great opportunities for my kids. I'm sure it could improve but it is so much better than most.
12:22 PM
I didn't say I was right but not every child can or wants to play baseball, the number logically has to be limited. This is something that has to be started when the kids are very young or you won't make it. I am just asking if we could spend our money in a better way and as I said this community will never accept a Park District.
Is it wise for every community in the Illinois Valley to spend 10 to 20 thousand dollars on Fireworks, a 40 minute event.
The horse riding this year was great but too costly for the budgets of most families.
Maybe our elected officials need to take a greater interest in recreation instead of putting it all on the Recreation Board after all we elect them and the board is picked by the mayor.
Did you know that the airport is going to be wired with antique lights by our electric department and the decorations have been ordered by a board member which will be paid for supposedly by some unknown person so we can have something equal to or better than La Salle at Rotary Park.
Lois, now you have to finish that story about the airport, and tell us who the rec board member is, and the anonymous donor. Do not let us hanging!
To 3:00 PM
From the minutes of the May meeting:
Snackin On A Bike. Janice volunteered to distribute water and snacks at the east shelter at Baker Lake for bicyclists on 5/17/15 from 12-2. Lynda will contact the paper regardingthis event recognizing National Bike Month.
Unfinished Business: Steve continued discussion on the Lighted Holiday Displays.Chuck at IV Regional Airport said to place the lighted displays along the lanewould not be an issue. Steve has a firm commitment from an anonymous donor for $10,000 to help fund the project. It was discussed displays could be viewed from Thanksgiving to the Sunday after New Year’s Day. Steve will check with Doug Bernabei and Jim Lukosus regarding protocol if there is an emergency at the airport. Traffic concerns will be an ongoing discussion.
MINUTES FROM THE JUNE MEETING WERE APPROVED THIS PAST WEEK BUT ARE NOT POSTED.
SO WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOUR REQUEST .
Unless you have something to share with us.
The majority of the citizenship of Peru judge each and every issue by the amount of money spent rather than the improvement made. For years Peru has had low real estate taxes as they should have because very little has been done. At the start of Mayor Harls term 6 years ago the infrastructure was falling apart and the previous Mayor was continuing to campaign with the slogan of "Vote with your pocketbook".
Citizens of Peru at a minimum of $70K/year upon the suggestion of a study of a park district for Peru the first objections were that these people wanted no increase in taxes rather than what would be gained per cost increase. you are receiving a Halloween Parade, a Xmas Parade and a few short summer programs. It is time to observe the various events that LaSalle, Utica and Ottawa have in comparison. True none of these cities have a park district but for some reason they have surpassed the gap between themselves and Peru.
I also do not want a increase in taxes nor do I want another taxing body but I do want something for my $70K/year and if a park district is the answer I am for it. If the answer is a younger park board with fresh ideas and elimination of long term tenure I am also for that. Thankfully a very successful winter fun days will be added into this years program.
3:23 Peru Town Forum: According to the minutes from the rec board a Steve is responsible for the xmas display. There is a Steve M. and a Mr. Steve on that board. I wonder which one they are referencing. As a suggestion in the future meetings minutes should reflect first and last names.
Why do you need to create another government body to do this? Call me syndical, but if a park district is created it will lead to corruption. Money will by syphoned - in a legal way of course - on no bid contracts, nepotism, "conferences", "studies".... and many more. Sorry, you cannot convince me that anything would be different with an independent park district - except taxation on spending. At a time when we are trying to disband and consolidate local government, the last thing we need to do is create another one. OH... and how much do you think a Parks Director will be paid? How much will his or her assistant be paid? Park Districts are not about recreation. They are about paying employees an ever increasing salary. That will be their first order of business is we create this district. There will be nothing left over - then they will ask for more.
The winter fun days were ONLY added because of Rodney Perez.
What have been the summer programs for all ages in the city this year and where are they being staged? In this list please designate which are in their initial year.
Past comments for the last number of years and also recent comments have been begging for some form of re-organization of the Parks and Recreation Board. Sadly nothing has been done even though it should. It is evident that fresh ideas are needed.
One person who is capable and shown interest in city activities is Rod Perez. As a alderman he was the city leader in forming family events and already it can be seen that it is too much work for those involved to continue to follow the path Rod created. I do pray that Rod becomes active in Peru recreation and parks plus that each idea he has is recognized. Rodney Perez is too good a fit to not be included in the future of Peru's family recreation. If you know of others please recommend them as Peru has the necessary parks but not the needed ideas from those now actively serving.
11:28 it is not someone else's job to look up the activities for you and post them here. Look up the activities online yourself. There's plenty of people who can find them just fine. Also, the Rec board quietly volunteers and puts together countless activities very effectively. I agree that it's always good to have fresh ideas, but there's a lot of great people on that rec board. What they do far exceeds a winter fun day, and they don't seek personal recognition for doing it. Please don't go by a few comments on the blog read by a very small segment of the population as meaning people are unhappy. Everyone on here is unhappy. Talk to people who actually have kids to participate. Because clearly you don't do that.
too many on the rec board that are there for special interests....softball, baseball, tennis, soccer. that is where the money is going. someone was at the last meeting lobbying for another boys diamond. until the board has more than one person interested in the parks as a whole nothing is going to change. the other issue is they do not follow their own rules, regarding the number of years individuals serve. I believe every five years someone should be replaced by a new member, that keeps the interest and the new ideas flowing.
softball, baseball, tennis, soccer..... Hmmmmm, that sounds like "recreation." What do you want the "Recreation Board" to do?
7:35 you are exactly right about those listed are recreation, but not all kids are interested in playing baseball soccer and tennis. Now a splash pad is a recreation that could be for all children, maybe they should start putting some of that tax money aside and combine in with the friends group. We do not need anything fancy, just a place for the kids to cool off when the heat index is 105. And you can say what you want about Alderman Perez, he was the one who initiated the winter fun days. Maybe they should have bike races, scavenger hunts, water balloon and squirt gun fights, dodge ball, I don't know be creative.
one more, make slip and slides down the hills at Baker Lake, kids would love that on a hot day, serve freeze pops, ice cream, popcorn,slushies, then light some fireworks.....just kidding!
8:30 - I don't think a splash pad should cost us a dime to construct. It would cost something to maintain, but could be built for absolutely nothing. Its not really an engineering marvel. In fact, the entire "complex" that Gov. Quinn tried to use as a method to purchase votes could have been done for free.
Effective leadership applied to the correct people could work wonders. Instead of paying $500,000 dollars, a good leader could:
1. Convince a local engineering firm to donate some services
2. Talk to the trade unions and ask them to donate labor
3. Talk to construction companies to donate equipment
4. Talk to big box retail stores about donating material
5. Get concrete donated from the local makers
But, alas, our political class uses projects like this to "butter the bread" of their friends and connected business cronies.
OK Let;s see if I can answer some of the topics with out yelling at you people.
first the Rec. board is doing there job putting together programs for all our kids, not just Baseball, Softball and Soccer. A splash Pad is a waste of money when we really want a pool. The Peru citizens were asked for an increase increase on sales tax to pay for a pool they choose not to. therefore no pool just complaining that the elected officials are not doing enough to get the pool built, and the general public has left this job to a few women who tirelessly to raise money for a pool. ( Friends for the Pool)
As for a Park District I don't believe Peru is large enough to warrant one.
Mr. Perez should get involved with the Parks and Rec, so he can have access to the Paper again since that is all he did when he was an ineffective Alderman looking to keep his name in the paper. Now he can do all the family fun days he wants.
I would suggest that more people go to the Parks and Recreation meeting and offer to join or just volunteer to help with an activity,maybe you will find out just how hard it is to get people to help and come up with safe fun activities for everyone. Rather than sit here and complain.
8:00 am .....and the programs are free to participate. The committee does a great job with little resources.
I did notice that the one man band got his name in the newspaper again with his Baker Lake fireworks idea. Generally, the voting public can't stand to the idea of raising taxes to pay for recreation. I agree the formation of a taxing body would be not as effective as the current group. There are many options for recreation in the area without a tax increase.
ha! just take all the money and buy X-Boxes for every kid in Peru. Kids don't play outside anymore. Parents are not allowed to let their kids be outside anyway. If the police see a kid outside without an adult - they call DCFS!
5:27 AM You have a good idea. A local union man once asked me why we don't ask the local trades to donate their time to build a swimming pool. He said he would be all for it. I think the time has come to ask the local trades to volunteer their knowledge and talents. I also think the time has come to ask the local businesses to give back to the community (Peru) who has made their businesses thrive and survive.
you are right. Habitat for Humanity is able to make an entire house for almost free. But, Peru needs a half million dollar government grant to set up a concrete pad with a sprinkler and build a horse shoe pit.
By the way - if it is done correctly - maybe a "splash pad" could be an ice skating rink in the winter. The entire thing could be set up at the vacant lot after the school is demolished. We sure as heck don't need another baseball diamond - which will probably cost $100K or more because Peru can't do anything without spending a bunch of money.
If you think you can get all donated services to design, engineer and build a swimming pool adequate for our community, then you don't have a clue how things work. If, on the other hand, it is so easy, then why not go out and find the volunteers and bring them to the table. "Talking to a guy" who is in the trades is not going to get it done the right way. I am all for volunteer and they have a place, but you are not going to build a pool with volunteer labor and materials as they require much more than that. Let's stick to serious topics.
6:56, talking about a splash pad and a horse shoe pit. Not a pool.
8:00 AM People in most towns volunteer and are appreciated for their efforts. Many Many people including myself wanted to volunteer for the last city centennial but were informed emphatically by a aldermen that the city would take care of it. Yes it was taking care of by the aldermen and it stunk and has been shown up for what it was by every surrounding town. Ladd, Illinois most recently.
The extent of the Leader of the Valley Centennial was a parade from the airport over 10th street to Centennial Park and a band in the afternoon and that was all that took place.
Peru as far as city volunteers are concerned have been hindered until most have become mostly individuals waiting for it to be done for them rather than a group performing teamwork to get it done and move onto the next project. Presently we have a wonderful group of ladies trying to raise money for a splash pad without any one from the city financially stepping forward. Many donating time to softball and baseball and this fall to youth football. Each of these deserve a huge thanks, as also girl and boy scout leaders do. I know I am missing some others who deserve a thanks and I apologize.
I got turned away from that celebration also. Told it was covered and maybe next time they would have something for me to do. Now with Boss Harl in power, I've volunteered several times - but I'm the wrong political persuasion for him because of the primary I vote in. I quit asking about three years ago. Now I won't even donate my money. I guess that is the biggest complaint I've heard about Peru. There is no place for new people and "they" have a unnatural aversion to anybody or anything new. At the one event I was allowed to participate in, "they" called me "The Carpetbagger" - in a "nice" way of course... as in "here is a new carpetbagger in town here to help."
Stop with the partisan politics nonsense. I'm a registered republican and I am not from here and no one at the city cares. I am not an "insider". If you think the city council is all democrats you would also be mistaken. Far from perfect but a lot of good people involved but of course the conspiracy theorists don't want to hear that.
1:10 If you're not from here, what do you know about Peru's partisan politics? And how do you know nobody at the city cares about partisan politics?
I'm actually a Libertarian and vote in that primary when they actually allow one. But the point is - the last time I volunteered Harl turned me away because "I was not on this list" - the list of people from Peru that voted in the previous Democrat primary. He said this in front of me. He said that as he built his team he needed to be certain that they had the same beliefs he did. Funny thing is, he has deviated a bit from the standards of the Democrat party.
You know what I have discovered. The people that constantly denounce "Partisan Politics" are usually the most polarized people in the room. They decry partisanship in all instances except for their own partisan causes.
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