Dundee Township Park District - History

History

• The Park District was established in 1952. The formation of the Park District was a result of a referendum campaign that was motivated by the need to have a permanent administrative body to oversee the operation of Edmund H. Memorial Pool which was located in Lions Park.
• One of the first buildings that the District operated was the Besinger Community Center, which was opened on December 26, 1959. This facility housed the Park District’s Senior Center before the new construction began in 2002. In 1962, voters approved a bond issue of $225,000 to build Thresher Pool. L.W. Besinger donated the land for the pool and the pool was opened on July 2, 1963.
• In December 1963, the Park District announced plans to construct a golf course and open a park site on Randall Road. The park opened in 1964 and was dedicated as Randall Oaks Park. The Park facilities included the petting zoo which is still a thriving operation more than 30 years after its opening. Randall Oaks Golf Course was opened in September 1965. The 18-hole course was completed in June 1966.
• In 1971 the Park District purchased Library Hall, an historical building that was constructed in 1895. This became the Administrative Offices of the District and remains so to this day.
• In the late 1970s the Park District received grant funds to purchase an additional 130 acres (0.53 km2) to add on to the existing 27-acre (110,000 m2) Randall Oaks Park. In 1982 a community building was constructed and dedicated to Al Price, whose family owned and operated the farm prior to the Park District’s purchase.
• In 1972 the Park District purchased the Sleepy Hollow pool for the cost of 120,000. Private interests had previously operated this pool. In 1986 the pool was renovated to include a new filtration system and a zero depth entry area.
• Construction on a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) Recreation Center stated in July 1988. The pool for the Recreation Center was completed in early July 1989, and the building was opened to the public that September.
• In 1993 the Park District completed construction of Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center. The water park contains two large flume slides and two smaller slides, a sand volleyball court, concession center and a sand play area. The water park connects to the indoor pool, which is part of the Recreation Center.
• On November 5, 1991, the voters approved a $4.9 million bond issue to purchase Bonnie Dundee Golf Course. The Park District began operation on the course in 1992. In 1995 the course was renovated to include an underground irrigation system and an additional parking area on the golf course grounds.
• On November 3, 1992 the voters approved a $1.5 million referendum to purchase 50 acres (200,000 m2) of wooded property that was part of an old racetrack. The Kane County Forest Preserve District agreed to purchase an adjoining 42 acres (170,000 m2). Since that time, nearly 100,000 has been spent on restoration work at raceway woods.
• A 200,000 grant form the Illinois department of natural resources was obtained in 1998 for projects at Randall Oaks Park. A community picnic shelter, playground, basketball court and trails were built. More recently, baseball and football fields have been added to the park.
• In summer 2000, development of Prairie Meadow Park was completed Located off Village Quarter Rd. in West Dundee, the park has an in-line/ice skating rink, playground, picnic shelter, basketball court and soccer fields. A 200k grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was secured for this project. A cooperative venture with School District #300 was agreed upon in the winter of 2001. The park district has contributed funds to enlarge gyms to provide additional programming areas, at two of the new schools being constructed. These will open in fall 2002.
• The construction of a new senior center began in 2002. It developed as an addition to the recreation center. This center includes a large multi-purpose room with a state, arts and crafts room, library and computer room, and offices. The project of the senior center was completed in 2003.