Community Survey Update
The park district recently completed its Community Needs Assessment project. We thank everyone who participated in the project. Your feedback is critical in helping us provide the best services, programs and facilities possible. The project was administered by the Public Research Group who helped develop a survey, facilitate focus groups and administer the survey. The survey was sent to randomly selected households in the community and was also available on our website for anyone to complete. Click to see the final report
As a result of the survey findings, some of the many actions the district has already taken or will undertake are listed below:
Registration: The survey reflected a high percentage of respondents supporting a first-come, first-serve registration process for park district programs. This process has already been implemented.
Marketing: The district will return to providing a printed program guide in 2022. We will be aiming towards printing and mailing the Fall 2022 guide which is released in late summer. Until then, we will continue to post the program guide on our website.
We will also be launching a new marketing campaign for our park district app, working with sources to garner new resident emails and driving new users to our website through the sharing of specific park district facilities website addresses.
Recreation: The district has recently reorganized its staffing structure and also added a new position to expand programming in cultural arts, special events and offer more programs for persons 50-65 years old. More weekend programs for children will also be added, and special events will continually evolve with new components and target audiences.
Sachs Recreation Center: Starting this year, the Center will undergo a 2-year phased in facelift originally planned but delayed by the pandemic back in 2020. The facelift will include a new palate of colors, new flooring, a new front desk and a new track surface. The project will be planned to minimize the effect on any operational hours. Youth and Adult tennis and pickleball programs will continue to expand and platform tennis will be offered through a partner facility in Lincolnshire. The fitness equipment capital replacement has been increased and incremental equipment replacements will begin this year. Aqua Fitness class offerings will also be expanded.
Deerfield Golf Club: The course will return to pre-pandemic times of permitting each player to pay individually in the golf shop prior to play with tee times still being able to be booked online.
Different driving range bucket sizes will return in 2022 along with a range value pass.
Physical and infrastructure improvements at the course will continue as irrigation system upgrades and bunker restoration/drainage improvements will be completed. The last 2 holes of a multi-year bunker restoration/drainage improvements on the entire course will be completed in 2022. The clubhouse is scheduled for an exterior renovation in the fall of 2022 which will include a covered patio dining area.
Parks: Deerfield parks and facilities will continue to receive upgrades in 2022 and beyond. The Deerspring splashpad renovation project will be completed in time for this summer. A renovation project at Shepard Park that includes the addition of pickleball courts is also scheduled for 2022. The district will continue to improve accessibility to parks and playgrounds and will maintain its 15-year playground replacement schedule. Keller Park playground will be renovated in 2022. Removal of invasive species and ash trees through the parks will continue along with the establishment of native plant areas. The completion of the renovation of Jewett Park will begin in 2023 and be completed in 2024 according to the Park’s Master Plan adopted in 2018. Additional shade structures and Wi-Fi access will be added to selected parks beginning in 2023.
Local Partners: The park district will be contributing funds towards the Caruso Middle School auditorium expansion project scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022. The contribution will permit the use of the new facility for many more music & theater programs offered by the park district.
The Deerfield Park Foundation will continue to contribute funds towards the free open swim day at both pools on July 4, and contribute towards financial assistance for persons requesting assistance to participate in programs and towards scholarships for local high school and college students.