As a commissioner for the past six years, I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a monumental transformation of our parks. We have nearly completed renovating the majority of our locations with many updates and new equipment.

I would like to welcome our newly-elected commissioners, John Spizzirri and Raeann Cantelo-Zylman. Both of these highly qualified and dedicated individuals have extensive experience in recreational activities with children in the community. These two individuals head up our Recreation Committee and I have no doubts that they will bring us many good ideas and activities.

Recently, there have been a lot of positive changes within the Blue Island Park District. We are wrapping up the renovations to our Pool and Bath House facility which dates to 1936. We have applied for over one million dollars in grants for the renovation of Centennial and Hart Parks. If you have driven down 119th Street you may have noticed our recently implemented “Bark Park”, the first of its kind in the area, which will serve our dog loving community.

We have just brought on five individuals who, along with our new commissioners, share the same vision for our park district, which is to have as many programs and activities as possible. We call them the “Dream Team.” This Dream Team consists of all Blue Island residents eager to get the Blue Island Park District “On the Move.” Collectively, this team will expand program offerings for our community.

Currently in progress is the upgrading of Hart Park Stadium. The area to the south of the stadium, for the most part, remains unused. We are looking for suggestions for something to be done with this area. Some of the ideas that have been brought up are: a multi-use gym, a fitness center, a soccer field, ice skating rink and indoor batting cages. For this project we will need to apply for an OSLAD grant which would slate this project for the Spring of 2011.

We need suggestions and ideas from the community for the replacement of Memorial Park Stadium. The stadium has surpassed its salvageable use in its current form, and instead of just replacing it, we would like to replace it with additions that would add to the recreational options the park has to offer. Some of the ideas already received include: an announcers box, snow machine, toboggan slide, storage facility for large items for the field, ADA accessibility and locker rooms. We have hired an architect to compose a draft of the final concept to move forward. An architectural draft is available for viewing at the Memorial Park Field House. If anyone has additional suggestions please attend our board meetings which are held the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm in the Memorial Park Field House or call me at 708.385.3304 with your ideas. I am confident that my fellow Commissioners John Spizzirri, Raeann Cantelo-Zylman, John C. Murphy and the “Dream Team” will facilitate the positive changes that will make Blue Island the hub of recreation for the South Side.

Fred D. Bilotto
President, Board of Commissioners