Veteran’s Memorial Park Master Plan

Click HERE to view the final Veteran’s Memorial Park Master Plan, adopted November 20, 2023.

How did we develop the plan?

Please feel free to share your thoughts on this topic and others in the suggestion box at Village Hall or in the Virtual suggestion box.

What is a master plan?

A master plan is a document that sets the vision and goals for the park and guides all future decisions made about the park, including what should change and what should stay the same. That means that the master plan will outline the types of activities and changes that might be appropriate for the park over time, as well as where those changes will make the most sense based on the needs of the community and its goals for the park.

Why is a master plan important?

It is important that decisions made about our public spaces are transparent and clear, and aligned with our community’s vision for itself. Once the master plan is adopted, it will provide a “roadmap” to ensure that any future changes to the park are made according to the plan, which will be published and available for all to see.

When did we develop the plan?

The planning process kicked off in May 2022 with the public listening session and we completed open houses of the draft plan in May and early June 2023. The Village Board adopted the final plan  in November 2023.

How did we develop the Veteran’s Memorial Park Master Plan and who was involved?

Step 1: Hire a landscape architect – complete

On May 16, 2022, the Village Board voted to hire landscape architect, Karen Arent (website), to develop the plan using feedback from our community. Ms. Arent also worked with the Village on the Stanley Deming Park Master Plan.

Step 2: Hold an initial public listening session – complete

The Village held a listening session at Veteran’s Memorial Park on May 22, 2022 to get initial feedback on the vision for the park. Click here to learn more about the listening session and its outcomes.

Step 3: Convene a stakeholder advisory group – complete

The Village assembled a stakeholder advisory group that is representative of all age groups (from teens up) and provides representation across our cultural and racial diversity in the Village, as well as organizations that do and could use the park.

Stakeholder advisory group responsibilities:

  • Liaison to other organizations
  • Consider and communicate the needs of our community
  • Problem solve and seek consensus toward solutions that will be best for our community
  • Provide a vetting point and opportunity to refine ideas that reflect the feedback we receive from the community
  • Help communicate about the plan process – what is happening and why

The Village would like to extend a special thank you to our Stakeholder Advisory Group participants, as well as to Karen Arent, Landscape Architect:

Step 4: Hold a series of meetings with the stakeholder advisory group – complete

  • Below are links to meeting summaries:
    • Click HERE for meeting materials from November 14, 2022
    • Click HERE for a summary of Youth in Government engagement session December 7, 2022
    • Click HERE for meeting materials from December 12, 2022
    • Click HERE for meeting materials from January 23, 2023
    • Click HERE for meeting materials from April 10, 2023

Step 5: Publish a draft of the Master Plan for public comment and hold a public meeting to review the draft plan – complete.

  • Click HERE for a meeting summary of the public open houses on May 31 and June 4, 2023, as well as to view the draft plan.

Miss the Open Houses for the Plan at Veterans Memorial Park?

No worries! Click this link to view a video presentation of the plan, review the plan, itself, and submit comments on the plan. The link also includes a summary of what happened at the Open Houses, which took place Wednesday, May 31 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 4 at noon at the Pavilion at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Step 6: Publish and adopt the final Master Plan, integrating community feedback – complete.

  • Click HERE to view the final Veteran’s Memorial Park Master Plan, adopted November 20, 2023.

Step 7: Implement!

Take a look at the implementation plan from the open house HERE.

Click HERE for meeting summary and implementation updates from the June 18, 2024 Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting.