JULY/AUGUST 2023
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Join us for Music by the Lake in Lake Park
Sundays - 4:00-6:00pm

July 9th  Mike & Mike Blues Duo will perform - Food trucks on site will be Up in Smoke Creations and Ingrid's Tasty Treats.

July 23rd will find MIXTAPE HEROES performing - Food Trucks on site will be Up in Smoke Creations and Davey's Cookies.

August 6th has Strat & Taylor scheduled - Food Trucks on site this week will be Saucy Kat and Tropical Chill.

Picnic tables will be available, but feel free to bring your own comfy chairs and/or blankets and your favorite beverages. Buy some food, sit back, relax, and listen to some great music with your friends and family!

We would also like to THANK Acme Music Band and Arnold's Tacos for sticking out the bad weather on June 11th to perform for us and feed us! We had intermittent rain, but still had a wonderful time.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel our next concert scheduled for June 25th with Black Frog n Diva because of rain again, but will work on getting them rescheduled!

Keep your fingers crossed for good weather for the rest of the concert series!!

You can find complete details and directions to the park on the website.

Join us for our Food Truck Nights at Hutchins Athletic Field

36753 N Hutchins Road
5:30-7:30PM

Wednesday, July 19th 

C & J Caterer's                                                                              Sugar & Sage Cookies
Mario's Cart                                                                                  My Funnel Truck
Mamma Mia Pizza (credit cards only)                                      Camp Bow Wow

Wednesday, August 16th

Fork n Fry Poutine                                                                        Tropical Chill
El Zorro Tacos                                                                                Sugar & Sage Cookies
Mamma Mia Pizza                                                                        Camp Bow Wow

Park District Meeting Schedule
Fiscal Year 2023-2024

You may not know that all regularly scheduled meetings and special meetings of the Park District Board of Commissioners are open to the public. You may attend any or all of the park district open meetings. There is a public comment section on the agenda for all open meetings to allow citizens to comment on matters being considered by the board, or to voice interest and concern about other topics of public interest. The complete policy can be found on the park district website.

All meetings are at 6:30pm, the second Wednesday of every month in the Community Center Conference Room.

May 10, 2023
June 14, 2023
July 12, 2023
August 9, 2023
September 13, 2023
October 11, 2023
November 8, 2023
December 13, 2023
January 10, 2024
February 14, 2024
March 13, 2024
April 10, 2024

Please contact Leslie Cassidy in the park district office at 847-356-0008 if you have any questions.

Volunteer to become an appointed Park District Commissioner

The Park District currently has 2 seats that need to be filled. 

How long is the term of a Park District Commissioner?   
The term of a Commissioner that is elected during a Consolidated Election is 4 years, however volunteering to be appointed to the Board changes that…you would serve for 2 years until the Consolidated election in 2025.

Who is eligible to be a Commissioner for the Grandwood Park Park District?
Any registered voter who has been a resident of the park district for at least one year. A park district commissioner must reside with the district during their entire term of office.

When does the Board meet?
The Board meets the second Wednesday of each month. There are a few times when special meetings will also be necessary to complete park business. All meetings are open to the public, with a few exceptions.

Where can I receive more information or get answers to any questions?
You can find quite a bit of information on the park district website, www.grandwoodpark.net, under the ABOUT tab. A great resource is the Board Policy Manual which you can find under the ABOUT tab. You may also contact any current Board member, email parkdistrict@grandwoodpark.net or call the office at 847-356-0008.

What do I do if I want to volunteer for a seat on the Board?                                                                    Contact us by email at parkdistrict@grandwoodpark.net, call 847-356-0008, or come into the office (please call for an appointment).

Although being a Board member does take dedication and time (less than 6 hours a month), it is a very rewarding experience!

Are you up for it??

In the community survey mailed out to the community last year, we asked what improvements you would like to see around the district. Two answers tied for first place: security cameras and security lighting. 

Also asked on the survey was what general priorities the park district should focus on over the next 5 years, and again security cameras and security lighting topped the list. 60% of respondents answered security cameras, and 54% wanted security lighting.

Well, we listened.

Security Lighting: Last month we completed a project under the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, partnering with Lead Electric & Lighting, that upgraded all the lights in the community center, Adam's Park, Lake Park, and the pole barn to energy efficient LED lighting which will better illuminate the areas, increasing security for our residents and acting as a deterrent for vandalism. Energy efficient lighting will also create taxpayer cost-savings on the increased cost of electricity in the future. Thru the efficiency program and Lead Electric and Lighting, all these upgrades were done at NO COST to the park district.

Security Cameras: Lake Park has had security cameras for some time now, but we recently added outdoor security cameras at the community center, and this month we completed the installation of security cameras at Hutchins Athletic Field.

Warren Township
Teen Center

Warren Special Recreation Association

“Where Everyone Plays”

With our mission being Inspiring people with disabilities through meaningful recreation, Warren Special Recreation Association (WSRA) has coordinated recreational programs for individuals of all ages since 1981. WSRA works with local schools and governmental agencies to help ensure programs and services that support learning, socialization and independent skills are offered in the communities we serve. WSRA serves more than 150 individuals of all ages with disabilities in programs such as Special Olympics, Adult Day Programs, Health and Fitness and more. Our core staff are professionally trained in the provision of Therapeutic Recreation for people with disabilities. We also employ approximately 50 part-time staff on an annual basis.

WSRA is a partnership of Gurnee, Grandwood Park, Lindenhurst and Wildwood Park Districts; and Warren Township. Individuals residing within these communities are considered in-district. Individuals residing outside of these boundaries may attend programs at an increased fee. WSRA is located at 100 S. Greenleaf Street in Gurnee, this location handles administrative responsibilities, hosts daily programs, including our weekly Adult Day Program. Summer Day Camps and specific WSRA programs are held at the WSRA building at Warren Township Center, 17801 W. Washington Street in Gurnee.

Benefits of WSRA Programs

WSRA programs provide a safe learning environment with caring, dedicated, trained staff. Through fun and recreation, participants are able to learn and practice the skills needed in the course of a lifetime. During leisure activities an individual can establish friendships and gain social independence. The benefits of recreation extend far beyond the basketball court or dance floor. For an individual with a disability, recreational activities can improve self-confidence, provide socialization opportunities, and reinforce a sense of teamwork and tolerance. These skills provide an enormous foundation for life.

WSRA Programs for All Ages

WSRA is dedicated to providing recreational opportunities to people of all ages and various disabilities. We offer a wide range of programs that include after school recreation, adult day recreation, sports, summer day camps, Special Olympics, arts, bowling, day trips, social clubs, special events and more. Our programs provide opportunities not only for recreation but fitness, independence, social skills, behavior development, and many other life skills. Our programs are developed to embody lifelong learning while having fun.

SAVE THE DATE!

WSRA will host its’ 3^rd Annual Trunk-or-Treat event at Warren Township Park on Sunday, October 22, 2023. 

Another successful Touch a Truck Event happened on June 2nd!! We had a couple new trucks this year, a great visitor turn-out, the weather was beautiful, and everyone had a wonderful time exploring all the trucks on hand and listening to the DJ. Tropical Chill Food Truck was on-site with their wonderful shaved ice and ice cream!

Our thanks to D3J Entertainment for donating his time to provide music for everyone!

We are looking forward to adding even more trucks next year!!

Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up Event
May 20, 2023

Thanks to our great volunteers, all the litter and debris that had been collecting along Hutchins Road from Grand Avenue to Stearns School Road was picked up!! Our next clean-up will be this fall. Hope to see you there!!

Warren Township Highway Department

2023 Resurfacing Program

Warren Township Highway Department’s 2023 Resurfacing Program consists of removal and replacement of concrete curb, sidewalk, and approximately 29,870 feet (5.66 miles) of resurfacing.  

The roads included in Grandwood Park and The Shires of Cambridge are:

Grandwood Park                   The Shires of Cambridge

Center Drive                             Highfield Dr. West

Judy Drive                                 Westwood Place

Karen Lane                                Ash Drive

Pamela Place                            Sophia Lane

We appreciate your patience and cooperation during these improvements.  For any questions regarding the project, please call the Highway Department at 847-244-1101, Ext 301.

Amy Sarver
Warren Township Highway Commissioner