Rotary Clubs Help Improve Libertyville Parks

Libertyville’s Rotary clubs are working with the Libertyville Parks and Recreation committee to improve village parks.

Peggy Freese of Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club discussed plans to improve , during the Parks and Recreation Committee on Tuesday.

Freese said the club hopes to add perennials and annuals to beautify the park on North Milwaukee Avenue and Broadway Street. Plans would also include replacing the siding and repainting the gazebo within the park.

The club, which has 58 members, would provide all funds and labor.

“Everybody is ready to go. We’re ready to go,” Freese said. “We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”

Connie Kowal, director of the village’s sports and recreation complex, said the goal is to present the plans before the Village Board later this month. If approved, the work would be completed the weekend of May 21 and 22, in time for the summer and Libertyville Days.

“They have the resources both human and other to pull this off, and that is what is so great about Sunrise Rotary Club,” Kowal said.

The village’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has also begun working with another Rotary club to improve the village.

Kowal said a member from the Noontime Rotary Club approached the village with interest to utilize $50,000 to complete a project and commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary.

The club seeks ideas as to how the club may contribute. Among the suggestions that were discussed by the advisory committee were: improving 's Bandshell, constructing a building at the or renovating a nine-hole disc golf course at .

“We just started that conversation here today as to what can be done,” he said. “There will be many more [ideas] as we stimulate discussion.”

In other park news, Libertyville Golf Course will open Saturday after delays due to wet course conditions. Special events such as family time Saturdays and four tournaments will also be planned this year.

“We want to set the tempo that whether you are young, old, male or female, there is something that may peak interest to use our nine-hole golf course," Kowal said.

Also, the village is seeking business sponsors to hold its Fourth of July fireworks display. So far, the Mile of Cars has pledged $5,000 toward the fireworks display. Libertyville has budgeted $15,000 for the fireworks.