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On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, you will have the opportunity to vote on the Park District of Oak Park bond referendum. If approved, the issuance of 20-year general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $40 million would raise revenue to build and equip an indoor aquatics facility addition at the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex (RCRC).
In the 2019 and 2023 quantitative Community Surveys, residents consistently indicated strong interest in expanding to year-round aquatic options for swim lessons, fitness programs, therapeutic water use, and indoor recreation space during colder months.
According to the 2025 concept study, the proposed facility would include:
In the area currently occupied by the outdoor pool at Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex at 415 Lake Street in Oak Park.
The estimated cost of the project is $40 million. The funding would come from the issuance of 20-year general obligation bonds, which requires voter approval through a ballot measure. If voters approve the bond issuance, property taxes would increase to cover repayment. Find out how much by using our tax calculator.
Click the images to enlarge.
This is the language that will appear on the voter ballot:
Shall the Park District of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, build and equip an indoor aquatics facility and issue its bonds to the amount of $40,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
The Park District of Oak Park regularly issues quantitative and qualitative surveys requesting feedback on programming, parks, and facilities. In the 2019 and 2023 quantitative Community Surveys, residents consistently indicated strong interest in expanding to year-round aquatic options for swim lessons, fitness programs, therapeutic water use, and indoor recreation space during colder months. Residents echoed this desire during the Park District’s 2025-2029 Comprehensive & Strategic Master Plan development.
Residents who would like to learn more about the Park District of Oak Park referendum are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming Open Houses or other information sessions. Please stop by and ask questions so you can make an informed decision when you vote on Tuesday, March 17.
Childcare is provided. If you plan to bring your child(ren), please RSVP by clicking here.
What is the Park District of Oak Park requesting on the March 17, 2026, ballot?
On the March 17, 2026 ballot, Oak Park residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether to authorize the issuance of bonds to fund the construction of an indoor aquatics facility addition at the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex (RCRC) (“Facility”).
What will the actual ballot question say?
You will see the following question on the March 17, 2026, general primary ballot: “Shall the Park District of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, build and equip an indoor aquatics facility and issue its bonds to the amount of $40,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”
What is a bond referendum?
A bond referendum is a ballot question that asks voters whether a public entity should be allowed to issue bonds and assume debt for an established timeframe (similar to a home mortgage) to fund a specific capital improvement project. If passed, the referendum would authorize an additional tax levy to pay back those bonds, and the tax levy would expire once the bonds are paid in full after 20 years. In this case, voters are being asked whether the Park District of Oak Park should be authorized to issue bonds to fund the construction of an indoor aquatics facility addition at the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex (RCRC).
What is proposed for the indoor aquatics facility?
According to the 2025 concept study, the proposed Facility would include:
The plan prioritizes accessibility for all ages and abilities and the reuse of existing infrastructure where feasible.
Where will the new Facility be located?
The proposed indoor aquatics facility would be added to the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex site at 415 Lake Street in Oak Park, in the current land occupied by the outdoor pool.
What is the expected timeline of the proposed project?
Should Oak Park residents approve the bond request, planning will start as early as May of 2026 with construction beginning in the fall of 2027. Construction timeframe is estimated at 14 months to completion. Specific timelines will be updated as more details are confirmed.
Who will benefit from this facility?
The proposed facility is designed to serve:
How was the proposed plan developed?
The Park District completed a concept study in 2025 to assess needs, design options, feasibility and cost. Community input guided the design, which includes areas for lap swimming, swim lessons, a warm-water therapy pool, and indoor splash pad.
Will non-residents be able to access the aquatics center?
Yes, however, all non-residents will pay the non-resident fee to access the facility.
Is this project environmentally sustainable?
Currently, RCRC is a Gold LEED Certified facility. The Park District of Oak Park is committed to environmental sustainability and sustainable building practices.
The project will include sustainable design features that promote occupant health and energy efficiency. It is intended for the facility to be designed as an all-electric facility with a high-performance building envelope and high-efficiency mechanical systems to reduce energy use and operational costs.
Will there be any changes to the ice arena?
No changes to the ice arena are included in this project.
How many jobs will this create for the community?
Staff estimate the facility would require two full-time employees and 80 part-time employees to operate and facilitate events and programming for the facility.
Will this impact other Park District programs or projects?
No. This funding is specifically for removing an outdoor pool, constructing a year-round indoor aquatics facility at RCRC, and operating this facility. All other Park District programs and services will continue as planned.
What is the expected cost and how would it be paid?
The estimated construction cost of the project is $40 million. Additionally, staff estimate $300,000 in tax support for annual operating costs. The construction funding would come from the issuance of 20-year general obligation bonds. In addition, the Park District Board in its budget will approve funds annually for operations.
How will the facility operations be funded?
Funding for operations would be provided through the Park District’s standard budgetary process, which includes a combination of fees for swim lessons, aqua fitness classes, memberships and tax dollar subsidies.
Will taxes increase if the referendum passes?
If voters approve the bond issuance, property taxes would increase to cover repayment. The repayment period for the bonds is 20 years.
The total estimated annual taxpayer impact on a median-valued home of $430,000 would be $160.30
The total estimated monthly taxpayer impact on a median-valued home of $430,000 would be $13.36.
Please visit the tax calculator to determine the total estimated tax impact for your home here: Tax Calculator.
How are property taxes used?
The Park District of Oak Park receives a small amount of your property taxes – approximately five percent (or five cents of every dollar) overall. With that funding, the Park District operates and manages 18 parks, two outdoor pools, gymnastics center, a year-round ice arena, eight community centers, two historic homes, a conservatory, environmental education center, and offers more than 8,000 programs each year.
How does the Park District of Oak Park currently receive its funding?
The Park District relies on two main revenue sources: property taxes and charges for services. Less than 5% of a resident’s total property tax bill goes to the Park District. The Park District of Oak Park is a separate taxing body and does not receive any funding from the Village of Oak Park.
How did the Board of Commissioners come to this decision to pose the referendum question?
The Park District of Oak Park regularly issues quantitative and qualitative surveys requesting feedback on programming, parks, and facilities. In the 2019 and 2023 quantitative Community Surveys, residents consistently indicated strong interest in expanding to year-round aquatic options for swim lessons, fitness programs, therapeutic water use, and indoor recreation space during colder months. Residents echoed this desire during the Park District’s 2025-2029 Comprehensive & Strategic Master Plan development.
Why go to referendum?
The Park District has heard residents express their desire to vote on large-scale capital projects, especially those that require ongoing operational support. Additionally, the Park District does not have the funds on hand for a project of this scale.
What happens if the referendum is not approved?
Without funding from the proposed referendum, the project will not move forward, and the Park District will continue maintaining both outdoor pools.
When was the last time the Park District passed a referendum?
The last voter-approved funding measure for the Park District of Oak Park was in 2005. The funds were used for a Comprehensive Maintenance and Capital Renewal Plan and to replace the $1.6 million transfer the Park District received from the Village of Oak Park.
Can you add an indoor pool at the CRC?
An indoor pool was originally included in Phase 2 of the Community Recreation Center (CRC) plan. As designs progressed and funding became available, the Park District took the opportunity to make the CRC a Net Zero Energy facility, which made including an indoor aquatics facility untenable.
How much are we spending in tax dollars for the CRC?
The Community Recreation Center (CRC) was designed to be break-even. We are happy to report that over the past two years the CRC has ended with a positive $300,00 which is transferred to the District’s Capital Improvement fund.
Can you partner with D200 to use the high school pool instead of building one?
Based on discussions with the school district, the high school pool is used daily for physical education classes and is heavily scheduled after school, in the evenings and on weekends for swim and water polo team practices, meets, and games. Because of this extensive use, it is not a feasible shared resource. That said, collaborating on programs such as diving and youth swim team would be possible.
Why not cover Ridgeland Pool rather than construct a new facility?
Ridgeland’s pool shell dates back to 1962, and enclosing a 50-meter pool would not allow for the modern amenities needed to help offset ongoing operational costs.
Doesn’t the Park District already have a capital fund?
The Park District does have a capital fund to complete updates and repairs. In fact, the Park District has, on average, completed repairs or replacements to various properties, parks, and playgrounds every year. However, available funds cannot cover the entirety of this project.
It is important to note that the Park District continues to apply for grants and other funds to leverage tax dollars. Such funding allows the Park District to provide additional updates to facilities and parks at no additional cost to residents. The recent construction and opening of the Community Recreation Center without an increase in cost to taxpayers demonstrates the Park District’s commitment to responsible financial stewardship.
Will the Park District be able to host swim meets and other competitions?
The indoor aquatics facility will be designed for recreational, fitness and therapeutic use. It will not include the specific features or dimensions needed to support swim teams, meets or competitive events.
How can I learn more or ask questions?
You can find more information by following our social media channels or attending one of several open houses, pop-ups, or community Q&A sessions scheduled.
If you have additional questions or want to share your comment, please email us at referendum@pdop.org.
The Park District of Oak Park Board of Commissioners voted to put to the community a bond request to raise revenue to construct an indoor aquatics facility addition at the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex (RCRC). If the bond request is approved, it will raise the necessary revenue to build the indoor aquatics facility described below. Planning and contractor interviews will start as early as Summer 2026. Residents will be included in the process as final designs are determined.
If approved by voters, Park District of Oak Park will issue bonds in the amount of $40 million.
The Park District of Oak Park referendum question will be on the March 17, 2026, primary election ballot.
Early voting begins February 5, 2026. Click here to see if you’re registered to vote, obtain information on early voting or determine your polling location.
The new expanded Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex will support Oak Park’s community by providing affordable access to programming that will support physical and mental health, personal wellbeing, and foster community through aquatics.
Approximately 7,400 sf of interior space will be reconfigured to support a modern indoor aquatics facility, along with replacing 34,400 sf of outdoor pool and pool deck area with a splash pad and small and large slides, a warm-water therapy and current pool, as well as a 6-8 lane 25-yard lap pool. The required program includes a new combined entry vestibule and lobby with elevated security and control methods like the newly constructed Oak Park Community Recreation Center (CRC). This will connect to the existing pre-function lobby of the Paul Hruby Ice Arena. The new changing area will be incorporated to improve flow through from arrival to pool deck and back. A medium-sized activity room will be located next to the existing large activity room and divisible party rooms will support a broad array of programming needs at the core of the renovated building. Back of house spaces will be built upon to reuse as much of the existing infrastructure as possible.
2026
March: Referendum Approved
May-July: Schematic Design Process
August-October: Planned Development Process
November: Design Process Continues
2027
May: Design Process Complete
September: Construction Start
2028
Construction
2029
Spring: Construction Complete
The project costs are estimated based on the conceptual construction cost estimate provided by Bulley & Andrews and using an industry standard to project total project costs for the Owner.
Construction Costs: $31,384,001
Project Soft Costs: $9,415,200
Total Project Costs: $40,799,200
Project Budget: $38.8-$42.8 million
Aquatics Description:
Two pools and splash pad with small and large slides are envisioned.
Site Considerations:
Sustainable Features:
This facility will incorporate sustainable design elements that address occupant health, energy consumption and regeneration, and responsible stormwater management.
We want to make sure you have all the information you need to be an informed voter on March 17, 2026. If you have questions or want to share your comment, please email us at referendum@pdop.org.
