This should be an interesting project. We have the YMCA and Five Seasons both on Techny. The Y is a huge Northbrook supporter and contributor to the community. They are a great example of garnering community support and becoming successful. The competition would definitely be felt by both the YMCA and Five Seasons. It could get a little heated.

I'm a bit disheartened, as I did see there was s small survey passed around, but nowhere on it did it mention that there was an option for using the land as additional nature use, nor was there mention of an option to ask if people wanted a dog park. Do people understand that taxes would need to be increased to help fund a big facility for fitness? As a long time member of this community, and one who used the Y since childhood, I think it would be a shame to see the Northbrook Park District go ahead with plans to build without carefully considering our neighborhood supporters such as the Y and 5 Seasons, why not work together to maximize the facilities we already have in our community, and share the opportunity to increase their usage. I think a survey like the one that was taken, was done with a plan already in mind. Now I ask Northbrook Park District to open their ears and eyes to what's already in place in Northbrook, and use our money wisely.

As a 19 year Northbrook resident, I appreciate what beautiful parks, outdoor pools, Wood Oaks and Techny Prairie Park paths and other amenities we have. My family has used and benefitted from many of these things. However, a community center with the "top four features that residents would support in a center: aerobics, fitness and dance, lap pool and walking/jogging track" currently exists in Northbrook . This currently exists - and has for over 40 years- at the North Suburban YMCA on Techny and Pfingsten. Our Park District director states that the "adult population wants space" and a walking and jogging track is the number one thing that "people are screaming for". There were 678 survey respondents of the 3000 surveys that went out (22% of the survey or less than 2% of Northbrook's total population) making these statements. I encourage residents to attend the public forums being held on March 7 and 8th and March 13 to voice more opinions about uses for this valuable space. Under full disclosure, I am also an employee of the YMCA, and encourage residents who have not seen the Y's "community center" to please stop by!

This is unwarranted competition for the YMCA and other recreational and fitness facilities in the area. In addition to the major facilities in and around Northbrook (YMCA, 5 Seasons, Sachs, Senior Center, LA Fitness, Sportsman's, Ice Arena, Anytime Fitness, Curves, etc. there are numerous privately owned fitness facilities and personal trainers nearby. Private enterprise seems to be filling the need quite well without government taking over and running more things at taxpayer expense. It wasn't that long ago that the YMCA was saved from financial trouble with a major fund raising campaign. I'd be interested in how the YMCA folks view this proposal.

I agree that an indoor fitness facility is a bad idea. We don't need a taxpayer-funded competitor to the Y, etc. But I also don't think that it is geographically convenient for a dog park. A dog park should be something that can be walked to. Plenty of people walk out their front door and walk their dogs on-leash. Getting into a car to go to an off-leash area would be a step backwards.

My family has lived in Northbrook for almost 40 years. I have grown up here using both the Park District and "Y" facilities. With the major renovations/construction going on to improve the "Y", I'd be VERY disappointed if the Park District wasted my tax money to duplicate the efforts of the "Y". Figure a way to work together.

Find a better idea to use the space. Please do not use tax money to duplicate services and a facility that already exist. Find a way to partner with the Y which makes a huge impact in Northbrook already.

To hear that the Park District is thinking about adding a community center and our taxes will continue to rise I believe is shameful. Is the Park District that out of touch with what is occurring in Northbrook? What about the residents in District 31 who are fighting to get basic academic requirements in their school budget. Or the increase of Northbrook residents using food stamps and the food pantry to feed their families which also means they can’t pay their mortgage. Who says we don’t have a community center - what about the two not for profit community centers already in existence – the NSYMCA and the JCC? Both also offer scholarships to the needy. Working for the Y as the Art Director, I know that 1 in 5 of our members are on a scholarship basis. How is the Park District going to help these families? If the only reason the Park District is building a community center is because Northbrook doesn’t have a track well I’m happy to drive 10 minutes to the Glen to use their track for free. I also believe Glenbrook North opens their indoor track to walkers in the morning before school. The Y also has a track. Its’ track is smaller than the Glen but it still gives you a workout. So no, I am not in favor of raising my taxes when I see the rest of my neighbors struggling with today’s economy and dealing with basic rights such as education, food for their families and a roof over their heads. Cathie Winnie

Northbrook is behind when it comes to many facilities. We have pools and ice skating rinks that are magnificent, but we lack enough indoor basketball courts, walking tracks, soccer fields and other indoor training / playing facilities. While I hate a tax increase, planned properly, I am sure it would be modest to add a great amenity to our town.

Mike G: Are you familiar with Joy of the Game right here on Waukegan Road behind Deerbrook Mall? 50,000 square feet of indoor courts.

Of course I am. And if you are interested in signing up for a $1,000 travel program, that is the place for you. Open courts where everyone can play is what park districts should be able to provide. Elite players looking for advanced training and AAU leagues should go to JOG.

I would like to see a full range of possibilities (and the related tax implications) for this property. It seems that the use has been pre-determined and that surveys and related PR are skewed to that decision. We are fortunate to have a variety of amazing amenities in Northbrook, both through public and private offerings. Let's make sure we look holistically to provide what is truly needed. What about indoor turf fields? Dog parks? Those do not exist. But we already have an abundance of gyms, pools and work-out facilities when considering the Y, Five Seasons, GBN, Greenbriar, etc. This process does not feel democratic or in the best interest of the entire community (both residents and local businesses).

We DO NOT NEED another fitness facility. This would not be a good use of taxpayers money. I like the idea of partnering with the Y and using the property to create something we actually need.

Another health club facility is not needed there are so many health clubs in the immediate area 3 of which are in Northbrook. I do not think the Park District should hurt those businesses, especially when they are supported through our taxes. Our taxes have gone up enough and with the State budget crises you know our taxes are going to shoot up in the coming years. Plus they just built a beautiful gym at Greenbriar School. Enough is enough. I would like to see a dog park at Anetsberger.

I am more than a bit insulted at the phrasing of the findings, such as:
"Nearly half of all households (47%) indicated they would use at least one program feature once per month or more." A more accurate and simpler phrasing would be, "A majority of all households (53%) indicated they would not use any program features monthly."

If there are people who want a fitness club, they should join a fitness club. Why spend tax dollars on one? If most households won't use it, why should all households pay for it?

Other (rephrased) survey findings:
- 89% of respondents were unwilling to pay more than $9/month for the Community Center costs plus the costs of renovating the Leisure Center. 56% were unwilling to pay more than 4$.
- 70% of respondents indicated Community Center costs should be paid entirely or mostly by user fees.

While I am the LAST person to want an increase in our taxes, I do think that we need to take a step back and look at the IDEA of the community center as an addition to Northbrook as a whole and not necessarily just as competition to other fitness facilities.

Northbrook is home to some world-class facilities because of the Park District. And, when this idea was thrown around years ago, it was because Northbrook residents wondered why Glenview had an incredible facility, the Park Center, and Northbrook did not. http://glenviewparks.org/index.php/facilities-parks/park-center/

I think that we need to base the merits of this project first by discussing what is good for Northbrook and its residents. Then we can have further discussions about the impact it has on other organizations. I'd hate to rule this idea out just because there are competitors.

And if you haven't been to the Park Center in the Glen, it is probably worth a look.

We have a wonderful fitness and activities center with the YMCA on Techny. It seems a waste of taxpayer money to duplicate a facility. Surely Northbrook doesn't have an abundance of taxpayer money to spend foolishly! Let's think this through, Park District, and join forces with the Y to make it a bigger and better "already existing" facility for all to enjoy! The Park District should have the same goals as the Y...serve the community without raising taxes, so that all can enjoy physical activity, a safe environment and comaraderie amongst neighbors! The Y's mission is simple: service to the community...let's support that!

No to a large Community Center-we already have one, it's called the YMCA. How about a dog park??

I vote for dog park and no to increased taxes for a fitness facility that we already have.

I wonder how much the other facilities such as 5Seasons, LA Fitness and others pay in property taxes???? And to think their (5Seasons, LA, etc..) taxes will go to build competition for those facilities. We must find a better use for that site, one that serves the entire village and one that fills a current void; not add more troubles for current businesses that must be struggling in the recession. ITK

I want to know why the Northbrook Park District spends 22 million dollars per year, while it takes in 20 million. I want to know why it has $9 million dollars in reserve, so it can just throw around $2.5 million to buy a property with no plan. While we struggle to pay property taxes of $10,000+. When bureaucrats have money, and a vested interest in growing their own function/jobs/importance, they will spend $ 14,000 on a survey with only 678 respondents and draw conclusions and spin the results to further their agenda. And add another referendum (More taxes)? The Greenbriar gym has all but erased the open outdoor space at the school, except for the 2 retention ponds it made necessary!! And it has your new basketball courts. And you can walk in there too if you want. We need to put a lid on the Northbrook Park District now.

Another Taxpayer funded center to compete with institutions like the YMCA that have served the community for decades is just wrong. All it will do is weaken current institutions/businesses and in the end (IMHO) Northbrook will end up with an underutilized asset for which we all paid. I also bristle at the interpretation of the survey results which seem to be seeking an predetermined answer ("people want us build a community center!") rather than providing options upon which residents and taxpayers can vote. Mr. Billig rightly points this out in his comments above which articulate that you can skew a survey result to get the answer you want. Dog Park - lower burden to taxpayers struggling to escape recession - faster time to value for the community - fosters residents communing in open space outdoors - and not competitive with long time town supporters and tax paying businesses.
Last point, the Y, their Board and their supporters have busted their tails to raise money to revamp and modernize their facilities to be world class - years of work to accomplish this task in tough economic times - it would be a thumb in their eye to raise taxes to compete with them, period.

I don't hear anyone "screaming for" anything, Mr. Hanetho. Sounds like a very bad spin job.

I never saw a survey. It sounds as if there were several leading questions. Did the survey offer other suggestions as to what we would like to spend our taxes on? I read the initial cost, but what about the ongoing expenses associated with such a facility. It is never the price of something, but the upkeep that gets many businesses in trouble.

Then you have to look at the competition. On one hand, the YMCA fills much of the need that the community has for a fitness facility. On the other, Five Seasons provides a higher-end alternative. They cannot all coexist. Either the YMCA and Five Seasons will keep many of their members which will hurt the revenue of this new project or the new project will hurt these two businesses by stealing all of their members. If one of these businesses close, how will be make up those taxes? Will that be another increase?

Give us what we need, not what you think we need. Our community does not need to win any awards for the nicest community center at the expense of our hard earned tax dollars.

Well put, Cathie!

Advocates of saving money and supporting current exercise/community facilities, check out the NORTHBROOK DOG PARK web site: http://www.northbrookdogpark.com

What a great opportunity for our park district and community...., We get to tear down a factory and create more open space! Now THAT would be award winning!
I'm for grass, trees, dogs, and the Y!

Sell site. With property taxes this high, I can't afford it. That site should be business or residential and be a net relief to our tax burden, not an increase!!

It's easy to ask people if they want new things when misrepresenting the costs.

The survey asked if respondents would be willing to pay between $3 and $9 per month "to develop and operate a Community Center and renovate the existing Leisure Center."

Do the math: $9/month x 12 months x 13,000 households = $1.4 million/year of income. This might pay for leisure center renovations, but it won't fund the minimum $20 million it would take to build a Community Center and the minimum of $2 million/year to operate it.

Don't be fooled: it costs $110/month for a family of four at the Glen Park Center. It costs $85/month at the Y (which we already have).

Northbrook Residents also need to understand that the building of Glenview's Park Center was subsidized by Northshore University Healthsystems ( formerly ENH ) who run a facility that includes physician treatment rooms and offices, and a large Physical Medicine and Integrative Medicine Department. Lots of cash people! Park Center may look like nirvana to Northbrook Residents but they have their fair share of problems with residents complaining almost constantly about a myriad of issues-especially the lack of parking/overcrowding on the indoor track /cardio room, etc.
I wonder why in 2009 the Park District did not bring the prospect of partnering with the YMCA "to the public" like they are now with their sham survey? What a joke!! The YMCA has been working their bums off to raise the private funds to renovate their facilities. What could have been.......

It's great to see so much discussion on this article. Please check out our follow-up: "YMCA Proposes Partnership With Park District, Not Community Center" at http://patch.com/A-rqzC

I do think we need a community center beyond the pathetic one on Walters; I LOVE the idea of partnering with the Y; they have been so good to our community, the location is convenient, it would be a financially more viable initiative. And the Anetsberger property could be more open space (so RARE in Northbrook) including a dog park. The perfect solution. When my daughter was 6 year old, she asked me, "Why do they think that any place there is land, they have to build something on it?"

I hope the Park District is reading all these comments, but I think the one way to really get these comments heard is to attend a public forum on March 7 or 8 at 6:30pm or March 13th at 2pm. Sign up at nbparks.org. They are held at the Leisure Center. Come out to voice your opinion!

The YMCA proposal is that the Park District invest 4.5 million dollars of tax payer money for a 15,000 sq foot addition to the YMCA, that the Y would run and the Y may give a discount to Northbrook Park District residents. Who really thinks this is a good use of tax payer money?

Why is it wise to even consider duplicating excellent facilities that Northbrook presently has available? It just doesn’t seem sensible to use that new location in such a manner. Others have suggested establishing a dog park. This animal-friendly choice would not only add to existing Northbrook venues, but seems a more appropriate design for the property than a community center. jh

As CEO of the Y, I would like to clarify the Y’s position and correct an inaccuracy in a previous posting. For full clarification, I must reply in two successive comments because of limits on size here:
First of all, let me state the Y does not believe our proposal to partner is an “all or nothing” proposition for the Park District, and we have not unveiled it in order to make a “pitch” for community dollars to be spent on the Y. Nor are we in any way are trying to be adversarial with the Park District, with whom we have great respect. We do believe however, that there is already ample capacity existing in the private and non-profit sectors for people who are looking for exercise and fitness options without needing to build tax supported facilities of this kind. The Y has additional capacity to service more members (and even more with our new renovations currently underway) and we know Five Seasons does as well, and other facilities in town presumably have additional capacity as well. As for the the Y’s proposal to the Park District to invest $3M-$4M (not $4.5M as stated above) from existing capital reserves (as opposed to raising new taxes) to add 15,000 SF for additional health, fitness & group exercise space to our already existing 75,000 SF facility, this was made in response to the Park District’s perception of a need for more indoor space of this type based upon their interpretation of the results of their 2009 and 2012 survey results.

YMCA Clarification continued:
It is our contention that IF the Park District believes it is important to develop additional space on behalf of the community, THEN we believe our proposal is a more cost effective means of doing so. It was only when the Park District announced "strong support for a community center based upon survey results", that we felt it was important that the community be educated about other options available before events start moving too quickly to be changed, particularly with community hearings coming up so quickly within the next two weeks.
Our proposal includes three very important components:
1. The Y would assume all responsibility for operating expenses on the additional space including program, overhead and staffing, saving the Park District from any extra recurring costs to their operating budget, and additionally would create a formula to provide the Park District with a net revenue stream after expenses
2.Northbrook residents would indeed receive a discount under this scenario
3.An investment in 15,000 SF of additional space will actually produce a partnership for 90,000 SF for all who participate because the ENTIRE Y is available for the community to participate in, and we would welcome an active partnership with the Park District on many levels
The Y is dedicated to building a stronger community and our goal is to work towards that Rotary code of the greater good.We look forward to working together with all who wish to join us.

People, do not coast on this. Email a link to this page to every resident that you know, along with this link to sign up to attend the meetings to be held:

http://fcweb.nbparks.org/community/default.aspx

Even using the most optimistic Park District math, the total number of residents that responded to the survey was 2% of the total population, of which 42% said they would be "very supportive" of the creation of a community center, which is LESS THAN 1% OF THE POPULATION OF THIS TOWN. That is neither "strong support" nor "a scream". Show up and be heard, and bring your neighbors.

If NPD follows their 2012 survey, the Community Center would need to be funded primarily by User Fees (see 2012 Survey Results. Charts and Graphs p6, http://www.nbparks.org/survey/survey-results.htm for more details). This is what Ballys, 5 Seasons and other fitness centers already do.

The survey implies a household can have access to indoor fitness facilities for a mere $9/mth. If they can renovate the Leisure Center AND build a Community Center AND and manage it for $9/mth, sign me up!! It will cost and order of magnitude more.

No taxes.

Leave Techny Prairie Park and Fields as fields, parks and prairies.

‎"You are invited! Northbrook residents can attend a Community Forum to discuss the results of the recent Community Survey about recreation services." --NB Park Dist

**Really?**

A friend of mine just came back from tonight's forum and said that the first thing the the director said was, "We are NOT here to discuss a dog park!" Citizens were told that this wasn't the time for them to voice their opinions (like alternatives to a new community center) or concerns (like how is $9/month possibly going to pay for a new community center AND renovations of the leisure center)? People were put into groups and asked questions, like "What would you LIKE to have at a community center?" (Didn't they already ask that on the survey)? My friend went there to gather more information and left with nothing. So much for gathering new input from the community.

I was at the "Community Forum" last night and guess what? The Park District was absent during the "discussion". The NBPD Executive Director gave a power point presentation, took 1 question then left. During the time that residents made their comments there were no park district people in the room instead there were hired "facilitators" that were not from the community. They led the discussion and took notes. I was offended that no members of the park district leadership or board attended the community input portion of this forum, not very community like.