The Wheaton Park District is weighing nearly $3 million in new bonds and a $2.7 million restroom overhaul across eight parks. The plans were presented at a Wednesday, Sept. 2, subcommittee meeting at the DuPage County Historical Museum.

The session was for review and discussion only. No votes were taken.

Anthony Miceli, president of Speer Financial, the district's independent municipal advisor, laid out a plan for a General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds Series 2026 issuance of $2,916,905 at an estimated 3.25% interest rate. The district currently carries $5,900,117 in outstanding bonds across three series.

Of the proposed bond proceeds, $2,121,580 would go into a project fund for capital work. Another $775,325 would pay down existing Series 2019A bonds, and $20,000 would cover issuance costs. After a scheduled June 15, 2027, payment on the 2019A bonds, the district would have about $2.08 million in net new capital.

The bonds are sized to fill the district's available 2026 Debt Service Extension Base levy of $3,003,280. After principal and interest, just $3.04 in capacity would remain.

The financing timetable calls for bank bids on Nov. 17 and closing on Dec. 3.

Restrooms at eight parks

Nevin Hedlund Architects presented a district-wide restroom study with draft estimates totaling $2,666,497, submitted to Steve Hinchee, the district's superintendent of planning. The study proposes new year-round modular restroom buildings at five sites: Lincoln Marsh, Kelly Park, Scottdale Park and two locations at Seven Gables Park.

Each new building carries a construction cost of $345,288, with site work adding $63,190 to $91,760 per location. The five new facilities total an estimated $2,088,700.

The plan also calls for renovating five existing restrooms for year-round use at Seven Gables (center), Atten Park, Briar Patch Park, Graf Park and Northside Park, at $115,559 per site. Those renovations total $577,797. The architect noted that none of the existing buildings contain insulation in their exterior walls or roof systems.

The restroom push follows a 2025 community survey of 405 Wheaton residents. That survey found 49% of respondents wanted year-round bathrooms at larger parks with paths, but only 24% said that need was being met. The board authorized the $29,000 Nevin Hedlund study at its Jan. 17 subcommittee meeting.

Other items

The subcommittee also reviewed a furniture purchase for the Arrowhead Driving Range project, not to exceed $197,897, through the Sourcewell and TIPS cooperative purchasing programs. Other agenda items included bid results for the Arrowhead Golf Club parking lot project, a Central Athletic Complex stairs and ADA ramp project, and change orders for the Ray Morrill Community Center Phase 3 interiors ($22,658) and Graf Park improvements ($8,475).

The district's total tax rate for 2025 is 0.5216, down from 0.7201 in 2021. For a home with a $500,000 fair market value, the estimated annual park district tax bill is $827.61, down from $1,142.56 four years ago.

The bond ordinance is scheduled for adoption at the Nov. 18 board meeting.