Frankfort Park District Approves $449,000 in Contracts for Commissioners Park Overhaul

Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners Meeting | April 14, 2026

Article Summary: The Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, approved two professional-services contracts totaling $449,000 to advance the state-funded renovation of Commissioners Park, with construction set to begin in May 2026.

Commissioners Park Project Key Points:

• The board approved a $310,000 agreement with Design Perspectives for design and construction oversight, and a $139,000 agreement with RTM Engineering Consultants for civil, electrical and geotechnical services. Both passed 5-0.
• The project’s site plan now directs a $350,000 state grant toward expanded parking at Commissioners Park during the renovation, rather than parking lots at Windy Hill and Lincoln Meadows.
• A representative from Operation Playground presented the board with a $25,000 check toward relocating the dog park out of Commissioners Park.
• Construction is slated to begin in May 2026, with the design package expected to go before the Village of Frankfort within 30 days.

FRANKFORT — The Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, approved two professional-services agreements worth a combined $449,000 to move forward with the long-planned renovation of Commissioners Park, a project supported by state grant funding through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Meeting in a special session at the Founders Community Center, 140 Oak Street, the board voted 5-0 to approve a $310,000 agreement with Design Perspectives for design and construction oversight, and a separate $139,000 agreement with RTM Engineering Consultants for civil and electrical engineering and geotechnical services tied to the renovation. Both motions were made by Treasurer Mark Ponton and seconded by Secretary Tom Ruvoli.

Executive Director Gina Hassett told the board the project’s site plan has been solidified. Under the revised plan, the district will direct its $350,000 in grant funding toward additional parking at Commissioners Park during the renovation, a change from an earlier concept that would have applied the money to parking improvements at Windy Hill and Lincoln Meadows. Hassett said state Sen. Michael Hastings indicated he would try to secure additional funding in the future for the Windy Hill and Lincoln Meadows lots. Staff have shared the design with Hastings and with local youth athletic groups.

Funding and Design Details

Hassett said that to move the project forward and finalize grant paperwork, the district needed to engage a firm for construction documents, permitting, bid package development, construction observation and engineering services. She recommended continuing with Design Perspectives, which has already been working on the project, and said she had worked with the firm to bring its cost within budget. She added that contingencies are available for additional features.

Frankfort Baseball has asked whether the second phase of the t-ball fields could be bid as an alternate, as the group would like to fund that portion of the work itself, Hassett said. She described the finished result as a fully completed park with ADA-accessible walkways and provided a timeline showing work beginning in May 2026. Staff will try not to disrupt the athletic groups during construction, and the design is expected to be ready to take to the Village of Frankfort within the next 30 days.

Historian Tom Barz raised questions during the discussion. He said more shade is needed near the ball fields and suggested incorporating an area where an ice-skating rink could be set up. Barz also voiced concern about some of the project fees, worrying that certain estimates were set on the high end and that if actual costs came in lower, the district would be locked into paying the approved amount. Superintendent of Building and Grounds Edward Newton and Superintendent of Recreation Stacy Proper both said they were looking forward to the improvements.

Dog Park Relocation Funding

The renovation is tied to the planned relocation of the dog park out of Commissioners Park. During citizens’ comments, Operation Playground representatives Chris Herder and Dave McDonald presented the board with a $25,000 check toward that relocation. The group raised the money through its Pours for Parks event and Frankfort Fest parking, and Hassett said the amount is in addition to previous Operation Playground donations being held for the project.

President Michael McCarey said he attended a recent meeting with residents living near the proposed dog park relocation site, where one resident concern was water retention in the park.

The Commissioners Park renovation has drawn community interest. Regan Frietag Pattison of Harber Contractors, who lives in Homer Glen and works with Frankfort Township on its food pantry, told the board she and her children use Frankfort parks and that she is very interested in the Commissioners Park project.