Winnetka Park District - The Lakota Group

Winnetka Park District 

Skokie Playfield Master Plan – Community Workshop #1

WINNETKA PARK DISTRICT 

Skokie Playfield Master Plan 

PROJECT TEAM 

• Steering Committee 

• WPD Staff 

• Park Board 

Commissioners 

•Carolyn Kurtz 

•Bob Vanden Bosch 

•Richard Pierce 

• Consultants 

• The Lakota Group 

• Gewalt Hamilton 

Associates 

• Urban Forest 

Management

SKOKIE PLAYFIELD MASTER PLAN 

Community Workshop #1 

PROJECT PROCESS 

PHASE 1: ANALYSIS + VISIONING 

• Project Start/Data Collection, 

Area Tour 

• Site Analysis and Mapping 

• Focus Group and Stakeholder 

Interviews 

• Community Workshop #1 

• Alternative Framework and 

Site Plans Development 


(February)



PROJECT PROCESS 

PHASE 2: FINAL MASTER PLAN 

+ REPORT 

• Final Master Plan 

• Tree Preservation and 

Management Strategy 

• Develop Phasing and 

Implementation Strategy 


• Refine Final Master Plan 

• Prepare Draft Summary 

Report 

• Park Board Presentations



WORKSHOP FORMAT 

• Brief Presentation 

• Break-out Tables 

• Report Back



PROCESS GOALS 

• Engage 

• Existing/Potential User 

Groups 

• Analyze 

• Use Patterns 

• Conflicts/Issues 

• Opportunities 

• Develop 

• Creative solutions 

• Coordinated/ 

Comprehensive Plan



WINNETKA 

PARK 

DISTRICT 

FACILITIES



WINNETKA 

PARK 

DISTRICT 

FACILITIES 

• Amount of park land 

per capita 390% of 

national standard 

• At or above national 

standards for most 

facilities 

• Potentially below 

national standards 

for basketball and 

pools 

• Does not include 

private or school 

facilities 

National Standards Winnetka 

Population 12,419 

Park Acreage 242 

Acre/Pop. 0.005 0.0195 

Park Standard 5 acres per 1,000 62 

% over 390% 

Basketball 0 

Basketball/Pop 1 per 5,000 2 

Ice Hockey 1 

Ice Hockey/Pop 1 per 100,000 0 

Tennis 20 

Tennis/Pop 1 per 2,000 6 

Baseball 4 

Baseball/Pop 1 per 5,000 2 

Lighted Baseball 0 

Lighted Baseball/Pop 1 per 30,000 0 

Field Hockey 1 

Field Hockey/Pop 1 per 20,000 1 

Football 1 

Football/Pop 1 per 20,000 1 

Soccer 4 

Soccer/Pop 1 per 10,000 1 

Softball 2 

Softball/Pop 1 per 5,000 2 

Golf Driving Range 1 

Golf Driving Range/Pop 1 per 50,000 0 

Golf Par-3 1 

Golf Par-3/Pop - 0 

Golf 9-Hole 1 

Golf 9-Hole/Pop 1 per 25,000 0 

Golf 18-Hole 1 

Golf 18-Hole/Pop 1 per 50,000 0 

Swimming Pool 0 

Swimming Pool/Pop 1 per 20,000 1



REGIONAL 

CONTEXT


Community 

Workshop #1 

REGIONAL 

CONTEXT 

National Standards Winnetka Glencoe Wilmette Northfield Northbrook Kennilworth Glenview 

Population 12,419 8,869 27,651 5,389 33,435 2,494 41,847 

Park Acreage 242 100 172.5 34 515 776 

Acre/Pop. 0.005 0.0195 0.0113 0.0062 0.0063 0.0154 0.0000 0.0185 

Park Standard 5 acres per 1,000 62 44 138 27 167 12 209 

% over 390% 227% 125% 126% 308% 0% 371% 

Basketball 0 3 1 0 5 0 18 

Basketball/Pop 1 per 5,000 2 2 6 1 7 0 8 

Ice Hockey 1 3 0 0 1 0 2 

Ice Hockey/Pop 1 per 100,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

• Winnetka has 

highest acreage 

per capita in the 

area 

• Some regional 

balancing of uses 

• Does not include 

private or school 

facilities 

Tennis 20 16 20 4 22 0 45 

Tennis/Pop 1 per 2,000 6 4 14 3 17 1 21 

Baseball 4 3 7 3 10 3 17 

Baseball/Pop 1 per 5,000 2 2 6 1 7 0 8 

Lighted Baseball 0 1 4 4 ? ? ? 

Lighted Baseball/Pop 1 per 30,000 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 

Field Hockey 1 0 1 0 2 0 ? 

Field Hockey/Pop 1 per 20,000 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 

Football 1 1 1 0 2 0 3 

Football/Pop 1 per 20,000 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 

Soccer 4 1 4 5 12 0 13 

Soccer/Pop 1 per 10,000 1 1 3 1 3 0 4 

Softball 2 1 5 1 15 0 17 

Softball/Pop 1 per 5,000 2 2 6 1 7 0 8 

Golf Driving Range 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 

Golf Driving Range/Pop 1 per 50,000 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 

Golf Par-3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 

Golf Par-3/Pop - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Golf 9-Hole 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 

Golf 9-Hole/Pop 1 per 25,000 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 

Golf 18-Hole 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 

Golf 18-Hole/Pop 1 per 50,000 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 

Swimming Pool 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 

Swimming Pool/Pop 1 per 20,000 1 0 1 0 2 0 2



PARK OVERVIEW 

• Size: 

162.5 Acres 

• Park District Use Areas 

• Golf 135.8 Acres 83.6% 

• Recreation 15.0 Acres 9.2% 

• Tennis 5.5 Acres 3.4% 

• Paddle 0.8 Acres 0.5% 

• Ice Arena 2.3 Acres 1.4% 

• Parks/Maintenance 3.1 Acres 1.9% 

• Floodplain 156.7 Acres 96.4% 

• Impermeable: 10.7 Acres 6.6% 

• Permeable: 151.8 Acres 93.4%



STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS 

• Hockey 

• Figure Skating 

• Paddle Club 

• Tennis 

• Golf 

• Swimming Pool 

• Outdoor 

• Indoor 

• AYSO 

• KWBA 

• Winnetka Football 

• Catholic Football 

• Winnetka Parks Foundation 

• Winnetka Garden Guild 

• Village of Winnetka 

• District 36 

• New Trier 

• Cook County Forest 

Preserve 

• Teenagers 

• Neighbors 

• Big Picture Thinkers 

• Skokie Playfields Staff 

• Recreation 

• Facilities 

• Golf 

• Maintenance 

• Tennis 

• Hockey 

• Paddle



COMMON THEME ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES



COMMON THEME ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES



COMMON THEME ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

• FLOODPLAIN 

• Pro: Park wouldn’t exist without it 

• Con: Makes use challenging 

• Need to work with Village on 

stormwater improvements




• PIECEMEAL DEVELOPMENT OF PARK 

• Pro: A great collection of 

uses has built up over 

time 

• Con: Poor connections/ 

circulation/ relationships 

between uses 

• Hard for new visitors to 

find their way around 

• Difficult to park for 

multiple uses 

• Little ability to share 

support facilities between 

uses




• FIELDS CURRENTLY 

OVERPROGRAMMED 

• Pro: High demand and 

activity 

• Con: Heavy wear, no 

ability to rest or rotate 

fields to reestablish 

• Fields used in sub-optimal 

conditions (wet, muddy) 

• Some uses not able to get 

field time or get late 

season field time




• LACK OF SUPPORT FACILITIES 

•Bathrooms 

•Concessions 

•Drinking Fountains 

•Recreational Demands




• ACCESS + CIRCULATION 

• Improved Pedestrian Connections 

• Improved Vehicular Circulation 

• More Efficient Parking 

• Bike Paths and Amenities 

• Improved Wayfinding




• AESTHETICS 

• Preserve large trees and large 

stands of trees 

• No cohesive treatment of 

Hibbard Road landscape 

• Little foundation plantings 

on buildings 

• Ice Arena east façade is 

lacking character



NEW AND UNIQUE IDEAS FROM USER GROUPS



NEW AND UNIQUE IDEAS FROM USER GROUPS



OTHER ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

• Study potential for indoor 

or outdoor pool 

• Outdoor pool would 

provide more social 

recreation 

• Indoor pool would 

provide recreational 

and lesson 

opportunities not 

currently provided by 

Park District




• Form relationship with Cook County Forest 

Preserve and understand possible 

opportunities 

• Stormwater/ compensatory storage 

opportunities 

• Passive recreation opportunities 

• Active recreation opportunities




• Understand opportunities for working 

with New Trier on sharing of facilities 

• New Trier exploring potential of 

expanding West Campus indoor 

pool 

• Expansion of East Campus could 

result in loss of tennis courts 

• Drainage issues on Duke Childs 

Field could be handle more 

regionally with Park District and 

Village participation 

• Duke Childs LaCrosse/Field Hockey 

fields are located close to the 

roads




• Understand opportunities of expanded 

use of the Village land fill 

• Potion of landfill space already to 

be used for Parks/Maintenance 

• Is public use allowed, if yes, when 

would it be possible 

• What is the space available 

• Potential uses 

•Field 

•Sled Hill 

•Driving Range



NEIGHBORS 

• Concerns about truck parking along 

north property 

• Concerns about impact of field 

lighting 

• Impact of traffic and parking issues – 

especially during tournaments 

• Some feel Park District should not try 

to draw users outside of Winnetka 

Sunset Lane 

• Need more passive recreation 

opportunities 

• Improve character and views into site 

with more landscaping



TEENAGERS 

• Expand Skate Park 

• Create lounge/hang-out space 

• Better sled hill 

• Par 3 Golf very important to some 

• Would like pool (preferably indoor) 

• Open to field turf if it means they 

can get more field time 

• Drainage issues lead to bad smells 

after storms 

• Would like a paint-ball facility



NEW AND UNIQUE IDEAS FROM USER GROUPS 

• Use landfill for additional open space uses 

• Rename or rebrand the facilities 

• Look for more revenue generators 

• Charge more for facilities 

• Concession stands 

• Electric golf carts 

• Bigger golf range with grass tees 

• Better bike connections from park to 

regional trail



EXISTING AREA USE ZONES



PARK OVERVIEW 

• Golf 

• Recreation 

• Tennis 

• Paddle 

• Ice Arena 

• Parks/Maintenance 

Hibbard Road 

• Duke Childs Field 

• Village Right-of-Way 

Forestway Drive 

Willow Road



GOLF 

• Size: 135.8 Acres (83.6%) 


• Clubhouse 

• 18 Hole Course 

• Par 3 Course 

• Driving Range 

• Putting Green 

• Users/User Groups 

• Season Passes (15,000/yr) 

• 5-day Passes (500/yr) 

• Daily Passes (29,000/yr) 

• Instructional Courses (500 participants) 

• Park District Competitive Teams 

• Men’s Club (160 members) 

• 9-hole Women’s Club (90-100 members) 

• 18-hole Women’s Club (60-80 members) 

• High School (50+) 


Willow Road 

Hibbard Road



GOLF 

• Size: 135.8 Acres (83.6%) 


• Clubhouse 

• 18 Hole Course 

• Par 3 Course 

• Driving Range 

• Putting Green 


• Season Passes 

• 5-day Passes 

• Daily Passes 

• Instructional Courses 

• Park District Competitive Teams 

• Men’s Club 

• 9-hole Women’s Club 

• 18-hole Women’s Club 

• High School 


Willow Road 

Hibbard Road



GOLF ISSUES AND 

OPPORTUNITIES 

• Needs/Wants 

• Rebuild greens to new USGA standards 

• Continuous cart path 

• Issues 

• Safety around ponds 

• Bumpiness of fairways 

• Repair irrigation



GOLF ISSUES AND 

OPPORTUNITIES 


• Grass driving range 

• Bigger putting green 

• More short-range practice facilities 

• Better sequencing 

• Parking 

• Clubhouse 

• Driving range 

• Putting green 

• Separate pro-shop 

• Banquet facilities 

• Target greens on driving range 

• Issues 

• Conflicts with driving range and fields 

• Safety around ponds



RECREATION 

• Size: 15.0 Acres (9.2%) 

• Facilities: 

• Shared fields w/ alternating seasons 

• 6 baseball/softball fields 

• 3 football/lacrosse fields 

• Skate park 

• Users/User Groups (participants) 

• Park District Programs/Teams 

• Football (150) 

• Flag Football (50) 

• Softball (1,000) 

• LaCrosse (400) 

• Field Hockey (70) 

• T-Ball (180) 

• Camps (400) 

• Special Events 

• Affiliates 

• KWBA (1,000) 

• AYSO (350) 

• Outside Groups 

• Catholic Football (100) 

• New Trier Softball (15) 

• Trevian Softball (25) 

• Winnetka 36 School 

District 


Hibbard Road 

Willow Road



RECREATION 

• Size: 15.0 Acres (9.2%) 


• Shared fields w/ alternating seasons 

• 6 baseball/softball fields 

• 3 football/lacrosse fields 

• Skate park 

• Users/User Groups (participants) 

• Park District Programs/Teams 

• Football 

• Flag Football 

• Softball 

• LaCrosse 

• Field Hockey 

• T-Ball 

• Camps 


• Affiliates 

• KWBA 

• AYSO 

• Outside Groups 

• Catholic Football 

• New Trier Softball 

• Trevian Softball 

• Winnetka 36 School 

District 


Hibbard Road 

Willow Road



RECREATION ISSUES 

AND OPPORTUNITIES 


• Issues 

• Proper grading of fields 

• Larger skate park 

• Additional field(s) 

• Outdoor basketball 

• Fieldhouse or indoor recreation 

facilities 

• Improved sled hill 

• Proximate new bathrooms and 

concession 

• Permanent field material 

• Wear on fields 

• Use of fields in poor weather 

• Programming/scheduling 

• Access to fields (ADA/Seniors)



TENNIS 

• Size: 5.5 Acres (3.4%) 


• A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center 

• 8 Indoor Courts 

• Locker rooms 

• Daycare 

• 12 Outdoor Courts 


• Private Lessons (5,100/yr) 

• Group Lessons (27,500/yr) 

• Permenant Court Times (86 Groups) 

• Member and Open Play (27,000/yr) 

• League Play (5,400/yr) 

• New Trier Tennis (2,400/yr) 

• Special Events + Yearly National 

Summer Tournament 


Hibbard Road 

Willow Road



TENNIS 

• Size: 5.5 Acres (3.4%) 


• A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center 

• 8 Indoor Courts 


• Daycare 

• 12 Outdoor Courts 


• Private Lessons 

• Group Lessons 

• Permenant Court Times 

• Member and Open Play 

• League Play 

• New Trier Tennis 

• Special Events + Yearly National 

Summer Tournament 


Hibbard Road 

Willow Road



TENNIS ISSUES AND 

OPPORTUNITIES 


• Expanded facility 

• Improved flow 

• Improved front desk 

• Improved locker rooms 

• Secure entrances 

• Lounge 

• Meeting space/class room 

• Pro-shop 

• Fitness room 

• Climbing wall 

• Expanded daycare 

• 2 nd floor gallery for outdoor courts 

• More bike racks 

• Issues 

• Drop-offs and parking 

• Maintenance and health of big trees 

• Drainage issues near courts



PADDLE/PLATFORM TENNIS 

• Size: 0.8 Acres (0.5%) 


• Paddle Clubhouse 

• 6 Courts 


• WPTC (8,800/yr) 

• Lessons (3,000/yr) 

• Member and Open Play (3,800/yr) 

• Parties (1,500/yr) 

• Special Events (140/yr) 

Hibbard Road 


Willow Road



PADDLE/PLATFORM TENNIS 

• Size: 0.8 Acres (0.5%) 


• Paddle Clubhouse 

• 6 Courts 


• WPTC 

• Lessons 

• Member and Open Play 

• Parties 


Hibbard Road 


Willow Road



PADDLE ISSUES AND 

OPPORTUNITIES 

• Generally in good shape 

• Relatively newer facility 


• More storage 

• Room for Pro-shop 

• Issues 

• Some conflicts with Tennis 

lighting



ICE ARENA 

• Size: 2.3 Acres (1.4%) 


• 1 Sheet of Ice 


• Concession stand 

• Lounge 


• Skating Lessons (17,500/yr) 


• Guest Coaches (940/yr) 

• Public Skate (7,100/yr) 

• Winnetka Figure Skating Club (3,000/yr) 

• Hockey 

• Winnetka Hockey Club (8,800/yr) 

• New Trier Hockey (940/yr) 

• Special Events (3,500/yr) 


Hibbard Road 

Willow Road



ICE ARENA 

• Size: 2.3 Acres (1.4%) 


• 1 Sheet of Ice 


• Concession stand 

• Lounge 


• Skating Lessons 


• Guest Coaches 

• Public Skate 

• Winnetka Figure Skating Club 

• Hockey 

• Winnetka Hockey Club 

• New Trier Hockey 



Hibbard Road 

Willow Road



ICE ARENA ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 


• Vestibule for climate 

control 

• Better locker rooms 

• Meeting room/party 

room 

• 2 nd zamboni storage 

• “Studio” ice rink 

•More free/flexible 

skate time 

•Parties 

•Individual lessons 

• Off season opportunities 

•Ballet 

•Pilates



PARKS/MAINTENANCE 

• Size: 3.1 Acres (1.9%) 

• (Only1.1% of total WPD Acreage) 


• Service Yard 

• Parks Building 

• Equipment/Material Storage 

• Parking Lot 

• Compost Area 

• Golf Course Maintenance Building 

• Material Storage 


Willow Road 

Hibbard Road



PARKS/MAINTENANCE ISSUES 

AND OPPORTUNITIES 


• Better drainage 

• Better security for 

maintenance facilities 

• Fence/Secure entrances 

• Security lighting 

• 8’ wide paths to handle fleet 

vehicles 

• Improved ADA accessibility 

• Reduce programming load on 

fields 

• Improved traffic flow for 

deliveries (semis) 

• Better flow and landscaping of 

parking areas



NEW TRIER RECREATION 

FACILITIES: DUKE CHILDS 

FIELD 

• Size: 14.7 Acres 


• 2 Baseball Fields 

• 1 Softball Field 

• 3 LaCrosse Fields 

• Users/User Groups: 

• Varsity Baseball 

• Junior Varsity Baseball 

• Women’s Softball 

• LaCrosse 

• Field Hockey 


Hibbard Road 

Willow Road



VILLAGE OWNED ROAD 

RIGHT-OF-WAY: CHERRY 

STREET EXTENSION 

• Size: 0.6 Acres 

• Facilities: N/A 

• Users: 

• Winter Snow Storage 

• Construction Staging 

• Parking 

Hibbard Road 


Willow Road



REGIONAL 

CONTEXT 

• Where do you travel 

for certain types of 

recreation facilities? 

• Where do you spend 

your money when you 

do? 

• Is this a good 

regional balance of 

recreational 

amenities or a missed 

opportunity?



Questions and Comments

Winnetka Park District 

Skokie Playfield Master Plan

Winnetka Park District - The Lakota Group

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