Village’s strategic plan on the table
Ideas include ‘parknerships’ to sell naming rights at sports fields
Advertisements and field naming rights for village parks and a possible credit card processing fee for payments for water bills are being considered by Orland Park officials as part of a long-term strategic plan.
Some of the ideas under consideration were suggested by village departments and staff, and a fiveyear plan focuses on areas such as capital improvements and revenue enhancements.
It’s expected that the plan, still under review, will be more formally hashed out at Village Board meetings next month.
During a recent discussion, village trustees rejected suggestions to make residents solely responsible for maintaining sidewalks in front of their homes or assessing a special fee for electric vehicles to raise revenue for street maintenance.
An idea that would consolidate playgrounds at village parks within a half-mile of each other will also be considered, but Mayor Keith Pekau said the proposal is unlikely to make the final draft. The suggestion brought forward is intended to reduce costs of replacing playground equipment.
Public/private “parknerships” is an idea that could generate revenue for parks and recreation programs and maintenance, according to the tentative plan.
Trustees agreed to study naming rights for sports fields, and advertising on fences at village parks.
Earlier this year, NFL player Michael Schofield III and his wife, Kendall Coyne Schofield, an Olympic gold medalist, bought naming rights for a portion of a redevelopment of Schussler Park in Orland Park, with the couple also agreeing to raise funds for an all-inclusive playground at the park.
The redevelopment of Schussler and calls for a scoreboard next to the new sports fields, identifying them as the Michael Schofield III Sports Complex, as well as a history of the couple’s accomplishments in sports.
Also still in the preliminary strategic plan is creating a transaction or processing fee, similar to those businesses levy on credit card purchases. Trustees did not discuss a particular dollar amount or percentage that might be assessed.
With the village expecting