Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield Park District Board for March 4, 2026

Litchfield Park District Board Meeting | March 4, 2026

The Litchfield Park District Board of Commissioners met for its regular monthly session on March 4, 2026. President Jeff Heyen called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Roll call indicated that President Heyen, Vice-President Katie Cross, Treasurer Brian Kulick, and Commissioners Jaylynn Taylor and Jennifer Cearlock were present. Commissioners Sherry Bergschneider and Chris Bates were marked absent. Following the approval of the February meeting minutes and the monthly financial reports, the board moved through a series of committee updates regarding park maintenance, community center construction, and summer recreational planning. The board entered an Executive Session at 7:43 P.M. and returned to open session at 8:16 P.M. to finalize a major property transfer.

Board Accepts American Legion Property Transfer
In a significant land acquisition following Executive Session, the Litchfield Park District Board voted to officially accept the transfer of the American Legion Property. A motion to accept the property from the City of Litchfield was made by Board Treasurer Brian Kulick and seconded by Vice-President Katie Cross. The transfer was approved by the board, though specific operational plans for the property were not detailed in the meeting materials.

Community Center Restroom Construction Delayed by Rain
Vice-President Katie Cross provided a progress report on the “Tardis Structure” restrooms at the Community Center. The project has faced slight weather-related delays, as contractor Dan Heise had planned to begin work this week but was forced to put the project on hold due to rain. The district noted, “We are getting very close to having a building.” The stated goal is to have the new restrooms operational by April 1, coinciding with the start of Impact soccer at the facility.

Walton Park Dugout Project Scheduled for Spring
During the Ball Parks committee report, an update was provided on the Walton Park Dugout Project. Following discussions at the February meeting regarding a request from SDI to construct roofs on two existing dugouts, the board recommended asking the contractor if they could also raise the dugout benches. The contractor plans to begin the project near the end of March or early April, with completion expected by the end of the school year.

Park Maintenance Staff Returns, Rip Rap Project Complete
Commissioner Jennifer Cearlock reported that two of the district’s three park maintenance staff members returned from seasonal layoff status on Monday, March 2. The third staff member, Dave List, remains on medical leave and is scheduled to return on March 16. Due to recent weather, the returning staff have been focusing on interior work at the Community Center and the main office. Additionally, the Walton Park rip rap project, funded by the Rickie Trust, was successfully completed last month.

Director’s Vehicle Purchase Finalized
Under Old Business, the board provided a final report on a park district vehicle purchase initially approved last May. The district has successfully acquired a 2024 Ford Escape for Executive Director Bryant. The meeting materials noted that the Director is currently driving the new vehicle, which is designated strictly for work-related purposes.

Pickleball Survey Yields Low Response Rate
The board briefly discussed the results of a recent community survey regarding local pickleball programming. The district reported receiving only seven responses. The data showed that 77.8% of respondents had not previously played in a pickleball tournament, and 55.6% reported that they had not heard about the district’s tournament offerings. The board agreed to conduct a broader Community Needs Assessment to better identify local recreational opportunities.