Litchfield Park District Approves 2026-2027 Budget, Prepares for Memorial Day Pool Opening

Litchfield Park District Board Meeting | April 1, 2026

Article Summary: The Litchfield Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved its 2026-2027 fiscal budget following a recent community hearing, while also outlining maintenance plans and alternatives for a costly diving board replacement ahead of the summer pool season.

Litchfield Park District Budget and Facilities Key Points:

• The Board unanimously approved the 2026-2027 fiscal budget following a roll call vote.

• Memorial Pool will begin filling on May 11 to prepare for a Memorial Day weekend opening, with the facility currently fully staffed.

• Due to high replacement costs, the pool will operate without a low dive this year as the board explores alternative features like a sliding board or climbing wall.

• New restroom structures for the Community Center have arrived but await crane placement due to excessively wet ground conditions.

• Construction on the new dugouts at Walton Park is halfway complete on the third base side.

The Litchfield Park District Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, unanimously approved the district’s 2026-2027 fiscal year budget and advanced preparations for the upcoming summer pool season during their regular monthly meeting.

The budget’s passage followed a previously held community budget hearing. Board Treasurer Brian Kulick made the motion to formally approve the 2026-2027 budget, which was seconded by Commissioner Jennifer Cearlock. The measure passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

In related financial matters, the board also unanimously approved all financial reports for the period ending March 31, 2026, which included monthly balances, cash receipts, deposit details, cash disbursements, and profit and loss statements.

With the financial framework for the year set, the board turned its attention to summer facility preparations, most notably the impending opening of Memorial Pool.

Commissioner Christopher Bates, who was absent but provided a monthly pool update for the record, noted that the district is getting closer to opening the facility. The pool will begin filling on May 11, with staff orientation and general pool cleanup scheduled for that same week to ensure the facility is ready for its traditional Memorial Day weekend opening. Bates also reported that the pool is currently fully staffed for the season.

However, visitors to Memorial Pool will notice a significant change this summer. The board announced that there will likely be no low dive available this year due to the high cost of replacing the diving board. Instead of a direct replacement, the district is exploring other recreational options to install at the pool, such as a sliding board or a climbing wall. Further discussion and potential action regarding the diving board replacement alternatives will be placed on next month’s agenda.

Progress was also reported on several other park infrastructure projects.

Commissioner Katie Cross provided an update on the Community Center, noting that the “Tardis” structure for the facility’s new restrooms arrived on the day of the meeting. However, the structures must be temporarily held and placed on their foundations at a later date, as the ground is currently too wet for a crane to safely operate.

At Walton Park, Commissioner Sherry Bergschneider reported that contractor SCI has begun work on the new baseball dugouts. Crews are currently about halfway through completing the dugouts on the third base side, with plans to finish both structures before the end of the local school year.