The DeKalb Park District is keeping up with the population’s growth by expanding facilities and adding programs.

“The DeKalb Park District has anticipated for the growth and has set up advisory committees of people in the community to find out what they want and need,” said Brad Garrison, park district project manager. The number of younger families moving into the area has been noticeable, he said.

The 2000 census showed DeKalb County as one of the fastest growing counties in the state with a 14.2 percent growth since 1990, and the trend has continued. According to the Census and Data Users Service, DeKalb County will be among the fastest growing areas in Illinois between 1990 and 2020.

Land developers usually come to the park district and present plans for new neighborhood and subdivision layouts, said Lisa Small, interim director and finance administrator. The park district then designates park area and talks to residents about what they want built, Small said.

New additions and renovations to current facilities are other methods for accommodating growth.

Garrison said they are very pro-active in acquiring land and installing playgrounds.

One of the newest facilities is the Sports and Recreation Center on South Fourth Street adjacent to DeKalb High School. The recreation center boasts indoor softball and soccer fields and cost about $4.5 million to build, Small said.

Another recent addition is the skate park at Katz Park that is set to open this summer, Program Director Colleen Belmont said. The Haish Gymnasium has added a fitness room and completed general renovations, and a water slide was introduced at Hopkins Pool last summer, Belmont said.

Park district programming also has benefitted from the rise in population. The park district has about 400 diverse sports-related and educational programs, Garrison said.

Classes include exercise, swimming, dog obedience and karate as well as a multitude of sports programs for all ages, Belmont said.

Popular demand has dictated the park district expand its golf and tennis programs for the upcoming summer, Belmont said.

Garrison said any raise in program rates would be incremental at most and most likely would affect only a handful of programs.

The park district’s main funding is drawn from DeKalb property taxes, so there are no membership fees for residents and patrons, Small said.

Seasonal passes for golf and pool usage generate some income, but golf pass prices increased by only a few dollars this year and pool pass prices have remained stable over the past three years, Small said.

“The new recreation center has an aerobics facility, and if you look at the minimal cost for usage, it is much less than a private gym would charge,” Small said.