Current Capital Improvement Projects

Cheney Mansion Accessibility Improvements Project

Project History
Cheney Mansion, a historic property of the Park District of Oak Park located at 220 N. Euclid Avenue, was designed in 1913 by Charles E. White, Jr., a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. This 12,000 square foot mansion boasts many handsome reception rooms, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and separate servants' quarters. The two acres of beautifully landscaped grounds also include a coach house and greenhouse. Located in the Historic District of Oak Park, the Mansion is available for weddings/receptions, private parties, corporate meetings and events, and also hosts a number Park District programs and special events.

In fall 2009, after a competitive Request for Proposals process, Wolff Landscape Architecture of Chicago, Illinois was hired to provide professional landscape architecture services for the master site planning of the Cheney Mansion grounds.  After staff and focus group input, and three community meetings, the Park Board of Commissioners reviewed the Cheney Mansion Site Plan final draft recommendation at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Thursday, January 14, 2010.  At the Regular Park Board Meeting on Thursday, January 21, 2010 the Park Board accepted the Cheney Mansion Site Plan. 

Wolff Landscape Architecture has since been contracted to complete the construction documents and assist with construction observation.

Project Team
The Working Group for this project is comprised of
Ted Wolff and Paul Blanding of Wolff Landscape Architecture; and Gary Balling, Michael Grandy, Neil Adams, Helen Vogel and Charlie Ruedebusch from the Park District of Oak Park.

Project Summary
Being the first phase of improvements anticipated for the Cheney Mansion grounds, this 2011/2012 project includes construction and installation of ADA accessible paths leading from the main entry to the front terrace and from the front of the home to the back patio. Accessibility will also be improved on the parkway near the front entrance to the Mansion. A kiosk will be installed in the entranceway to display rental and program information regarding Cheney Mansion. Sidewalk repair will also be completed and new landscaping added. 
In September 2011, the Park District of Oak Park, through a competitive bid process, hired Fuerte Systems, Inc. to complete the improvements. This project has been reviewed by the Village of Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission.

Improvements to the Cheney Mansion grounds will begin the week of September 26th, 2011 with $200,000 allocated for the first phase improvements. 

Park Availability
Construction fencing will encompass certain sections of the front grounds of the house, but other access points to the house will be available.  Cheney Mansion and certain areas on the grounds will remain open to the public during the project. 

Timeline
Project begins September 26, 2011
Project completed by June 1, 2012