Hinsdale Central Athletic Overhaul Stalled; Fundraising At Issue

HINSDALE, IL – Officials acted swiftly last year when a group approached them about $6 million in proposed improvements to Hinsdale Central High School's athletic facilities.

The school district put the project out to bid, opening proposals from companies in December. In early January, a committee from Hinsdale High School District 86 reviewed the bids.

Members made no decision, saying more money was needed.

When approaching officials last year, the project's promoters said they would raise the money to pay for the work at the Bouchard Center, while the district would cover the design costs.

The project would feature an expanded athletic training facility, an expanded weight-training area and the addition of restrooms, says the local group pushing the overhaul.

The group has created a website called "Bouchard Center Transformation."

At the January finance committee meeting, officials said there were uncertainties with the fundraising, according to the meeting minutes.

"Members (noted) that meaningful dollars and formal written pledges are not yet secured," the minutes stated.

Members said they were uncomfortable with recommending a bidder to the board until a large share of the money had been raised. They suggested a threshold of $4.5 million to $4.8 million.

Members also said fundraising would be harder because donors would feel less urgency if the district committed to the project.

The two bidders were the contractor-architect teams of All Construction-JP Architects and F.H. Paschen-Arcon Associates.

The highest-ranked team was All Construction-JP Architects, which bid at $6.3 million.

In an interview this week, Chip Pettit, who became the district's superintendent less than a month ago, said nothing has been formalized with the project. He said he planned to learn more about it.

"I do believe there is a need," he said.

Patch left a message for comment Wednesday through the email address on the project promoters' website.