Hinsdale Pavilion Plan Comes Together, With More Donations

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale is poised to approve a local contractor to build a pavilion at downtown's Burlington Park, meeting the village's budget target.

Dave Knecht Homes is the recommended builder.

Unlike the other bidders, the contractor proposed a custom cupola and an irrigation system. The cupola and the pavilion are expected to reflect the nearby Memorial Building's architecture.

The initial bids came in much higher than expected.

Dave Knecht's final bid was $341,000, lower than the $350,000 budget.

That was made possible because he is giving $85,000 in free services and secured a $100,000 donation from Hinsdale resident James Boucher, according to the village.

Knecht also agreed to cut $127,000 in the project's costs through "value engineering," which involves saving money without impacting quality, officials said.

The project is not expected to cost taxpayers any money, with local architect Michael Abraham contributing design services.

Early in the process, the village received three major pledged donations – $175,000 from Hinsdale Hospital, $100,000 from the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce and $25,000 from Hinsdale Bank and Trust. They total $300,000.

'Early advocacy of this concept'

At Tuesday's Village Board meeting, Village President Greg Hart said a few residents collectively agreed to cover any gaps in funding. They were identified as PJ and Abby Huizenga, Jeff and Julie Akers, RJ D'Orazio, and Matt and Stephanie Tuthill.

"This project has been talked about in one form or another for nearly two decades, to my knowledge," Hart said. "This is something our community has needed for a long time. We've made do with the stage currently in place. But I know we all believe we can do better."

He continued, "This idea did not begin with the board, and certainly not with me. I want to briefly thank the late Penny Bohnen and others for their early advocacy of this concept years ago."

Bohnen, a local real estate agent, died in 2023. She was married to John Bohnen, who heads the village's historic preservation commission.

During the Village Board meeting, Trustee Scott Banke endorsed Dave Knecht for the project. Banke said he had seen Knecht's work around town.

"Dave, like me, grew up here, and that is a big deal to me as it relates to somebody being selected for this project," Banke said. "I also know Dave has a big stake in what he provides."

Village trustees plan to vote on the contract at a later meeting.

'No more fitting individuals'

The village had originally hoped to complete the project by the Fourth of July, the nation's 250th anniversary.

Now, the village is planning a ceremony to mark the pavilion plan on the holiday. It will just be at Burlington Park after the Fourth of July parade, which starts at 10 a.m. in downtown Hinsdale.

At the meeting, Village President Hart said the Hinsdalean newspaper's Pamela Lannom and Jim Slonoff will be the parade's grand marshals.

"We appreciate all they do for the community. We know the paper is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year," Hart said. "I could think of no more fitting individuals to serve in that role."

He also said the community met its goal of "250 Uncle Sams marching in this parade."

"That's not a sentence I ever thought I'd say at a Village Board meeting," Hart joked.