– A soccer game is played May 8 at the Sycamore Park Sports Complex off of Airport Road.

Action 2020 is well underway in Sycamore, even if the proof isn’t obvious just yet.

Park board president Ted Strack said the project is currently in its planning phase, which includes brainstorming with community member volunteer committees, seeking construction bids and writing grants.

In November 2014, Sycamore residents passed a property tax referendum in support of the park district’s plan, initially called Vision 2020.

Plans includes the addition of a dog park, community center, splashpad, sledding hill, expanded sports complex, more walking and biking trails, and an irrigation system for Sycamore’s golf course.

The referendum allows for the taxing body to issue $9 million for these projects.

The entire project is estimated to cost $13 million. Approximately $3 million is expected to come from grants, while the remaining $1 million will be funded through private donations, Strack said.

However, many grants are not available at this time due to the lack of a state budget. Dan Gibble, park board executive director, said although some projects will have “to wait for legislators,” grant applications are still being filled out in anticipation.

While the grant writing and fundraising continues, Gibble wants the community to understand that the project will be financed properly, and there won’t be any surprises.

“When the referendum was first brought up, we made a promise to citizens that we wouldn’t spend beyond a certain point,” Gibble said. “We will stick to our guns on that, and we won’t spend beyond that. We are sticking to our plan.”

The plans include work on trails beginning as early as this summer, with the project wrapping up in 2020 with the implementation of an irrigation system at Sycamore’s golf course. Timelines may adjust slightly as funds become available, Strack said.

Gibble said although there is community interest in all aspects of the plan, the dog park seems to be the most popular. The dog park, the first of its kind in Sycamore, is expected to be completed by fall 2019.

“One group that is totally gung-ho is the dog park committee,” Gibble said. “They are very excited and energetic about this project.”

Strack said he looks forward to not only the end goal, but the process of seeing these projects through. He said it couldn’t be done without the community’s support.

“I feel so fortunate to live in Sycamore,” Strack said. “When there’s a good cause and people do good things, the community gets behind that.”

For a complete timeline and for more information about the Action 2020 project, visit SycamoreParkDistrict.com.