The Village of Lombard and the Lombard Park District are partnering to enhance the 7.1-acre Lilacia Park, one of Lombard’s notable destinations.
The park district in June requested economic incentive assistance from the village toward developing the 1.2-acre former Helen Plum Library site—which the park district acquired in 2024—after the park district was not able to secure a $600,000 grant for park expansion.
The expansion project is estimated to cost $2.8 million, according to Director of Community Development and Planning Trevor Dick. A breakdown shows the park district contributing $1 million from its Capital Fund, a State of Illinois/DCEO grant contributing $1 million and the Village of Lombard contributing $800,000 from its Economic Development Fund.
Dick noted that the fund was established in 2021, with an allocation of $5 million. With a current balance of $4.5 million, the fund serves “as a strategic financial tool to attract new commercial tenants, retain existing businesses and revitalize core commercial corridors, particularly in downtown Lombard.”
“Staff is supportive of the request,” Dick indicated, because the enhanced park will benefit the village as well—increasing the number of visitors, supporting tourism and community events, and making use of “underutilized” space, among other benefits.
The park district, on its website, says the project will focus on “gardens, pathways, communal spaces and accessibility,” after receiving public input from a community survey in 2024 and from open houses held in July 2025.
Joe McCann, executive director of the Lombard Park District, said he “wanted to make sure the public had a chance to give their feedback,” adding that the consensus was that residents wanted a “passive” versus “active” (i.e. sports fields) addition to Lilacia Park. “They understand the uniqueness of that park … incorporating that land into the existing gardens.”
He elaborated that the preliminary design includes an entrance at the southeast corner, a shelter/gazebo, a nature-based children’s play garden, winding pathways and trails, open seating areas, and “also providing additional gathering spaces.”
McCann said the park district is wrapping up its design development, and expects to go out for bids in early 2027, with construction slated to begin around April, and possible completion in November.
“We’ve got this unique, beautiful park,” he summed up, and the park district’s responsibility is to be “stewards of that property.”
Village and park district figures show that there were over 147,000 visits in 2025 alone and that 67 percent of residents visited the park within the past year.
For more details on the design plans, visit https://lombardparks.com/lilacia-park-development.
