Downers Grove Park District - Patriots-Barth Pond

Patriots Park/Barth Pond

Click here to view the Barth Pond Engineering Report

Scroll down to see Construction Updates

55th and Grand Park

Hours: Dawn to dusk

This park is located on 55th Street west of Fairview Avenue. The pond was developed as a joint venture with the Village and is used, weather permitting, for ice-skating during the winter months. There are two parking lots associated with the park, one to the east of the pond and the other to the west with a total parking capacity of approximately 80 spaces. The western parking lot primarily serves a play area that has a ADA compliant mulch surface and new play equipment that conforms to CPSC guidelines. The eastern parking lot serves a passive area that contains a picnic shelter and tables.

The boat launch is composed of large concrete steps leading into the pond, allowing boaters to step into their canoe, raft or other non-motorized boat. Park patrons who wish to use the boat launch should park in the West parking lot and follow the signs to the launch on the North side of the pond. The Downers Grove Park District requests that boaters use only non-motorized boats and obey all posted rules. Happy boating!

History
Information coming soon!

Amenities

Non-motorized boating	Fishing and wildlife observation	Shelter/Pavilion
Jogging/walking trail - .45 mi	Natural Area	Ice skating
BBQ Grill	Picnic Tables	Play Equipment
Drinking Fountain	27.4 Acres

Barth Pond Shoreline & Pathway Improvements

Project Summary

Project includes removal of the deteriorated steel seawall, and new stacked limestone shoreline with natural shoreline vegetation.
Shoreline improvements to provide a more stabilized pond edge to minimize erosion and improve water quality.
New stacked limestone shoreline to provide easy access to pond edge for fishing and recreation.
Project also includes upgraded pathway surfacing and new pathways.
East parking lot, pond edge, and existing pathways to be closed during shoreline stabilization and pathway construction.
Playground and west parking lot to remain open throughout construction.

For additional information, contact Paul Fyle, Landscape Architect at 630-963-1304.

Project Status
July 2009 – Park District commissions Miller Engineers & Scientists to assess current condition of Barth Pond
October 2009 – Park Board reviews findings of the Miller Engineering Study related to pond bottom and shoreline condition
March 2010 – Park District commissions Engineering Resource Associates to develop construction drawings and secure permits July 1, 2010 – Park District hosts Community Information Open House Meeting at Patriots Park to discuss proposed shoreline and pathway improvements (meeting notice mailed to approximately 100 residents surrounding Patriots Park) September 16, 2010 – Park Board awards a contract for construction of shoreline and pathway improvements
November 22, 2010 – Permits issued and Notice-to-Proceed given to the General Contractor. December 2010 – Shoreline work commences at southeast corner of Barth Pond. January 2011 – Construction progress going well along southern shoreline of Barth Pond.
January 31, 2011 – Removal of steel seawall and placement of new limestone edge complete on approximately 50% of Barth Pond shoreline. Shoreline work should be complete in late spring, followed by landscape restoration and pathway improvements. Project is on schedule.
March 2011 – Removal of steel seawall and placement of new limestone edge complete on approximately 75% of Barth Pond shoreline. Contractor has begun marking the layout of new pathways, to be installed following completion of shoreline work. Shoreline planting work is scheduled for late spring. Project remains on-schedule for completion in early summer 2011. Based on the current progress, the Park District anticipates re-opening portions of the shoreline and pathways beginning in mid to late June, weather permitting.
June 9 - Removal of steel seawall and placement of new limestone edge is now complete on the entire Barth Pond shoreline. The contractor has also completed installation of the new asphalt pathways. Remaining work includes two new concrete staircases and walkways leading from the east parking lot to the east shoreline of the pond, plus installation of shoreline plantings and restoration of turf grass on all disturbed areas. Based on the current progress, the Park District anticipates re-opening the shoreline and pathways on June 27, 2011, weather permitting. Grow-in of the turf areas will take a full season, and we appreciate patrons avoiding use of newly-restored areas through mid July.
June 27, 2011 – Barth Pond shoreline and new asphalt pathways throughout Patriots Park re-opened to the public.