Save The Oakdale Tabernacle
If you’re like me, you ran for Park Board in 2017. You probably aren’t like me though since there were only three of us on the ballot. Three people for two seats. I’m sure you can infer which one of us didn’t get the gig.
I ran for a handful of reasons, chief among them, the lack of attention Oakdale was receiving from the board. I’ve written about it before, but Oakdale is one of my favorite places. It’s where I first developed an appreciation for the outdoors and for generations it has served as an educational and recreational hub for all ages. Shooting a bow and arrow, identifying plants and animals, building fires, the poems of Robert Frost, the importance of labeling your water bottle; I learned about all these things and more because of the opportunities afforded me through the unique jewel of Northwestern Illinois that is Oakdale Nature Preserve.
Over the years, churches, scouting, youth groups, summer camps, Civil War reenactments, and theater troupes have all come to the area to use the Oakdale facilities, specifically the tabernacle/auditorium with its built-in stage, seating, and historic construction. It’s such a picturesque setting, that many weddings (including for a friend of mine) have taken place out there. Oakdale used to be a heavily utilized area, and I don’t know exactly what happened.
That friend that got married in the Oakdale Tabernacle, (over a decade ago) opened the doors on his wedding day to find that he had to clean up the waste of racoons, bats, and several other creatures. There are bridges and paths that have not been maintained in years. There used to be a bunkhouse complete with kitchen and educational facility that was unceremoniously torn down because of lack of upkeep. Oakdale is literally falling apart.
A lack of attention and resources directed from the Park Board is a primary reason for the situation. The board will cite a drop in rentals as motivation for a lack of investment. I would counter by asking, if you don’t maintain the facilities, why would people rent them? Which brings us back to the tabernacle.
When you go to vote, as I’m sure you will, you’ll see a referendum for tabernacle renovations in the amount of up to $1.2 million. That’s a lot, but it’s not quite what it seems.
1. That amount is the largest of 3 different renovation options provided by the architectural firm hired to consult on the project. The other options do not reach that $1.2 million amount. Approval of the referendum does not mean that amount will be spent.
2. The architectural firm emphasized that whichever option is chosen, renovation could happen in stages. Even if the $1.2 million figure is chosen, it would not be necessary to spend it all at once.
3. Even if you don’t buy into my reminiscing above, the architects for the project called the tabernacle an architectural treasure noting that there are only four other buildings like it in the state, only two of which, plus ours, that could be made useable.
I’m thrilled that the Park Board has a plan for renovating at least part of Oakdale. But now they need us. They need us to approve that renovation. If this was about Read, Krape, or Park Hills, there wouldn’t be a question. The renovations would already be happening. I ran for Park Board to speak for the other parks. I wasn’t elected, but I’m still going to speak for Oakdale when I can. Please, speak with me and the many other Oakdale supporters by saving the tabernacle.
