Rec center cleanup nearing $400,000 after May sprinkler snafu

Costs to remediate the Wilmette Community Recreation Center continue to add up as the park district deals with the fallout from the errant activation of a sprinkler system at the facility in late May.

Josh Wallace, the Wilmette Park District’s superintendent of parks and planning, told commissioners during the Park Board’s July 14 meeting that remediation and mitigation work at the rec center has thus far totaled $388,869 — significantly more than the district projected in June.

As previously reported by The Record, the rec center sustained extensive damage when a sprinkler head on the second floor was accidentally damaged, causing the system to activate and release an estimated 500 gallons of water in the building at 3000 Glenview Road.

Flooring, ceiling tiles, equipment, furniture and more were impacted in several multi-purpose and activity rooms on the building’s east side, district officials previously told The Record.

JP McNamara, the park district’s communications manager, told The Record on July 15 in a follow-up interview that the costs associated with the cleanup include the removal of flooring, drywall, and all contaminated and damaged property and equipment.

Per McNamara, additional funds will be needed for further reconstruction at the facility as flooring, drywall, tables, chairs, equipment, cabinetry and more needs to be replaced.

Wallace said during the meeting that the district is currently gathering multiple quotes from vendors for the reconstruction that needs to take place. There is no cost estimate yet available for that work, McNamara said.

Additionally, Wallace said the park district does not currently have an estimated completion date for that work. He did, however, inform commissioners that district staffers were told to plan for a timeline of at least eight months from the date of incident, which was May 22.

“It’s going to be a long process,” Wallace told the board.

“There are going to be many times where we start and we’re making some sprints and then we’re waiting on insurance and quotes from vendors and lead times for products and materials,” he later added.

So far, according to a district memo from Wallace, park officials have ordered replacements for lost content at a total cost of just under $7,000. The district has a quote of $225 to clean up the lobby furniture at the rec center, per the memo.

Park officials are researching pricing for replacing the ceramic tables at the facility and still discussing the replacement of the damaged spin bikes, Wallace says in the memo, noting that ceramics and fitness classes were the most affected.

The district is hopeful that insurance will help cover the costs, and park officials are currently waiting on final decisions and timelines from its insurance company.

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