The Villa Park Community Services Foundation, a volunteer organization that raises funds for annual activities,  is conducting a survey on the level of interest in a park or community center in the city.

The 11-question survey is  is the first step in the study process to gather public opinion.

“The primary intent of the survey is to determine if the residents support any kind of community area, whether it is a park or community center,” said Keith Martin,  who is heading up the exploratory committee to gauge interest in a park.

Martin said the Foundation has sent out 600 surveys, with the survey continuing for another two or three months.

“We would like to get 50 percent of the community,” Martin said. “We would like 300 back at this point.”

The city received a $4,000 grant and the foundation added another $1,000 in October to explore the feasibility of a park.

If the foundation does not get a great response from the surveys, Martin said he would not look at that as a sign that the 6,200 residents aren’t interested in a park.

“I don’t think it is a lack of interest in the park, it is probably fear of surveys,” Martin said. “We did another survey a year ago on another subject. We sent it to the same group of people and we had 47 responses.”

City Manager Lori Sassoon said she expects the information-gathering process to be finished by the end of the year. The City Council would then make a decision on whether or not to push forward.

To take the survey, click here.

To see how cities across the country compare concerning the amount of park space, click here.

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