The Niles Park District is proposing a $5 million bond sale for park purposes and outstanding debt, with a public hearing set for Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The public hearing is scheduled during the board’s meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at Howard Leisure Center, according to the district's meeting agenda. The agenda describes the bonds as General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds "for park purposes, to pay outstanding obligations of the District and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto."

The agenda does not break down how much of the $5 million would go toward new park projects versus retiring existing debt.

The proposal comes as the district already carries significant obligations. The board's November 2025 agenda listed abatement ordinances for six outstanding bond series originally totaling more than $26 million. The board also considered a separate $1,309,000 bond issue at that meeting for outstanding obligations.

The district approved a total budget and appropriation of $18,582,000 for fiscal year 2026 at its November 2025 meeting, according to signed meeting minutes.

Finance Director Scot Neukirch reported at that meeting that Cook County's late distribution of 2024 tax bills had forced the park district to tap its reserves. The district managed to continue operations and pay vendors without taking out bridge loans, Neukirch said.

The district's tax levy accounts for less than 5% of most Niles residents' property tax bills, according to those minutes.

Beyond the bond hearing, Tuesday's agenda includes two other new business items. The board will discuss a lease extension contract with T-Mobile and consider whether to lift a prior ban on a resident's access to park district facilities and programs. The agenda does not name the resident or detail the original ban.

A presentation by the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation (MNASR) is also scheduled.

The consent agenda includes approval of minutes from the Sept. 15 board meeting and a voucher list totaling $400,072.22. The largest line items are $267,909.11 for recreation and $51,521.90 for the general fund, followed by $33,963.92 for the ice rink and $23,974.59 for the golf course.

The meeting is open to the public. Residents can speak during the public comments period listed as item 13 on the agenda.