Park District Boat Launch Policy

The following letter was sent to the Park District Board of Commissioners.

May 19, 2026

Dear Members of the Park District Board,

I am writing to respectfully address several matters pertaining to the policy regarding our community lake and its boat launches, and the need for comprehensive, data-informed decision-making. It’s important to set policy that treats all residents fairly and equitably.

I. The Need for Complete and Accurate Data

During the April Board Meeting, a figure of approximately “fifty boats per day” was cited as a point of concern regarding the park district boat launch. While this number may seem significant in isolation, it does not tell the complete story. Without additional context, this figure does not inform meaningful policy decisions.

Specifically, the following data points are absent from that representation:

• The breakdown of vessel types — kayaks, paddleboards, fishing boats, and motorized watercraft each carry very different implications for lake usage and environmental impact.

• The duration of each visit — whether watercraft remain for one hour or an entire day significantly affects actual usage levels.

• Seasonal and weekly usage patterns — weekday activity is often substantially lower than weekend traffic, and annual averages may differ considerably from peak-day figures.

Fortunately, this data is readily accessible. The park district's existing computer systems are capable of generating weekly reports detailing vessel type, arrival time, and departure time. I respectfully encourage the Board to request these reports from staff, so that future discussions may be grounded in a complete and accurate picture of lake usage.

II. A Comprehensive View of Lake Activity

Before assuming the Park District boat launches crowd the lake, it is essential to consider all sources of watercraft activity. There are six homeowner associations situated around the lake, each with piers and moorings. Two of these associations additionally operate their own private boat launches for members who lack direct lake access. Unlike the Park District launches, the daily activity of these private launches cannot be readily monitored.

The following data from a 2016 Park District lake inventory provides important context:

• Between 1999 and 2016, the number of homes on the lake grew from approximately 95 to 165 — an increase of 73.6% in just 17 years.

• As of 2016, there were 139 piers with 206 motorized watercraft and 44 vessels moored on the lake, plus 57 additional watercraft (including wave runners and sailboats), for a total of 307 watercraft stored on the lake.

• Of those 307 watercraft, 97 — or 32% — were associated with Association piers or moorings.

• Between 2016 and 2018 alone, Associations added 21 watercraft to piers and moorings, increasing the total watercraft count from 307 to 328.

Given the continued construction of larger homes in the area, it is reasonable to anticipate that the number and size of privately owned watercraft will continue to grow. A thorough, updated inventory would be valuable to the Board's long-term planning efforts.

III. The Purpose and Loss of the Park District Pier Ordinance

The recently eliminated Park District Pier Ordinance addressed several important regulatory gaps, particularly regarding the growth and oversight of Association piers and moorings. Key provisions included:

• Requiring Associations to seek Park District permission before expanding piers or moorings located on park district property, which is approximately 92% of the lakebed, and on which all of the Associations have placed piers and moorings.

• Mandating that Associations provide proof of liability insurance.

• Automatically grandfathering all existing piers and moorings at the time of adoption.

Five of the six Associations entered into formal agreements under this Ordinance. Without it, Associations are accountable only to their own internal rules. Neither the Village of Lakewood nor the City of Crystal Lake has ordinances regulating pier construction or expansion, and there is no requirement to notify adjacent property owners of planned growth. As a safety measure, the ordinance limited the length of piers with a generous maximum. Currently there is no regulation by any municipal body. Association piers and moorings are a source of income for the Associations.

IV. Examples of Neighbor Disputes

The absence of regulatory oversight has contributed to a number of disputes between lake residents that now have no administrative recourse. Examples include:

• A homeowner on the south shore installed an inflatable slalom ski course anchored to the lake bottom, deployed at will, without notice to neighbors.

• A resident on the west end constructed a pier extending into the channel, effectively blocking his neighbors' access to the lake.

• A pier was installed at an angle that physically prevented an adjacent property owner from placing their own pier.

• A homeowner placed moorings in front of his property for summer use by personal guests, which the neighboring homeowner found both unsightly and obstructive to their view.

Two of these cases relied on the Pier Ordinance to resolve the issue. Two took place before the ordinance was enacted. Now affected residents' only legal recourse is litigation — a costly and time-consuming process that should not be the default outcome for disputes that reasonable local regulation could prevent.

V. A Call for Equitable Representation and Updated Research

I respectfully suggest that updated research on lake usage, watercraft inventory, and association growth would serve the Board well in the coming years. The data currently available is nearly a decade old, and conditions have changed considerably.

Most importantly, I wish to emphasize the following principle, which I believe should guide the Board's approach to lake policy:

Every individual who utilizes the park district boat launch is a park district resident. Every homeowner and Association with private piers or moorings is also a park district resident. All of these residents contribute equally, proportional to their property values, through their 5% tax allocation to the park district.

As commissioners, your obligation is to serve all residents fairly and equitably — regardless of whether they access the lake through the park district launch, private launch or a private pier. Policies that favor one group at the expense of another are inconsistent with that obligation.

I am happy to share the data I have compiled, with the understanding that much of it is in need of updating. I welcome any opportunity to contribute constructively to any future conversation.

Respectfully,

Debbie Gallagher

690 Country Club Road

815-351-2476