Damaged Drain Tiles at Bristol Park Face $107,000 Repair Bill

New Lenox Community Park District Meeting | August 2025

Article Summary: A comprehensive survey of the drainage system at Bristol Park has revealed that all of the clay tiles are damaged, resulting in an estimated repair cost of $107,180. The New Lenox Community Park District is now assessing how to address the major, unexpected infrastructure expense.

Bristol Park Drainage Key Points:

• A recently completed survey found all clay drain tiles in the park are damaged.

• The official quote to repair the entire system is $107,180.

• The damaged tiles are causing ongoing water problems in the park.

• The district is considering incorporating the costly repair into future planned projects.

The New Lenox Community Park District is facing a significant and unexpected repair bill of over $100,000 to fix the failing drainage system at Bristol Park, officials learned on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

Director of Parks and Maintenance Ken Stephens reported the results of a recently completed survey of the park’s subsurface clay drain tiles. The survey concluded that all of the tiles have sustained damage, leading to persistent water issues.

Stephens informed the board that the district had received a quote of $107,180 to have the entire system repaired. The high cost has prompted discussions about the best way to move forward. According to Stephens, staff is “working on trying to figure out how to take care of this,” with one option being to incorporate the drainage overhaul into other planned capital projects to manage the financial impact.

The board took no immediate action, but the report highlights a major infrastructure challenge that will need to be addressed in the district’s future budgeting and project planning.