VERNON HILLS PARK DISTRICT
2026 Concessions Services Proposal
Submission for Proposals due on:
December 30, 2025
1 p.m.
The Vernon Hills Park District is issuing a Request for Proposals for the
following identified service:
2026 Concessions Services at Turtle Creek Waterpark
Proposal Due Date: Received on or before 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 30,
2025, at the Vernon Hills Park District’s Sullivan Community Center, 635 N.
Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, IL.
Vernon Hills Park District 2026 Concessions Services Proposal
Table of Contents
Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2
Invitation to Bid .............................................................................................................................................. 4
General Information ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Specifications ....................................................................................................................................................7
Evaluation of Proposals...............................................................................................................................10
Concessions Services Application ............................................................................................................12
Price Sheet.......................................................................................................................................................14
References .......................................................................................................................................................15
Exhibit A ...........................................................................................................................................................16
Exhibit B............................................................................................................................................................19
Exhibit C .......................................................................................................................................................... 20
Turtle Creek Waterpark Financial History 2023-25…………………………….………………………………..42
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Vernon Hills Park District 2026 Concessions Services Proposal
Bid Date:
Request for Proposal
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Identified Service:
2026 Concession Services Proposal
Owner:
Vernon Hills Park District
Description:
Concessions Services at Turtle Creek Waterpark
Bid Documents:
Available in electronic format from
The Vernon Hills Park District or hard copy at
635 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, IL.
Documents Fee:
No charge
Documents Available Electronically:
Yes
Optional Pre-Bid Mtg/Walk Through:
Date: December 8, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Proposal Opening:
Date: December 30, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Proposals Submitted to:
Vernon Hills Park District
635 N. Aspen Drive
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Proposal Opening Location:
Vernon Hills Park District
635 N. Aspen Drive
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Award Notification:
January 23, 2026
Owner Representative:
Tom Ritter
Recreation Superintendent
(847) 996-6802
tomr@vhparkdistrict.org
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Vernon Hills Park District 2026 Concessions Services Proposal
November 18, 2025
The Vernon Hills Park District is accepting Proposals for the following identified service:
2026 Concessions Services Proposal.
Notice is hereby given that until 1:00p.m. Local time, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Proposals will be received at the offices of the Vernon Hills Park District, 635 N. Aspen
Drive, Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061. Proposals will not be received nor considered thereafter.
Immediately after 1:00p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, proposals will be publicly
opened and read aloud. Bids will not be received nor considered thereafter. Faxed or e-
mailed bids will not be accepted.
The Vernon Hills Park District shall provide complete bid packet for the 2026 Concessions
Services Proposal in electronic format or hard copy. Prospective bidders may email Tom
Ritter at tomr@vhparkdistrict.org to request an electronic version of the bid packet or pick
up in person at 635 N. Aspen Drive. The following forms must be printed, completed in-full
and submitted by the time set of opening of bids: Concessions Services Application, Price
Sheet and References. They must be enclosed in a sealed envelope, plainly marked:
Bidder’s Company Name
2026 Concessions Services Proposal
Vernon Hills Park District
635 N. Aspen Drive
Vernon Hills, IL, 60061
Failure to print and submit completed Concessions Services Application, Price Sheet and
References may be cause for rejection of the bid at the absolute discretion of the Owner.
The successful bidder must comply with applicable State and Federal laws, including those
relating to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination.
The Park District reserves the right to reject any and all bids or portions thereof, and to select
the bid which in its judgment provides the services that most satisfactorily meet the needs
of the Park District.
If you have any questions regarding the contents herein, I can be reached at (847) 996-6802
or tomr@vhparkdistrict.org.
Sincerely,
Tom Ritter
Recreation Superintendent
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Vernon Hills Park District 2026 Concessions Services Proposal
General Information
Intention
The Vernon Hills Park District is requesting interested Vendors to submit proposals for the
operation of concessions services at Turtle Creek Waterpark for a period of one year.
Concession services at designated special events will be provided by the Vendor selected
by the Park District.
Interested parties must provide the information requested on pages 12-15 of this Request
for Proposal (RFP) and should attach additional supporting information if necessary.
Service to be provided
The intended licensee shall be a food service provider. The Park District envisions a high
quality food service operation providing an appropriate range of menu items to the
patrons of Turtle Creek Waterpark on a daily basis throughout the season.
Facility Information
Turtle Creek Waterpark
The concession stand is located within the Turtle Creek Waterpark facility. This stand
serves the patrons of the waterpark from June through early August and weekends
through Labor Day. Depending on weather, the facility is open approximately 75 days of
the summer.
Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting to Examine the Site
Neither additional compensation nor relief from any obligations of the Agreement will be
granted because of a lack of knowledge of the conditions under which the work will be
accomplished. There will be a pre-proposal meeting for all prospective Vendors. This
meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 8, 2025, at 1 p.m. beginning at the Sullivan
Community Center of the Vernon Hills Park District at 635 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills, IL.
Reserved Rights
The Vernon Hills Park District reserves the right at any time and for any reason to cancel
this Request for Proposals or any portion thereof, to reject any or all proposals, portions of
proposals, or to accept an alternate proposal. The District reserves the right to waive any
immaterial defect in any proposal. Unless otherwise specified by the proposer, the District
has ninety (90) days from the published submission date to enter into an agreement with a
proposer. The District may seek clarification from a proposer at any time and failure to
respond promptly is cause for rejection.
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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.