In a move that could soothe some upset feelings among homeowners on the east side of Schaumburg, the Park District has disclosed it is seeking more land to ensure additional amenities beyond a pair of controversial lighted baseball fields.
The Schaumburg Park District is negotiating with Schaumburg Elementary School District 54 for the use of five acres next to a proposed 10.5-acre baseball facility. The announcement was made at a meeting this week of the village Planning, Building and Development Committee.
The land is vacant and is being held for possible school construction, said James Morenz, a Schaumburg village trustee and chairman of the planning committee.
”The residents were very positive about it,” Morenz said. ”One of the things they`ve wanted to see was an amenity for their children . . . (and)
we`ve wanted to see more recreational amenities there like a playground, a neighborhood type of play area.”
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The committee voted to recommend that the Village Board approve Park District plans for the two lighted fields near the southeast corner of Plum Grove Road and Thacker Drive.
But not all residents were satisfied. ”I`m not happy at all about the decision,” said Jan Maher, who lives across from the proposed fields. Maher said the Plumwood Estates Homeowners Association is talking about taking the dispute to court.
”We feel we don`t have a choice anymore,” Maher said. ”We`ve paid money for this park, and we`re not getting any use out of it unless we join a league. We don`t want to have to black out our windows so we can sleep at night.”
The planning committee advised the Village Board to put a 10:30 p.m. curfew on the lights. The Schaumburg Athletic Association, a Little League baseball sponsor that would use the Park District grounds, had requested an 11 p.m. curfew.
The planning committee further recommended that the Village Board require the Park District to install a tot lot near the ballpark`s 108-car parking lot.
The Village Board is expected to take up the park issue at its July 24 meeting.
Residents who live nearby had requested that the committee recommend a neighborhood park with one ball field, a playground and volleyball or tennis courts, as well as a 9:30 p.m. ”lights out” policy.
”When we moved into our home, no one mentioned there would be lighted fields at the park. It seems to me the only thing the Park District cares about is the $200,000 grant they`ll lose if they don`t build these ball fields,” said neighbor Mohammad Mazhar.
Mazhar referred to an Illinois Department of Conservation grant that could be lost if the ballparks aren`t installed before the summer of 1992.