A commemorative plaque telling the history of the North Shore’s last remaining farm and how it was preserved might seem a benign monument.
But in Glenview, even the last act before disbanding has been bumpy for the group that helped save Wagner Farm. Citizens Organized for Wagners has butted heads for years with the Park District, which owns the farm, over everything from the color of a barn to the fate of Bart the bull.
“I think it’s very nice what COWs is doing,” said Chris Warren, an outgoing parks commissioner. “But it’s one of those things that when you put a plaque on public property, the wording has to be such where it doesn’t offend anybody and if it’s going to recognize COWs, it should also recognize the sports groups that were involved.”
COWs President Mark Steger said he appreciates the Park District’s concerns but characterized officials’ response as “typical” of dealings with his group in recent years.