A group of citizens have been putting up yard signs and holding public information meetings to encourage residents to support a Nov. 4 bond referendum measure for the Butterfield Park District to purchase, improve and maintain a vacant 2.2-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Butterfield Road and Route 53.
The district, which serves parts of Glen Ellyn and Lombard, wants to use $1.5 million of the $2.985 million measure to buy the property from The Conservation Foundation. District Director Larry Reiner said another $500,000 would be used to improve and maintain the property and the rest would be spent on updating other parks.
Last winter, a gas company attempted to purchase the site to build a large gas station and mini mart, but the project was rejected by the county. Since, the group, Friends of Butterfield Park District, have been supporting efforts to preserve the land for park and recreation purposes.
“It’s well thought out,” said Bob Gans, a co-chair of the group, referring to the plan to preserve the land. “They have done an excellent job of incorporating feedback from the community.”
The bond measure, if approved, would raise taxes on a home valued at $200,000 by $4.55 per month, according to a district press release. The money would allow the district to create open space, playgrounds, gardens, environmental learning stations, improve trails and more, the release said.
“It needs some serious cleanup,” said Reiner, about the site that has been vacant for several years and was previously a gas station. “It’ll be a very nature-based development.”
Jackie Rickert, another co-chair of the Friends group, said they’re just trying to spread the word.
“We’re here for the long haul, so we want to see it nice,” she said.
A park district survey found that 61 percent of respondents were willing to have taxes used to buy the property, Reiner said, and the district has a willing seller.
“Our mission is to help local communities preserve open space,” said Brook McDonald, president and CEO of The Conservation Foundation. “After we saw (the community) rise up and fight the Bucky’s proposal, we were very impressed with how the community organized themselves.”
The park district has been leasing the land from the foundation and doing some cleanup work.
“The whole park district benefits,” McDonald said about the park district’s plan. “It’s not just the corner piece.”
If the tax hike is approved, the park district also will replace outdated equipment, plant new trees and add walking paths at other parks.
Informational meetings on the referendum measure have been scheduled for Oct. 2, and Oct. 22 at the park district office.
“I think it’s been a great community effort,” said Michael Kryger, president of the park board, who added that additional funding for improving other parks may be available through state and federal matching grant programs.
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