La Grange Country Club is planning to improve its amenities, but it needs backing from the village to ease the way.
David Whalen, general manager of the club, presented the plans at a meeting Wednesday for residents.
The 119-acre club at 620 S. Brainard Ave., wants to add four platform tennis courts, shorten the driving range and add four netted hitting stations, build a new bathhouse and snack area and replace its pool.
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The club dates from 1899.
“The pool is about 47 years old,” Whalen said. “Before we have a catastrophic failure of the pool we need to replace it.”
Only a couple of residents were at the meeting, and their questions mostly involved flooding in the residential area north of the club.
The plans to upgrade the club also includes addressing stormwater management, which Whalen said will be improved.
“We’re going 30 percent above what the code requires,” he said.
He noted that some of the improvements will also result in the removal of some hard space on the club’s grounds.
Brian Clarke of Western Springs, a past president of the club, said the club’s green space already provides flooding relief.
“We’re a sponge in many respects because we stop a lot of water,” he said.
“The water needs to be stopped before it gets on to our property,” said one resident.
Village trustee Mark Kuchler asked if a berm could be added to the north side of the club to keep water from flowing north.
“Would it make sense to elevate it so it (water) goes more to the south?” he asked.
Village President Thomas Livingston said options to keep stormwater from surrounding areas will be discussed by the club and village officials, who are working together on the plans.
The club is in unincorporated Cook County, but the village’s sign-off on a proposal to access the village’s stormwater system at Park and Linkletter avenues, Livingston said. The approval is needed for the club to move forward and seek approval for its improvement plans from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
Even though the club is not within the village, Livingston said it is an important part of the community and the village wants to ensure their plans also manage stormwater effectively.
“Some of this is on the country club and some of this is on the village when it comes to mitigating stormwater,” he said.
“We’re going to take a crack at a win-win,” Whalen said.
The club hopes to begin the improvements after Memorial Day and, if the weather cooperates, have them done in about six months.
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