"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir mens' blood." -- Daniel Burnham
Whether you agree with it or not, you've got to admire the scale of the latest plan to rehape 200 acres in the heart of Naperville known as the Martin-Mitchell property.
The plan, as detailed in Friday's Sun, proposes to build a new Naperville Central High School on part of Knoch Park. Then a new recreation center would be built on the current Central site. The Garden Plots, Sportsman's Park and Scout camp all lose out. The community would pick up a festival grounds where Ribfest and other events would take place.
It's an ambitious plan, and it's going to be a fun few weeks leading up to the November deadline, when the District 203 board will have to decide whether to place a referndum on the February ballot. (Thanks, Illinois, for moving up the primary.)
So much to talk about. Any hope that the 700 or so people with Garden Plots would support the referendum, or Sportsman's Park users, for that matter? Will the city be willing to pony up the sums needed to rearrange streets and run utilities to the new festival grounds? And will the Park District support the plan, willing to sacrifice the Garden Plots and Sportsman's Park to get the long-desired indoor recreation center?
Stay tuned.
The plan as presented in the paper looks great, I hope they can make it happen.
The plan looks AWESOME. It gives Naperville a central recreation location as well as great new facilities for Ribfest, etc. Multiple smaller garden plot locations are available throughout the city, and the Boy Scouts can have upgraded facities at Seager Park (with flush toilets!!). The only loser is Sportsman's Park, but they were aware that a shooting club in downtown Naperville was not going to last. Hopefully a spot can be found for them as well ( in Dupage River Park? or ?? ).
In any case, it would give the community an indoor pool and a theater, and finally there can be some "meat" to the park district - a fitness club, lots of space for kids.
Definitely an ambitious plan. The major issue of course is the total cost of the project, and how much of a tax increase would be required. This may depend - if I understand correctly - upon the level of participation by the City and the Park District. So, lots of things left to be resolved.
This would be quite an achievement if they can get Naperville residents within SD204 to pay for a new high school in SD 203, under the guise of changes that will benefit all Naperville residents.
There would not be any additional tax increase to SD204 except what the Park District would ask for. SD203 and the Park District are two different taxing bodies. So to Kevin's point, there would be no asking SD204 taxpayers to pay for anything except what the Park District may ask for. I am in favor of a new high school but not sure about the other losses that would be incurred.
I don't like the idea of this getting forced down our throats without public input. Regardless of cost, I want to see this to go to referendum so I get my say. 203 took advantage of the last referendum and taxed us more than they needed - not again. I don't like the arrogance of the Park District saying they can spend tens of millions without public comment.
Do we really need a "new" $150MM HS when enrollment is expected to decrease AND renovations and modest expansion can work? SAT/ACT have not been affected by the current facilities - and what about Tim West's comment about sharing sports facilities? If professional sports can do it, why not 203?
What about Green Acres? Its not right they place a "festival grounds" right next to their property lines? Von Oven was set up for the Scouts, why should the Scouts have to move - Seager Park is no paradise AND the scouts get no security there. Sportsman's Park is beautiful - wooded, wetlands and open - it would be shame to have to rip out all that wildlife habitat + there is no place in town to put the range - I don't shoot, but it is unique to our town.
I think 203 and the Park District need to sharpen their pencils and rework this to take into consideration Green Acres & Hobson West sub-divisions, Scouts, Gardeners & Sportsmen.
What do we really need vs. what do some people want ?
As a life long resident of Naperville I have some thoughts. The cost of living is very high and getting higher. I believe people need to pay their way and carry their own weight. I'm all for good, solid, basic, fundimental education. I don't believe a family with no children or one child should pay the same tax dollar amount to our schools as some one with 2, 3 or 4 children. Carry your own weight! Pay for what you use! The school district should not be a public funded baby sitting facility. Many great, important people in our great U.S. history have grown up in the middle of no where USA without the finest things at their fingertips.
Ribfest was very fun a few years ago but now is just to big ! Too many out of towners showing up. It makes no sense at all to move ribfest closer to residential neighborhoods. Make it smaller and give it back to the Napervillian's. If it stays as is then it should no longer be held in the middle of down town. I would much rather have the gun club stay !
I like open space. Keep the garden plots and the wetlands. It's nice to see plants and animals. We are slowly losing what made Naperville charming. We used to have fishing derby's and ice skate from one pond down the canal around the islands and back at Sportsmans park. I would like to see the park district make that happen again.
I've looked at all the Caroline Martin Mitchell plans. Most of these plans are laughable. The way things are now there is a pretty good buffer from the boardering residential areas and the High School, ball fields and Ribfest. No one wants to swap natural settings for mega wattage ball field lights and noise.
All the stake holders including immediate area homeowner associations need to take a little bit more time to work out some real details so we all get a quality product as an end result.
I think encroaching on the land west of West street is flat out wrong.
Ribfest is one weekend a year.
Scouts use Von Oven all year round (Boys, Girls, Cubs, etc).
The Von Oven Scout Reservation is also a Certified National Conservation Area. Does anyone remember what the word "conservation" actually means anymore?
The city is wrong to go back on its word, passed as an Ordinance by City Council back in 1950 that the land is always to be used by Boys and Girl Scouts.
If the current City Council members believe they no longer have to honor an agreement of the past, then perhaps they all need to be replaced by people who understand what honor and one's word is.
Keep the garden plots where they are. Scouts should be able to continue where they always have been. Build a new high school This time hire architects, not patchwork quilters, to PLAN the WHOLE building. No festival grounds, at least not there. In Frontier Park. Or Camp Seager. Try to find a way to give Naper Settlement some more space.