If you've got something to say about the proposals to reshape the Martin Mitchell property in the heart of Naperville, now's the time to do it. Because one certainty has emerged from all the possible scenarios: Nothing's going to happen unless voters in Naperville School District 203 approve a referendum.
The school board will soon decide whether to place this referendum on the presidential primary ballot in February. Yet to be determined is how the question will be worded. For now, one option still on the table is to spend a few million fixing up the existing Naperville Central building. If the decision is made to ask voters to pay for a whole new building, then we start getting into trickier questions.
That's because city and park district officials are now indicating that there's no need to go into elaborate discussions about the Martin Mitchell property until 1.) more public input is gathered and 2.) Dist. 203 voters have their say. Here's the key: How tough will it be to "sell" the referendum without knowing the fate of amenities on the Mitchell land? How likely is it that a referendum would be supported by green thumbs who toil in the garden plots, sportsmen who frequent Sportsman's Park and parents of Scouts who use the reservation -- when they don't know whether their sites have a future? And how would referendum supporters convince residents of the Naperville North part of the district that it would be in their best interests to pay higher taxes?
The CMM land is Naperville's "front yard" and is the place where we all should be able to gather. Moving the Scouts and Garden plots to other parks in the city is the right thing to do - Scouts could use someplace quieter and multiple smaller garden plot locations around the city would be great. Sportman's park should be closed in it's current location and also relocated if possible. Both plans for moving Central High to the South either 1/2 way or completely and creating a CENTRAL recreation facility Downtown would be great. It really turns the CMM into an extension of Riverwalk, Naperville's jewel. It appears that there are some short sighted individuals on the Park Board. Let's hope they can get some courage and some vision.
I think the boys and girl scout council and district reps need to weigh in before people assume the scouts need some other location.
Multiple locations for the garden plots as fasteddie suggests is a good idea, that way more people could take advantage of the plots - as I understand it, nearly 10% or so go unused.
The plan looks well laid out and could benefit all.
I hope it can be accomplished.
I am all for NCHS getting a new school. I went to the Touch the Future meetings, went on tours, and watched the video numerous times. It is unbelievable that NCHS is in the state of disrepair it is in. It is a health and safety nightmare. However, I cannot vote for the plan as is.
District 203 is asking me to spend a lot of money, without any specifics. I asked at two different meetings, and got the run around answer that the new school will just improve what is already in place. I want to know how many classrooms we have and will have. How much more space will there be for LRC, cafeteria, sports venues, etc? Are we trying to build a new high school that satisfies our needs, or are we trying to outdo Neuqua Valley? I could never get a straight answer. I was told that those plans are still being worked on. What is this money buying me and my children?
A large portion of this plan requires cooperation with the Park District. However, before I agree to this plan, I want to know how much this portion of the plan will cost me. I’m sure that the money for rebuilding these facilities will eventually be coming out of my tax dollars. Thus, another referendum is in the future. This money would also come from all Naperville families. Are District 204 parents willing to pay for this?
District 203 is asking the city to pay for the costs of new streets and other assorted things. The city may or may not approve this. If they city does, I’m sure the money will in some manner end up out of my tax dollars. If the city doesn’t fund these things, then the cost of building the new school just went up.
There isn’t a homeowner alive who would give their contractor a signature for a remodel, without knowing all the costs involved, and what they were getting for those costs. Yet, this is what District 203 is asking us to do. They have only presented us with their portion of the entire cost. We are also missing a lot of the details that need to fall into place before this can happen.
We want a plan that will last our community for many years in the future. This plan will change the City of Naperville for a long time. This will change the scouts, naturalists, athletes, sportsmen, park enthusiasts, event goers, neighbors, commuters, River Walkers, etc. Isn’t this a decision that requires a lot of thought and input from all? District 203 has done a remarkable job of getting school families and others involved, but this is only a start. The plans for this project have changed several times within the last month. Wouldn’t it be the prudent and sensible thing to get everyone involved, get all the input, and make a decision that all of Naperville can live with. I know that 203 wants it on the February ballot. However, to make a decision that changes Naperville permanently, should not be rushed. Yes, costs could rise if there is delay, but the cost to everyone needs to be the first priority.
There are just too many maybes, what ifs, and I don’t knows for me to vote yes to this project.
I see interesting parallels between the situations in school districts 203 and 204. In 204 at the moment, people are understandably upset at the prospect that the third high school might not be built on the Brach-Brodie land after all, and that attendance boundaries that were established before the referendum was put to voters might be subject to change.
In 203, it sounds like voter approval of a referendum for a new high school is the first step before anything happens involving the Martin Mitchell land.
I wouldn't expect any final decisions about the garden plots, Sportsman's Park, Scout camp or recreation center to be made before we see the outcome of the referendum. I think the questions now are, will the 203 school board put forth a referendum to renovate or completely replace Central? Would voters be asked to approve a tax increase on blind faith, without knowing for sure whether a new high school building would displace other Martin Mitchell amenities?
The lesson in 204 is that the boundaries decision is not legally bound to the referendum outcome. In 203, if there is a referendum, a lot of thought needs to be put into the wording, and voters need to know how their support of a tax increase for a new school building would be tied to the future of those other uses.
I agree with some of what Tax Paper wrote, and I have not seen answers to many questions. 203 wants to build a new high school on Park District property, relocate their athletic fields, and eliminate the community plots and areas that belong to the scouting organizations. Why does 203 only get to vote in a referundum on this. This is a decision, involving Park District resource, that all voters in Naperville should have a voice in.
Tax Payer and Kevin said it for me. I may be from 204 but I want a vote on what happens in MY downtown.
Why Can't IPSD 204 Get FREE LAND for their High School & build it on the Mitchell property. The savings alone would pay for the New High school - and share a athletic field with the Naper School.
204 Could then LOWER TAXES for 204 residents !!