INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION

THE PARK DISTRICT ADVANTAGE

Skokie Park Districts Land Acquisition A Breakfast Order: Bagels and Land To Go

by Elizabeth Steams

This project is yet another step in the Skokie Park District's "Building for the Future on a Foundation of Excellence" project.

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day; everyone at the Skokie Park District now believes it to be true. For it was at a recent breakfast meeting that the park district acquired an additional two parcels of land, composed of 50 acres in a land/lease agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC).

The meeting was the actual conclusion of a process that had begun three years ago. The district had already been involved in a land/lease agreement with MWRDGC with two other properties — Little League (4.5 acres) and Hamlin (8 acres) Parks. It was upon the conclusion of a successful lease extension, in 1992, of the above properties that the campaign to expand the parcel at Little League began.

Little League is a park consisting of three small ballfields, surrounded on three sides by unused MWRDGC property. The property is located in an area zoned light industrial. The MWRDGC has a treatment plant located there, with 34 available acres at the site.

The initial request by the park district was to triple the size of Little League Park, from four and a half acres to 12. This would enable the district to expand their athletic fields and programs. At the time of the request, the land was under consideration by the Village of Skokie for use as a landscape material composting site. After a study concluded that outside contracting was more advantageous, the village was no longer interested in using the site.

The park district then requested that the MWRDGC conduct an engineering study to determine their future need for the property and if they would be interested in opening it up to the park district.

The park district was not the only party interested in the property. It was also being actively sought after by private developers for commercial and retail development. Concurrently, the MWRDGC had a problem regarding a second piece of land that was contiguous to the North Shore Canal, and on the opposite comer of the property in question. The MWRDGC had recently completed an intensive clean-up project of the canal, and testing had proved that the canal was safe for recreational water access. The MWRDGC was also receiving requests from a local rowing club to open up the canal for use.

Opening land for recreational pursuits fit within the policies of the MWRDGC, whose primary use for property is water reclamation, and secondary is to allow the land to be used by the public. In order to open the canal for recreational purposes, they needed another governmental agency to manage the property — enter the Skokie Park District.

At the breakfast meeting on April 4, 1994, the MWRDGC offered the district "the" deal. They would lease the park district the entire 35

8* Illinois Park & Recreation* July/August 1994

acres at the Little League park site, if the park district would in turn accept the second parcel of 15 acres across the canal and develop it for public use.

Needless to say, the offer was accepted, and the Skokie Park District began making plans for developing the parcels.

An acquisition like this would be a coup for any district, but it is especially meaningful in Skokie, which has been completely developed and landlocked since the 1960s. Before this parcel was procured, the district was composed of 187.2 acres of park and facility land, far below the NRPA standards. This new lease will increase acreage by almost 25 percent, while opening up new recreational opportunities for the residents of the district.

The boundaries of the district encompass nine square miles, serving over 59, 000 residents. The parks in Skokie evolved over the years as neighborhood sites meaning residents could have access to a park within a few blocks of their home, without crossing a major intersection. Although this is a wonderful service to the residents of Skokie, it also meant that every park is adjacent to residential property. This made having lighted ballfields, large festivals and special events difficult as they were unpopular with neighbors.

The new property is located at Oakton Street and McCormick Boulevard. The larger piece consists of 35 acres, four of which were already under the operation of the district as baseball diamonds. This land will allow the district to pursue several options, including lighted ball fields, a festival site, a driving range, miniature golf, concession stand and support facilities.

The second parcel, consisting of 15 acres, is located slightly northeast and contiguous to the North Shore Canal. This land opens up all new possibilities for the district, including a recreational dock open for public use in the summer, with paddleboats and canoeing, as well as sculling in the spring and fall.

Discussions have also taken place with neighboring agencies regarding development of the canal property, allowing the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation to expand one more tier.

The district will begin developing this land at the end of the summer after extensive environmental studies. It is estimated that the project will cost $4 million, which will come out of capital development funds. Also being pursued is a license agreement with a local sculling and racing association to help finance the boat storage, launch and dock. The goal is to open the miniature golf course and new athletic fields by July 4, 1995.

The terms of the lease are $1 per year until the year 2032 and revenue sharing with the reclamation district receiving 25 percent of profits.

This project is yet another step in the Skokie Park District's "Building for the Future on a Foundation of Excellence" project. This ambitious renovation and building program began with a renovation project of all 41 parks in the system four years ago. Just completed, the district is moving ahead with the renovation of its major recreation facilities.

In June, the district broke ground on a new community center next to its indoor rink that includes an administrative wing, fitness center, gymnasium and recreation programming rooms.

Other projects on the drawing board include expansion and renovation of the district's two community centers, two outdoor pools, nature center and day care center over the next four years.

It is with these building projects, staff development and district pride that the Skokie Park District is achieving "Excellence in Everything We do."

It is with these building projects, staff development and district pride that the Skokie Park District is achieving "Excellence in Everything We do."

Elizabeth Stearns is Public Information/Marketing Coordinator/or the Skokie Park District.*

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