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DuPage voters may decide fate of St. James Farm improvements

Posted February 10, 2010 10:00 pm

Jake Griffin

If the $34 million worth of planned improvements to St. James Farm near Warrenville become reality, it likely will be DuPage County voters who make it happen.

That's because the forest preserve commission wants voters to weigh in on the future of one of the district's most recent acquisitions.

The idea of funding the improvements with a tax increase came up Tuesday, with President Dewey Pierotti suggesting the district gauge voters' interest in developing the property since officials have been accused of leaving the public out of recent decisions.

The improvements call for a trail system lined with the property's various sculptures and art pieces as well as considerable investment in the farm's equestrian facilities.

"If people want to pay a little extra for the work out there they should make that determination," Pierotti said. "I don't believe the people will tell us that if we have 25,000 acres and 60 preserves they want us to direct all our capital funds to one facility."

It's unclear when the district would seek voter input. The next election is Nov. 2. It's also unclear how much the district would seek since the current plan lacks details.

District officials said grants, fundraisers and corporate sponsors would be sought to plug holes in the improvement plan's budget. Only $1.4 million of the district's construction fund is currently earmarked for improvements at the 607-acre property off Winfield Road.

The plan's current timeline calls for 20-plus years worth of work to get all the improvements done. Staff would have to be re-prioritized to expedite the improvements if voters approve a spending plan, officials said.

Commissioners don't have high hopes for such a tax increase in the current economic climate.

"I always like to see decisions made by the public," Commissioner Linda Painter said. "But I'd be surprised to see the public supportive of this kind of referendum keeping in mind our economic problems."

Painter suggested focusing spending on improvements that will provide more public access to the property.

St. James Farm was purchased by the district from industrialist Brooks McCormick in 2000 for $43 million. It has been partially opened to the public since 2008 following McCormick's death in 2006 and modifications made to the property that were required as part of the sale.

Since 2008, the property has been open just 60 days a year - mainly during warmer months - because of accessibility issues. But Painter said the district could open trails to the public year-round with only minor sign additions to warn visitors away from wells and other anomalies of the property.

"The trails can be opened, the buildings cannot," she said. "It was originally thought the property couldn't be open because of a health department issue, but it's not."

Commissioner Roger Kotecki said there is some funding in place that will allow more extensive use of the property sooner rather than later for passive recreation, but much more money is needed for improvements that will allow for heavier use, such as events and programming.

"Getting into the buildings is where big money is involved," he said. "But the fundamental problem is the economy."

St. James price tag

Here's a breakdown of the DuPage County Forest Preserve's 20-year, $34 million spending plan for improvements at St. James Farm near Warrenville.

Phase 1

(Year 1 to Year 7)

$12.7 million: Water, sewer connections; entrance road and parking lot; trail construction; restrooms; indoor horse arena improvements; picnic area; miscellaneous upgrades

Phase 2

(Year 8 to Year 15)

$15.7 million: East farm parking lot; horse stable upgrades; trail construction; prairie restoration

Phase 3

(Year 16 to Year 20)

$5.8 million: Landscape restoration; additional parking lots; picnic area; outbuilding improvements

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