Citizen's group seeks support for open space referendum to preserve 53/56
A new citizens group is asking Butterfield Park District residents to preserve and improve the quality of life in the District-which serves parts of Lombard and Glen Ellyn-by approving a referendum when they go to the polls for the November 4 election.
The citizen-led neighbors group, called Friends of Butterfield Park District, has been formed by community leaders to spearhead the effort to pass the Butterfield Park District's Open Space, Park and Recreation Investment Plan on November 4.
The Butterfield Park District's Open Space, Park and Recreation Improvement Plan is the culmination of more than a year's work and involvement from the community to stop the commercial development on the northeast corner of 53 and 56 and protect the land for parks and recreation purposes, while preventing it from becoming one of the largest gas stations, car washes and mini marts in DuPage County.
If the $2,985,000, 20-year bond is approved, approximately $1,500,000 will be used to purchase the property from The Conservation Foundation and an additional $500,000 will be used to improve and maintain the property. The balance of the bond funds will be used in all of the parks for the improvement of nature areas, open space and park and recreation purposes, improve trails, outdoor park amenities, gardens, and passive recreation areas, accessibility, safety, and programming space for children and adults throughout the district. All of this can be accomplished with a $4.55 per month increase on a home with a market value of $200,000.
The Park District's plan for the 53/56 corner seeks to improve the property in an environmentally smart manner that will allow open space for the entire community to enjoy, nature based playgrounds for our children and grandchildren, a shelter that will support family outings and special events, gardens and passive recreation areas for all ages to enjoy, improved nature trails and bike trails, and safe, environmentally sensitive parking areas that take into consideration the difficult water management issues of our community.
The campaign committee is led by five co-chairs who are community leaders representing different neighborhoods in the Butterfield area. They are Bob Gans, Mary Ann Devitt, Jackie Rickert, and Eric and Rebecca DePorter.
"A community is defined by the quality of its schools and parks," said Gans. "The Butterfield Park District has long provided our community with great parks, nature areas and recreational facilities, all while being a good steward of taxpayers' dollars."
"We must act now to preserve the corner piece at Rts. 53 and 56," stated Rickert. "This is our last chance to finally preserve that corner and keep it from ever being developed into a mega gas station."
"Both Eric and Rebecca DePorter believe this referendum is important for their children and future generations. "We use the parks all the time, especially Kensington Park," said Rebecca. "Nearly $1 million of this money will be used to make much needed safety and other improvements to ALL of our parks in the district."
"It's important for people to understand this isn't just about buying the 53/56 corner property. We badly need these other improvements throughout the park district," said her husband Eric.
Devitt, a long-time resident of Butterfield East, feels this a good deal for the taxpayer. "If this passes, the park district will become eligible for additional outside matching funds, so we will get a bigger bang for our dollar locally," she said.
In addition to the co-chairs, ten additional citizen volunteers are members of the Friends for Butterfield Park District: Heather Sebahar, Joan Smith, Michael Kryger, Donald Miller, Joe Rogala, Luetta Coonrod, Mark Gil, Beth O'Reilly, Jay Grabauskas, and John Arnish.
"Preserving the Rt. 53/56 corner piece and making these park improvements will increase the value of the existing homes in the area," said Gans. "The time to act is now to keep this corner open before we lose the land to development. This is our last chance."
The campaign committee would like to invite the public to attend the 2nd of several public information meetings for the purpose of giving the community all of the facts about the land purchase and improvements throughout the park district. It will be held Tuesday, September 16 at the Park District's Administrative Office, 21 w 730 Butterfield Road, beginning at 7:00 P.M.
For more information about the referendum, visit the Park District's website at www.ButterfieldPD.com or the Friends of Butterfield Park District's web site at www.VoteYesForBPD.org.