Opinion

Forest preserve out to be park district

Posted November 01, 2014 5:01 am

The Kane County Forest Preserve District has again ignored its core mission to preserve and restore the nature of Kane County by turning over forest preserve land for development as sports fields ("More space to play," Oct. 18).

Despite critical studies by the League of Women Voters of the Elgin Area in 2012 and 2013, the commissioners seem determined to expand their function to include serving as a park district, although parks and preserves are, or should be, different.

Part of the Gum Farm near Elburn, purchased for $626,650, will be developed as soccer and baseball fields by Blackberry Township. Mowed grass athletic fields are not natural and do not provide habitat for the flora and fauna of Kane County. Athletic fields should be provided by schools, park districts and municipal parks, not nature preserves. Moreover, it amounts to a subsidy of Blackberry Township residents who get the benefit of a park district without paying the taxes to support one.

Carol Grom

Sleepy Hollow

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