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Nonprofit's Longmeadow toll bridge opposition 'uncomfortable' for county

Protecting and maintaining the quality of the Fox River is part of the mission of the Friends of the Fox River nonprofit organization. In recent months, following that mission has also included opposing Kane County's Longmeadow Parkway project. And that's made for an awkward relationship with the Kane County Forest Preserve District.

The Longmeadow Parkway is a $135 million, 5.6-mile corridor that will create a new toll bridge over the Fox River at the northern border of the county. After 30 years of planning, the project is seeing the most vehement opposition in just the past few months.

"We're desperately trying to oppose this thing," said Gary Swick, president of the Friends of the Fox River. "We are looking for anything we can get to defeat it."

Early this year, that desperation resulted in "Stop Longmeadow" signs being distributed out of the home in Schweitzer Woods, which serves as a home base for the Friends of the Fox River. Both Swick and Jarett Sanchez, an outspoken member of the Taxpayers Against Longmeadow Toll Bridge group, said no signs have been handed out at the West Dundee forest preserve since at least April.

Regardless of the time frame, Kane County Forest Preserve District commissioners noticed.

Commissioners last week discussed ways to silence the Friends of the Fox River group.

Thoughts ranged from a stern talking to all the way to terminating the contract for educational work and even reporting the "Stop Longmeadow" advocacy as a violation of the group's nonprofit status.

Swick said the feedback he's received from the forest preserve district, as recently as this week, has never included mention of such measures. But he's also not surprised by the rhetoric.

"When in politics, it's supposed to be agree to disagree," Swick said. "It shouldn't become personal, but I think it's really getting that way for some people."

Swick admits the pendulum has swung both ways in that realm.

Part of the problem is the extensive crossover in membership between the Friends of the Fox River group and Taxpayers Against Longmeadow.

"It gets to be an issue of who is representing who," Swick said. "There are a lot of different personalities."

Swick said he has a 20-year history of working on environmental projects with the county and forest preserve district. And he's received extensive funding related to those projects. It's a partnership he values and wants to continue.

But the mounting tension around the Longmeadow project, as it heads toward construction in a few months, is "really a threat to good things that can happen in the future," Swick said.

Swick hopes forest preserve district officials can respect both the educational work of the Friends of the Fox River group and the personal opposition to the Longmeadow Parkway.

"We know we have to be careful to stay within our mission," Swick said. "We oppose Longmeadow for its impact on natural resources and the public use of them. That's part of our mission. That's what we're protecting. And that's it."

Drew Frasz is the chairman of the county board's transportation committee. He is the one who fueled the initial discussion on the Friends of the Fox River's contract with the forest preserve district after what he describes as a recent "more militant tone" from the Longmeadow opponents.

"I can live with philosophical differences, but if we are funding you and you are actively working against a forest preserve and county project, then that's starting to get a little bit into the uncomfortable zone. I don't want to be heavy-handed, but they need to get their members under control."

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