Lombard parks right to hold ground on Lilacia

In 1977, both the Lombard library board and the park district board wisely identified the open space above the library building as space that should be protected by air rights in an agreed-upon effort to maintain the character and ambience of Lilacia Park.

Had library building planners done their homework to understand the historical and existing conditions prior to their 2016 referendum, they would have learned that any proposed change to Lilacia Park is as unthinkable to most Lombardians as a proposed change to Central Park would be to a New Yorker.

I want to make two points about the many claims that what's holding up progress in building a new library is lack of cooperation from park district. One: Since the literal definition of the word "cooperate" means to work together for the benefit of all, in no way might a taller building in Lilacia Park benefit the park district, nor will it benefit the people who are not library patrons or our thousands of Lilac Time visitors. Two: Given park district commissioners' sworn duty to protect and preserve every aspect of that which is under their stewardship, how can their refusal to concede air rights, allow potential damage to the coach house, sacrifice plants or allow reconfiguration of the terrain be considered uncooperative?

Lombard Park District commissioners are to be commended for upholding their sworn duty to preserve the character and ambience of the park that makes us so uniquely known as "The Lilac Village." The oath taken by these elected officials should not be subject to negotiation nor should it be forsaken to resolve problems created by another taxing body.

Marymae Meyer

Lombard