Decision looming on Hobson West ponds

After more than two years of fighting to make a 15-acre park out of two ponds separated by an old farm, residents who live in the area finally may get their wish.

Naperville Park District is negotiating to buy the six-acre farmland parcel. It already owns the ponds. Park district officials have promised an update at today's 7 p.m. meeting at city hall, 400 S. Eagle St.

"My gut tells me we have a very good chance of the park district acquiring the property," said Doug Dallmer, one of the residents leading supporters. "That's strictly a gut feel based on smiles received from commissioners."

The park board will hold its meeting, go into executive session and then is expected to come out with an update.

Time is of the essence. Last December, the city council rezoned the property to make way for townhouses, but forbade developers from doing any work on the land for a year while open-space advocates worked out a plan to try and purchase the property.

The parcel is valued at around $3.3 million, according to city figures. It is located between Plainfield-Naperville Road and West Street in the Hobson West neighborhood, to the southwest of Edward Hospital's campus.

"I hope we buy it," park commissioner Andrew Schaffner said. "I view that parcel as an ability to link two existing parks."

Park officials have been in talks with the Naperville-based Conservation Foundation on a "buy and hold" program the foundation offers.

"The ball is still moving on that," said Brook McDonald, president of the Conservation Foundation. "We are going to be part of the executive session."

The foundation could purchase the land and that would give the park district up to two years to come up with the cash to pay the group back and take control of the property. The district also could just buy it outright if the board chooses.

It doesn't appear that the city will have any stake in the process. City officials said they are not sending any representatives to the meeting and have not been invited. Some councilmen suggested they'd be in favor of providing some measure of financial support to keep the land as open space.