Clock is ticking on Hobson West park plans

With their deadline looming, Naperville park district commissioners have yet to officially close the deal on purchasing land for a park at the ponds of Hobson West.

The park board only discussed the issue in closed session Thursday and did not take any subsequent action.

"Our staff is working on it," board President Kristen Jungles said after the meeting. She would not comment further, citing ongoing negotiations.

The land in question is located between Plainfield-Naperville Road and West Street in the Hobson West neighborhood. The district already owns the 9 acres that make up the two ponds on the site. Residents have been pushing for commissioners to purchase the 6 acres of farmland in between the ponds from a townhouse developer in order to create a 15-acre park. The value of the farm parcel is estimated at about $3.3 million.

Though commissioners did not discuss the issue during open session, several residents expressed their desire to see the district purchase the land so it would remain green space.

"Weigh the environmental impact," resident Marion Baran said. "The benefits outweigh the costs. Purchase this property, prevent its desecration. Do the right thing. And I know you will."

The purchase would be done through the Conservation Foundation's Buy-and-Hold program. The Naperville-based foundation would purchase the property and the park district would have two years to pay them back, while still being able to use the land.

"There's hardly a day goes by you don't hear about a rainforest losing 10,000 acres of trees. ...We can't do anything about that. It's in a different country," resident Tom O'Hale said. "But we can save our trees, our parks. We can make our community great."

The district has until Dec. 31 to make a decision on the property.

The board meets again for special sessions Saturday and Sunday to interview executive director candidates but does not anticipate taking any action at those meetings. It will also meet at 5:30 p.m. both Wednesday and Thursday for hearings on its budget and tax levy, respectively. It is possible commissioners will vote on the Hobson issue at one of those two meetings. They will be held at the district's administration building, 320 W. Jackson Ave.