Failed land deal isn't a crushing blow

It didn't seem like Batavia and Mooseheart ever got to the point where Howie Mandel would have to ask "Deal or No Deal?" As time passed, it became less likely that Batavia school and park officials could come to an agreement with Mooseheart officials on the purchase of Mooseheart property between North Aurora and Batavia, and close to Batavia High School.

After all, this entire scenario had some soap-opera flair with the land being for sale one week, and not the next; Batavia officials threatening eminent domain and then backing off; and a school board member resigning in disgust.

We expressed our opinion in early 2006 that both sides should work toward an agreement that was a win-win, but negotiations remained bogged down and took a major blow last week when, by state law, the school district ran out of time to collect money from a 2003 referendum that earmarked $5 million for the purchase. Even though it appears Batavia and Mooseheart officials are willing to continue talks, it doesn't take a costly consultant to tell them that asking Batavians to approve another proposal involving potential Mooseheart land won't easily work anytime soon.

But it's a little easier for Batavia schools to stomach this latest setback because the district succeeded with a $75 million referendum a year ago that provides funding and the go-ahead for high school additions that were earmarked for that Mooseheart land. After resolving some water-retention issues on the high school campus, the district will now add a fieldhouse, an 875-seat auditorium and 16 more classrooms at the high school, including some specifically for drama, music and science, along with other improvements in the district.

The Batavia Park District stands to lose the most because it will need more athletic fields or a fitness facility. Batavia residents may look on with envy at neighboring St. Charles and Geneva, both of which have several fitness center options to choose from, including a new one for Geneva under construction near the Peck Farm Park. Batavia, meanwhile, has none.

While the Mooseheart property could have been a location of community pride for Batavia schools and parks, as well as facilities available to Mooseheart, other land parcels could work for Batavia's future vision. We have always felt some type of facility with multiple uses for the community could eventually surface on the former Siemens plant property at McKee and VanNortwick streets. Even though it seems to be too far west at this point, the location of Batavia's ball diamonds on Main Street west of Randall Road may have nearby space for future entities.

If voters hadn't approved the school expansion proposal last year, we'd be singing the blues about a failed opportunity with Mooseheart. And we would welcome a future agreement at the right price. But both Batavia and Mooseheart can continue to grow and improve in the areas of recreation and education regardless of who officially owns that land just to the south and west of the high school.