Residents can't derail Glen Ellyn tree cutting

Glen Ellyn leaders still plan to move forward with a flood control project that entails cutting down 340 trees at Ackerman Park, despite consistent and continued opposition from residents.

Monday night about a dozen residents expressed their discontent with the project, but Glen Ellyn village and park district officials will honor the intergovernmental agreement the two parties entered into in November. The project's been in the works for five years.

The park district is donating land for a dry-bottom detention pond near Stacy Corners while the village will oversee the construction. In return, two new soccer fields will be constructed at Ackerman Park, one will double as the water detention area.

Village President Vicky Hase said the majority of the village board is in agreement with the project.

The village board would be willing to listen to the park district board if they wanted to meet with them, she said, but seeing that the park district wants to go forward, the village board is going forward, too.

"We appreciate all the comments and concerns that have been voiced by the residents," Hase said. "We really are maintaining our position that the regional storm water facility is in the best long-term interest of the village."

However, residents are still frustrated leaders haven't looked into alternate options.

Lyn Whiston of Glen Ellyn said the project is unusual for a village that's known for its forestry and preservation.

"This effort to trade a marginal soccer field and a half for 342 mature trees just seems to be absolutely inappropriate for our village," he said.

Resident Marilyn Wiedemann said in the 34 years she has lived in Glen Ellyn, she's never seen so many people speak up against an issue.

"The community depends on its trustees to be its trustees and when the trust is broken it's not forgotten," she said. "You are trustees; we're trying to express ourselves."

Village officials said construction is planned to begin in late June.