Glen Ellyn trees may all be saved

All 340 trees at Ackerman Park residents have been fighting to keep around may be saved.

Glen Ellyn village leaders Monday night decided to reconsider the stormwater project at Ackerman Park and thoroughly review all options, including pros and cons, staff recommendations, costs and tree loss.

Still, the focus of the project would remain water detention, tree preservation and Five Corners development.

More Coverage Stories Glen Ellyn residents still fighting to save 40 trees [6/5/08] Trees safe after Glen Ellyn park district reversal [6/4/08] Glen Ellyn parks director says trees must go [5/29/08] Glen Ellyn rejects outcry to save trees [5/21/08] Fight to save Glen Ellyn's trees builds [5/17/08] Residents can't derail Glen Ellyn tree cutting [5/13/08] Despite residents' opposition, stormwater project will continue [4/30/08] Crowd fights to save trees, stop flood control project [4/11/08] Glen Ellyn to remove several hundred trees from park [3/27/08] Letters Letter: Community spoke; district listened [6/7/08] Letter: Right decision to protect the trees [6/7/08] Letter: A welcome change of plans for park [6/6/08] Letter: Thanks for change of mind on park [6/5/08] Letter: Cutting down trees would be a mistake [5/20/08] Letter: Make a contract to preserve the trees [5/19/08] Letter: Tree destruction a threat to wildlife [5/16/08] Letter: Tree destruction a threat to wildlife [5/16/08] Letter: Leave the trees be in Ackerman Woods [4/26/08] Letter: Trees are thriving; don't cut them down [4/21/08] Letter: Don't cut down old, beautiful trees [3/27/08] Letter: Stop destruction of Ackerman Woods [3/25/08] Editorial Grassroots effort saved trees [6/8/08]

"This is very unusual for us to do, but we're going to take a good look at what's best for the long-term interest of the village," President Vicky Hase said. "We'll be looking at additional sites the residents have suggested, costs to build on each site.

"This will be done so that the village board can make an honest appraisal for what's best in the long-term interest of the village."

The village board also rejected all bids received this month for the regional stormwater management facility planned for the original project at Ackerman Park because the scope has changed drastically.

In November, the village and Glen Ellyn Park District entered into an intergovernmental agreement to create a stormwater detention area at Ackerman.

The agreement called for the village to oversee the construction of the dry-bottom detention pond on land donated by the park district. In return, two soccer fields would have been built. One would have doubled as the water detention area.

But last week park district officials reversed their decision to construct two soccer fields. Still, they'll honor their contract with the village and donate the land at Ackerman Park for a stormwater detention area.

The park district's decision last week saved 300 trees, and the village will determine the future of the remaining 40.

Hase expressed appreciation for the park district's actions.

"I'd like to thank the park district for their decision in keeping the smaller detention area available for us so we can really review the (project)," she said.

Melissa Creech, a resident who's been leading efforts to stop the project, thanked the park district and village Monday night.

"I think it's very clear to the board and community that this community really likes the trees," she said.

"So any measures you can take to preserve all of the trees at Ackerman Park I think would be very appreciated," Creech said.

Public Works Director Joe Caracci said that throughout the next several months, the village staff would reidentify what the village wants to accomplish.

"This decision from the park district really gives us the opportunity to explore," he said.