Referendum on future of Campton parks

The village of Campton Hills is considering a financial arrangement to help fund open space development in Campton Township, but officials want to hear from voters before moving ahead.

Under the arrangement, the village would use its municipal leverage to seek state grants and other funding it could then turn over to the township for use at public parks and natural areas. The village also would direct related land or cash donations from developers to the same cause.

Village Trustee Jim Kopec said the goal is to help the township make better use of land it has purchased but been unable to develop, such as the historic Corron Farm at Silver Glen and Corron roads, north of Campton Hills.

"We would be able to cooperate and jointly develop these areas and help the township finish what they started," he said. "It would be a good thing. It would benefit everybody."

The issue will take the form of a nonbinding referendum April 7 asking voters whether Campton Hills should make the agreement.

Kopec noted that while neither the village nor the township has its own park district, both share a strong desire to preserve their semirural feel. He said the agreement would not require additional spending by the village.

"We're not going to be allocating any monies from the general fund," Kopec said. "It would really be on the basis of grants, fundraisers, things of that nature."