Grayslake Park referendum fails

Voters Tuesday narrowly rejected a tax increase for the Grayslake Park District to buy 70 acres near Lake and Washington streets and to develop 55 acres at Alleghany Park near Route 120.

With all 23 precincts reporting, unofficial tallies showed 1,684 "no" votes compared to 1,564 "yes" votes. If the tax-increase referendum had passed, an owner of a $300,000 market-value home would have paid an additional $90 to the park system in the first year.

The 70 acres, held by one family for 171 years, was to be preserved for open space.