Naperville OKs moving garden plots

Some of Naperville's garden plots will be moved to the city's south side to make room for athletic fields near Naperville Central High School.

The city council on Tuesday approved the plan, calling it a good compromise and ending months of community debate.

The issue stems from Naperville Central's shortage of athletic fields caused by a small campus, growing number of sports and the loss of Naperville Cemetery land it leases.

Last fall, the school and park districts came up with four options to solve the problem. After getting public input, both districts approved a compromise plan - Option 1A.

The plan would create two athletic fields on the southern portion of the West Street garden plots while allowing 478 out of 590 to remain at the site. Roughly 332 plots would be created at DuPage River Park.

A study determined the proposal would not have a significant impact on traffic.

The plan would cost $500,000 for Naperville Unit District 203 to create the athletic fields and $250,000 for the park district to create new garden plots.

Twenty-two residents spoke on the issue Tuesday representing both sides, many cautioning that Naperville's status as either kid-friendly or senior-friendly city was in jeopardy.

Those supporting Option 1A said it is a plan that benefits both athletes and gardeners and is a long-term solution that would prevent children from being bused to fields.

Gardeners expressed concerns about losing plots they have tended for years along with soil quality, traffic issues and the cost to taxpayers.

The council voted 8-0 in favor of allowing Option 1A. Councilman John Rosanova abstained because he is a teacher in District 203.

"My opinion is our role is to lease the property to the park district ... and it's up to the park district to determine what is the best program to put on their property," Councilman Kenn Miller said. "That being said, certainly we don't want to disturb an entire group of people whether it be seniors, whether it be youth from their programs ... and I think Option 1A is a good compromise."

Many echoed his sentiments that the council's focus is land use issues like traffic and stormwater management, not which program should use the land or how the districts handle their finances. They commended the districts for coming up with a solution beneficial to the most people.

"I spent some of the best times of my life down at Knoch Park with kids," Councilman Richard Furstenau said. "There will be generations that will be able to do that."

The next step will be for District 203 and the park district to work out an agreement concerning details like field usage.