Warren Township to buy land to expand

The voters have spoken.

The Warren Township government will spend $4 million for the purchase of 50 acres of land that will be converted into athletic fields and a preserve near Gurnee Mills.

Nearly 500 registered voters cast ballots during a town-hall meeting Wednesday night, with 294 in favor and 196 votes against.

The auditorium at Warren Township High School O'Plaine campus was nearly filled as people listened to passionate pleas from supporters and opponents of the purchase.

Representatives from youth football, baseball, lacrosse and cheer squads made their pitch in support of the land buy. Most cited long waiting lists for kids who want to play sports but can't because there aren't enough fields to accommodate the needs.

"Parents are lined up at 6 a.m. for registration that starts at 9 a.m.," said Warren Township Youth Football Director Sean Tyrrell. "The list fills up quickly. We have 80 players on a waiting list because there just isn't enough space to play."

Ken Arnold of Citizens for Responsible Government, a Gurnee-area watchdog group, questioned the urgency on the part of township officials to purchase the property. He also complained the township didn't provide more details on future costs related to upgrades and amenities to the park. "Why the mad rush with this purchase? If this is a good deal today, it will be tomorrow too," Arnold said. "Four million dollars is just a start. What is the total cost in the long run? We are lacking those details."

The 50 acres near Stearns School Road and Mill Creek Drive, northwest of Gurnee Mills, will have three football fields, four baseball/softball diamonds and two lacrosse fields, according to a conceptual development plan.

Plans also call for restoration and preservation of 17 acres with hickory and oak trees so the land can be used for picnics, bicycling and hiking. The property is in unincorporated Lake County.

Proponents have said there is a need to accommodate continued growth in youth baseball and softball, football and lacrosse in the Gurnee area. They also said the land price has dropped to where the township can get it at an affordable $80,000 per acre.

Township officials said it would be nearly three years before the first teams would be playing on the fields. The ground has to be graded, seeded and prepared before the fields could be used.

Warren Township includes some or all of Gurnee, Waukegan, Grayslake, Lindenhurst, Beach Park, Third Lake and unincorporated Lake County.

Land: Fields ready in 3 years