Memorial Field chat on hold; $326,500 donated

Glenbard High School District 87 delayed discussion of a potential Memorial Field usage agreement with the Glen Ellyn Park District on Monday after one board member could not attend because of personal reasons. The proposed eight-year agreement would allow the park district to use the field on predetermined days after artificial turf is installed this summer. In return, the park district would pay the schools $20,000 per year.

The money will help offset costs of the $1.6 million project, the majority of which is expected to be completed during the summer.

Meanwhile, a representative for a citizens group hoping to raise money for the project told the board that it had raised $326,500 through private donations from alumni, parents and teachers in the district.

Board President Rose Malcolm said the delay in the agreement was necessary because she wanted to make sure all board members could be in on the discussion, especially considering the length of the deal. Board member Richard Heim could not attend because of a last-second personal emergency, Malcolm said.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Chris McClain said the two-week delay might make it difficult to meet an aggressive timeline, which had a completion date of Aug. 27. Instead, a more conservative date of Sept. 17 is expected.

However, McClain said each of the timelines includes allowances for weather-related delays so the earlier date is still possible if those delays are minimal.

The project is expected to cost $1.6 million, $913,000 of which will be paid for by the district through vendor contracts and savings related to the new turf. It is also expected to save the district $293,000 over eight years.

Glenbard West parent Mark Flynn said the fields athletes compete on are an embarrassment to the community and the

"The problem is so obvious," Flynn said of drainage issues and field conditions that made the fields unplayable. "That helped people step forward."