Move garden, save Island Lake community's gem

In the best interest of our town and future generations, I think the Village of Island Lake mayor and supporting trustees should think twice before a natural resource at Veterans Memorial Park is destroyed from a lack of better judgment. Therefore, I challenge the mayor of Island Lake and the supporting village trustees to make the 5.4-acre portion of Veterans Memorial Park a dedicated nature area. There's almost 10 acres of open land with sidewalks, a parking lot and a beach house connected to this 5.4-acre gem. With all the wildlife, deer, fox, birds, etc., that call this place and the wetlands it holds, why would they even fathom the idea of "clearing it" as Trustee Verciglio so clearly put it? I am in support of community gardens; however, it would be ignorant to clear this area when we have more than 30 acres of land in our village more suitable that will not cost the taxpayers one single cent! By utilizing some of that acreage (even in a portion of the same park), we can serve two purposes without spending unnecessary money. For the whole village to enjoy, there are over a 1/2 mile of walking trails in this 5.4-acre parcel of Veterans Memorial Park, maintained by residents, recognized and "commended" by the Department of Natural Resources for their stewardship. I encourage all to come visit this pristine nature area on the corner of Hillside Drive and Walnut Court.

To the mayor and village trustees of Island Lake, I hope you will consider these words constructive in building a better future for our town that I have called home for over 40 years.

Ken Wick

Island Lake