Carol Stream gives official OK to land sale

Carol Stream Park District will pay $1.6 million for six acres of village land near Town Center for its new recreation center.

The village board approved the sale Monday night, giving the district the green light to proceed with plans for the $17 million to $20 million facility south of Fountain View Drive, west of Gary Avenue and north of apartments on Klein Creek Court.

The village board reviewed a list of 14 points that compose the bulk of the intergovernmental agreement. Among them:

• Any portion of the land between the center and Gary Avenue is to be used for public recreation.

• The park district will pay for construction and costs related to any future entrance road and any work on Gary Avenue required for the recreation center.

• Both entities will meet at least two times a year to coordinate activities at the site.

• If the park district opts out of the recreation center, all transactions are canceled and the property would return to the village, at the village's request.

"We had to make sure we're covered," Village President Frank Saverino said. "Once we do this, responsibility for the site becomes theirs."

Saverino said the village was prepared to support the park district but any additional expenses related to construction, including engineering studies or roadwork, will be paid for by the park district.

The rec center is expected to include an indoor pool, multiuse gymnasium and a larger exercise area than the current recreation facility at Simkus Recreation Center, 849 Lies Road.

Last month, park district and village officials confirmed an "agreement in principle" had been reached but official wording had to be negotiated between the attorneys for both sides. It came five months after voters approved a $37 million referendum proposal, which included plans for the recreation center.