Raceway Woods or Raceway Weeds? Neighbors not happy

Elaine Rathjen doesn't like weeds. Problem is, when the Dundee Township resident looks out onto the open space of Raceway Woods just beyond her backyard, she says all she can see are noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation.

Rathjen, who has lived in her Huntley Road home for more than 50 years, said Dundee Township has failed to take care of the property near West Dundee since her neighbors - Jack and Donna Redmer - stepped down as stewards of the property a year ago. The Redmers and the township disagreed over whether herbicides should be used to control weeds in the area.

Now, Rathjen said, the walking trails that abut her property line are no longer clearly defined. The wood chip path is in disarray and weeds are sprouting down the center.

"To some people, this might be all right," said Rathjen, pointing to the tall grasses that now line the trail. "But there is a path that you can't see. Who wants to walk across this to get to one of those picnic tables out there? It is all overgrown."

For more than six years, Jack and Donna Redmer oversaw the upkeep of the 67 acres known as the Western Sector behind their horse farm - from creating the 8-foot-wide walking trails to mowing the area.

"Nobody comes out here anymore," Jack Redmer said. "We used to take pride in this side being better than the (Kane County) forest preserve's side. Now it looks like a dump."

Redmer said he used to see families pushing strollers and pulling carts along the trail, or picnicking near the horse farm. This summer, the number of people using the path has dropped significantly.

But Dundee Township Supervisor Sue Harney said she disagrees that use is down and added it was never the intention of the township to maintain the property to the extent that the Redmers did.

"We don't keep it manicured, it is a natural area," Harney said. "My understanding is that Elaine wants a mowed parklike expanse behind her home. We are not willing or able to do that. It is not the intent of open space."

Harney said the township does mow the trails and undertakes measures to control invasive weeds.

"One thing that we sold open space on is that it is not a mowed experience," Harney said. "When it is mowed it is not a good area for wildlife and animals. In fact, it makes it quite sterile."