Endorsement: Vote Yes on South Barrington Park District referendum

South Barrington Park District voters will be confronted with a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot seeking permission to sell the mysterious-sounding "Area N." Cryptic name aside, Area N is a vacant 34-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Bartlett Road and Route 59. It was purchased, along with another 12-acre site, more than a decade ago for $4.3 million as part of a development deal, and the park district still carries some debt on the property. The district's executive director, Jay Morgan, says the site isn't ideally suited for a park. It's not flat, for one thing, so developing a park there would take time and money. Selling the land would allow the district to pay down debt, purchase land adjacent to already developed parks and fund other improvements. Morgan calls selling Area N the "fiscally responsible thing to do," and we agree. Residents should vote yes.