Park district ignores constituents

Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil famously said, “All politics is local.” The more local the politics, the more influence voters should have on governmental bodies. That is why participation with local governments should be encouraged, and why low voter turnout in local elections is disheartening.

When an elected governmental body, such as the Wheaton Park District, ignores the will of the people, it is not surprising that voters become disinterested in local elections. The majority of the public comments and letters to the editor about the creation of a parking lot on the east side of Gary Avenue for Cosley Zoo have been in opposition. I’ve not seen any group, except the Wheaton Park District Board, speak in favor of the plan.

The opposition appears to be bipartisan, too, which is a rarity these days. Liberals are concerned about the environmental effect. Cosley counters with “we’ll mitigate the effect by using permeable pavers,” which is an admission that a parking lot is not environmentally friendly. Conservatives are concerned about their taxpayer dollars supporting a project that promises to bring thousands of visitors from outside the Wheaton Park District.

Wheaton Park District sent a survey to residents in 2016. The majority of respondents said they were very satisfied with Cosley Zoo and did not think it should be expanded. Yet, the Park District went ahead and hired consultants to create an expansion plan, beginning with a parking lot. They could go ahead with other pieces of the plan without touching the green space they have designated for the parking lot.

Permission to proceed with the parking lot plans rests with the Wheaton City Council. They will also hear the same opposing viewpoints and, hopefully, they will actually listen to the voters.

Diane Niesman

Wheaton