Dundee Township to get new sports fields

Dundee Township soccer hooligans, baseball fanatics - even cricket nuts - may have a new place to play under a novel agreement between the township park district and the Kane County Forest Preserve District.

Under the deal, approved by the Kane County Board this week, the park district will have access to about 40 acres of a new, sprawling forest preserve along Route 31 on the northern tip of Carpentersville.

Although plans for the property are still in the conceptual stage, park district officials hope to install several athletic fields in the portions the park district would own and operate. Besides traditional uses, the fields may also cater to niche sports like lacrosse or cricket, officials said.

"We perceived that soccer has been a need," said Don Kappel, assistant director of the park district. The district has only a few soccer fields on its east side, he said. "If we were to lose those areas, we would have a desperate need for soccer fields."

The new Brunner Family Forest Preserve will be on the east side of Route 31, north of Miller Road and south of Buffalo Park. Officials from the park district and the county praised the uniqueness of the concept for the Brunner Preserve, which would combine park district recreation programs with a traditional forest preserve.

"You're going to have, all along Route 31, active open space and about 600 acres of passive open space behind it," said Kane County Board member John Fahy, whose district includes parts of Dundee Township. "It's going to be great for the residents."

At about 8 percent of the park district's current holdings, the Brunner Preserve represents a significant acquisition. Kane County Forest Preserve officials hope to receive plans this year on how the park district will develop the land. The forest preserve acquired the property last year for $40 million.