Glen Ellyn residents still fighting to save 40 trees

Three hundred saved.

Forty more to go.

Glen Ellyn residents determined to save trees at Ackerman Park are thrilled with the park district's decision not to construct soccer fields at the park. The move saves 300 trees.

But the debate isn't over.

If the village proceeds with the stormwater detention project, about 40 trees will be cut down, officials said.

Glen Ellyn Village President Vicky Hase said trustees are planning to talk Monday about available options regarding the project.

"We will discuss it and see where the board wants to go in terms of amending the intergovernmental agreement Monday," she said. "We're kind of up in the air because our board has to meet and decide how we want to proceed."

The village has been seeking price quotes for the original scope of the project. Village leaders must determine if bids will continue to be sought.

In November, the village and park district entered into an intergovernmental agreement to create a stormwater detention area at Ackerman Park.

The agreement called for the village to oversee the construction of the dry bottom detention pond on land donated by the park district. In return, two soccer fields would have been built. One would have doubled as the water detention area.

Melissa Creech, a Glen Ellyn resident who's been leading efforts to stop the project, said a group plans to attend Monday's meeting.

"We're going to be at the village board meeting on Monday to try and convince the village to completely end this project," she said.

She said she's very pleased with the park district's decision this week.

"Certainly, the process has been frustrating," Creech said. "But it looks like we're on the right path now."

Trustees are expected to discuss the issue during a workshop meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Glen Ellyn Civic Center. The leaders may formally vote later that night during an 8 p.m. village board meeting at the civic center.