Fox Valley Park District makes $3 million purchase

The Fox Valley Park District approved the purchase of three parcels of land totaling 20.94 acres - including 19.81 acres for $3.05 million - Monday evening.

The largest parcel, on the southeast corner of Mair and Montgomery roads just northeast of Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, is the biggest in recent history.

The money comes from a $44.8 million referendum voters approved in February.

"This is the very first of many dominoes to fall," the park district's public relations manager Jeff Long said. "We're following through on what we proposed and what we promised."

The park district recently used some funds to perform maintenance on existing trails and parks. This week's purchases mark the first major use of the funds for land acquisition.

The two other parcels, about one acre on West Indian Trail and a .17-acre expansion of May Street Park on Highland Avenue, will cost the park district $420,000 combined.

Of the $44.8 million, $13 million were earmarked for land acquisition. So far, several small purchases and the Montgomery property have accounted for nearly $5 million.

Long said it's too soon after the purchase to determine any plans other than to say the park will most likely include athletic fields.

"We're still celebrating the acquisition," he said.

The park district this week also approved two bids totaling $355,000 for the renovation of tennis courts and lighting improvements at Washington Park, 231 Constitution Drive in Aurora.