Wheaton residents push to stop Kelly Park upgrades

Neighbors concerned about a planned makeover of Kelly Park are continuing to pressure Wheaton Park District to change course.

More than 45 people attended Wednesday night's park board meeting to show their opposition to the district's proposal to spend $754,000 to overhaul the 17-acre park at 1100 Main St.

Resident Sue Kerby, one of a dozen neighbors who spoke against the project, told park board members that the existing plan isn't the same one they approved eight months ago. She urged them to reconsider.

“There's always time to change midstream,” Kerby said, “to think about whether or not this is something you want to forge ahead with. No one is going to look down upon you if you change your mind and decide this isn't the way that Kelly Park should be changed.

“I am asking you as a taxpayer to consider that,” she added. “Consider the open space, the money that's being spent and the opposition you've seen consistently for eight months.”

Kerby's plea to the park board came two days after other neighbors requested that city officials get involved.

On Monday, resident Margaret Ervington asked council members to convince park officials to “slow down and allow the community to have more input” before construction begins. Right now, work is expected to start in June.

The planned improvements include permanent restrooms, shelters, bike parking, renovations to the existing tennis court and a new boardwalk.

However, there is concern that a combination half-court basketball court and ice-skating rink might cause flooding problems in the neighborhood to escalate.

“The residents of Wheaton need to know that the city is on their side and that it will not literally leave them holding the bucket when it rains,” resident Kim VanderSchaaf told city council members.

Park district officials insist their stormwater management plan for the park will improve the situation.

There also are no plans to remove a “small water play feature” from the project even though residents say it's going to attract more visitors.

“These plans just don't seem to fit with this small neighborhood park,” resident Janet Kidd said.

Resident Bill Mackey agrees. “Kelly Park is an oasis,” he said. “Leave it the way it is.”

Ervington said she has seen traffic on Elm and Main streets increase “substantially” during the 29 years she has lived near the park.

“There is going to be a serious accident, either with an adult or a child, sooner or later,” she said. “I'd like to prevent that.”

On Wednesday night, park officials said they are exploring the possibility of asking the city to limit the speed of traffic around all neighborhood parks, including Kelly Park.

Whether or not the city gets involved in other ways remains to be seen.

Mayor Michael Gresk said he has met with the neighbors and heard their concerns. He said he believes the neighbors should continue working with the park district.

“I am pleased to be part of the dialogue,” he said. “But I think their greatest effort should be made speaking to the park district and its commissioners.”

Park officials said they have been working with the neighbors for months. As a result, they canceled plans for angled parking along Main and a fireplace in one of the shelters.

At the same time, officials said, the district doesn't want to make too many revisions to the plan and risk losing a $377,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Resident Robert Denney told park board members that the district should simply give the grant money back.

“It's all coming out of our collective pockets,” Denney said. “It's not free money. And just leave the park alone.”