Naperville approves park expansion

Naperville City Council has decided to play ball with the park district.

Councilmen on Tuesday approved annexation of 20 acres on the city's north side that will be used to expand Nike Sports Complex.

"There is a desperate shortage of play space available on the ... north sector of the park district and this is the first step in alleviating that," attorney Derke Price said on behalf of the park district.

In 2007, the district spent $8 million to buy the 20 acres at Mill Street and Diehl Road adjacent the existing park.

The land was in an unincorporated portion of DuPage County and park district officials have spent more than a year working on an annexation agreement with the city.

Plans for the park include the district's first lighted, synthetic turf field; multiuse fields for soccer, football and lacrosse; lighted tennis, basketball and volleyball courts; a playground; walking and bicycle trails; and a cricket pitch.

The district also will build a 2,500-square-foot support building and 296 parking spaces along Mill Street. Early estimates put the project cost at $6 million to $8 million.

Dave Wrobel, president of the Galaxy Soccer Club, praised the plans.

"We have 39 teams clamoring for green practice space ... with few options on the north side of town," Wrobel said. "The lighted turf field opens a wide range of game and practice options."

At first on Tuesday it appeared a vote on the project may be delayed. Councilman Bob Fieseler wanted to conduct a standard first reading of the proposal, then bring it back for vote at the next meeting to give residents an additional chance to comment.

Price assured him residents had given input every step of the way - in four public meetings, in one-on-one discussions and at the plan commission level in addition to Tuesday's council meeting.

In order to address some of the neighbors' concerns, the park district has adjusted the park's lighting and will have the lights off by 11 p.m. It also will build a 3- to 4-foot-tall berm as a buffer between the park and nearby residents. Price said most of the traffic generated by the park will be at nonpeak hours.

Two residents spoke in favor of the plans Tuesday night and none spoke in opposition.

Councilmen ultimately approved the annexation with a 7-0 vote. The agreement includes waiving the $700,000 annexation fee as officials said the two entities share most of the same taxpayers.

"I think it's a great layout, I think they've listened to the neighbors' concerns and addressed them appropriately, addressed the stormwater, addressed lighting," Councilman Paul Hinterlong said. "All the ducks are in a row."

The park district plans to break ground on the park expansion this summer and complete the project in 2011.