A cautious 'yes' to Mettawa's three advisory referendums

Voters in Mettawa will vote on three referendum questions that are advisory only. Two of the questions - on purchasing land west of the I-94 Lake Forest Oasis and east of Bradley Road for parks or an open-space preserve, and on whether the village should make completing the Mettawa Trail system a priority - get our endorsement. Additional park land or open space and a trail system add to the intrinsic value of a community.

These questions seek direction only. How much it might cost and how that money would be raised has not been detailed.

If these pass, we caution officials to consider the state of the economy and move ahead only as conditions permit. If either vote fails, it may well be due to concerns about the economy and not the merits of either project.

A "no" vote may also reflect discontent on another, unrelated issue: The Costco land purchases. As noted in a previous endorsement for village candidates, it appears at least that the land purchases have not met the standards of openness that residents deserve and desire. It would be a shame if opinions on that issue halted two unconnected, worthy projects.

The third question, on whether to support a county plan to build a roundabout traffic circle at the intersection of Everett and Riverwoods roads, seems superfluous since it is a county-level project and the question is advisory only. However, the question works at least as a way of raising awareness of the coming project. Modern traffic roundabouts are more efficient than the ones built decades ago, and most drivers are unfamiliar with these new layouts. Unfamiliarity doesn't necessarily mean unworkable, and we endorse the roundabout question.