Pingree Grove wants input on new park
Do you want a dog park in Pingree Grove? A picnic area? Or maybe space to fly remote-controlled model airplanes?
Village residents can give their input on concept plans for a new 16-acre public park, to be located west of Prairie Street and north of Route 20, at a public meeting 11 a.m. Saturday at village hall, 14N042 Reinking Road.
"We do need the open space," said Trustee Bob Spieker.
"For all the open space in Pingree Grove, there is not enough in one location to really do anything - no space for a community gathering, an open field to do a family reunion or a picnic."
Nearly 20 residents who attended two public meetings earlier this month have expressed support for a dog park, said Spieker, who hosted the meetings with Trustee Chuck Pearson.
Residents proposed a variety of ideas, including a playground, picnic shelters, a butterfly garden, space for events such as movies, a carnival and musical performances, and even courts for volleyball, tennis and basketball, he said.
Any of that would have to be OK'd by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, which owns the land - considered a "gateway" into the forest preserve proper - and whose agreement to lease the space for free to the village stipulates no permanent structures will be built, Spieker said.
"What I am hoping for is to get enough input as possible (from residents) and sit down with the (village) planners to have an actual concept," he said.
The goal is for the new park to come at no cost to the village, Spieker said. "We're going to go after grants, donations and fundraisers," he said. "There will be no expense to village residents, hopefully. We are trying to keep this as inexpensive as possible."
Resident Joe Hirschbein, who serves on the village's events committee, said the new park would enhance Pingree Grove and even attract residents from nearby towns.
"It's going be mostly a lengthy process to put this all together, but this could bring in potential for future revenue and help grown the town," he said.