Endorsement: Yes to purchase land for parks in Oak Brook

Oak Brook Park District is asking residents for permission to borrow $17.9 million to be paid back over 20 years to acquire 34 acres of open space known as McDonald's Soccer Fields south of Kensington Road between Route 83 and Jorie Boulevard. The land is owned by McDonald's Corp., which is moving its corporate headquarters to Chicago.

If the district doesn't buy the land, parks supporters say, it likely will be developed for multifamily housing. The district would maintain it as open space to be used for soccer and other youth sports while also maintaining passive areas as well as walking and biking trails on the site. The land is near the district's 71-acre Central Park.

Officials say the proposed increase would boost taxes about $266 a year for the owner of a $1 million home.

Given that this is one of the last - perhaps the last - large undeveloped parcels in the landlocked village, we think residents should support the park district's efforts to snare the property while it can. We hope voters will say yes.