It's Preservation Versus Renovation as Citizens, Attorney, Debate Sale

What was supposed to be a plaintiff's update on the legal battle over the proposed sale of a land parcel within Gordon Park, turned into a battle in opinions between supporters of the Park District of La Grange and Friends of La Grange Parks.

Tom Beyer, an attorney based in La Grange who represents Friends of La Grange Parks, provided an update on his organization's lawsuit, which he said is about differing philosophies over the use of public park space, to members of the Citizens' Council of La Grange at their Sept. 8 meeting in the La Grange village hall, 53 S. LaGrange Rd.

Friends of La Grange Parks, a group of approximately 20 La Grange residents who oppose the planned sale of 2.82 acres of Gordon Park for commercial development, wants to preserve the land for use by future generations.

Since 2007, the park district has attempted to sell the land, which lies adjacent to the now-demolished Rich Port YMCA, 31 E. Ogden Ave, including through a referendum supported by 54 percent of La Grange voters. But Friends of La Grange Parks has stymied the sale; the issue is next on the docket Oct. 5 in front of a Cook County Circuit Court judge.

The park district intended to use the proceeds from the sale to upgrade the rest of Gordon Park, which they say is in poor condition and needs serious improvement. Renovations would include the addition of a new athletics field and a splash pad.

Katie Justak, chairman of the Citizens' Council of La Grange, a nonpartisan group that recommends candidates for public office, said she wanted to have a representative from the Park District of La Grange present to offer that organization's point of view at the meeting, but the park district declined. But, Mary Ellen Penicook, the new president of the park district board, provided a statement, which Justak read to the audience—it said it was pointless to expend energy on a debate on the eve of the trial.

"It is not in the best interests of the citizens and taxpayers," Penicook wrote in the statement.

Beyer said he did not intend to debate the Gordon Park issue, only share the facts around the case. He outlined the history of public spaces in the United States before delving into the organization's opposition to the proposed sale.

"Once you sell open spaces for development you can never get them back. They're gone forever," Beyer said.

Beyer also questioned the notion of turning usable park space into facilities primarily used for organized sports. He said the sports facilities aren't always open to the public, which violates the spirit of the legislation that established park spaces for public use.

"Can you play tag there? Can you have a picnic there?" he asked rhetorically. "Sports should be part of the parks, but shouldn't be all of it."

Although there was no official representative of the Park District of La Grange at the meeting, the district was certainly represented by attendees.

Vera Catuara, a 45-year resident of La Grange, said she was upset that a group of 20 people could thwart the will of the majority of the voters in La Grange with the lawsuit and cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees.

During a question and answer session with Beyer, Catuara asked if it was in the public good for the Friends of La Grange Parks to hold up the sale of the land in court.

"Why are you continuing with the lawsuit? You are costing the village and the park district a lot of tax dollars," Catuara said.

Beyer responded that he and the other attorneys representing the Friends of La Grange Parks are working pro bono. He said he could not calculate how much money he was not billing the small group for his legal work.

"I turn that question around and ask why has the park district spent so much money on this case?" Beyer said.

The Friends of La Grange Parks were not without supporters. Several attendees questioned the integrity of the park district's handling of the proposed sale and the referendum.

Gary Lundin said he the issues boils down to green spaces versus money.

"I prefer green spaces…There's too much congestion around here," Lundin said.