Title
Evergreen View Park - Land Usage
History
As history for this item, Evergreen Park consists of the following pieces:
The required park donation by the developer of this area, McNaughton, was 5.2 acres. There was additional acreage purchased by the Village through the Open Lands program that totaled 13.2 acres. Separately, the adjacent ComEd easement land was dedicated to the Village and consists of 9.6 acres. A current map of the park area is attached.
The agreement between the Village of Orland Park and the Orland Park Open Lands Corporation indicates that property purchased through Open Lands would be "undeveloped land of ecological significance or natural beauty, high quality natural areas, wetlands, and other areas (whether or not presently undeveloped) with unique or unusual natural qualities..." and the purpose would be "to hold preserve and maintain such land." The rider to the Articles of Incorporation of Orland Park Open Lands Corporation expands upon this and is attached for your information.
Staff received a request from the Chiefs LaCrosse team to provide two soccer/lacrosse fields installed at Evergreen Park. The proposed plan was sent to the homeowner association of Evergreen View to obtain some initial feedback on the concept of activating the park space with the addition of athletic fields.
Subsequently, we received word from the Recreation Advisory Board that there was interest in considering this same area as a possible site for a baseball field. Initially, staff was of the opinion that if the response to activating this area was amenable to the residents, the Village might be able to redesign the concept plan to include provision for both a baseball field and a lacrosse practice field.
The homeowners association sent information and a sketch provided by the Village to their members with their annual mailing and requested feedback by the end of January. We recently received word from the Homeowners Association President that the results of their survey indicated that among the residents that responded, they are overwhelmingly opposed to a project that would alter the use of the park. Most of the respondents cited their concerns that parking problems and neighborhood disruptions would come with the addition of athletic fields. Many asked for the notification of public meetings should the Village decide to pursue change at this park.
The Homeowners Association Board recommended strongly in their communication to the Village that the project not go forward. Moreover, should the Village desire to advance a project at this site, the active uses in this park would need to be specifically defined given the restrictions on the property acquired as Open Lands.
This information was provided and discussed at the March 2, 2010 Recreation and Parks Advisory Board meeting. The Advisory Board made a motion to recommend to the Recreation Committee advancing further review of the options for athletic field amenities at Evergreen Park.
Since that meeting, Village staff continued to look at the possibilities for incorporating additional athletic fields in this area. The use of Open Lands funds requires that 13.2 acres of this area remain open space. The current active use amenities in the park encompass 3.5 acres. This leaves 1.7 acres of open area between amenities which could be allocated to additional amenities.
A baseball field should be constructed in an area 400 feet by 400 feet, approximately 3 acres. This sizing would allow for dugouts and bleachers as well as the playing area. The construction of a baseball field in this park is not an option with the requirement to keep to the 5.2 acres available.
A LaCrosse field is 1.36 acres in size not including Safety Zone and areas for participants and spectators. To provide a full field and the required additional space, approximately 1.76 acres is required for one Lacrosse Field. The field would fit in the area delineated in the attached map as the 5.2 acres of park donation. Unfortunately, this area is not suitable for a field in its current state. The Village would need to provide significant regrading and trees would have to be removed to accomplish the construction of a proper field.
There is possibility that the needed 1.7 acres needed for the LaCrosse field could be moved to an area of the park that would be more suitable and that would diminish the need for significant regrading. To do that, consideration would have to be given to the impact of the open space area. By adding an athletic field in another area, the open space would more "surround" the amenities rather than separately sit adjacent to them.
The existing LaCrosse fields are currently located at Eagle Ridge I (game field for the Chiefs high school boys) and Eagle Ridge II (both practice and games for Eagles high school girls) and Cachey Park (practice field for Chiefs). The youth LaCrosse team appears to be in transition at this time and is currently not scheduled on Orland Park fields. Unless the youth LaCrosse team books OP fields, it appears we currently have enough field space/time slots to meet the 2010 season requirements.
On March 22, 2010, this item was reviewed by the Recreation & Parks Committee and referred to the Board by a vote of 3-0.
Financial Impact
None at this time
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve that no further action be taken in designing athletic field amenities at Evergreen Park at this time.