December 8, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Save the Gardens organization
Contact: Elaine Fisher
Gardeners Propose New Option 2A
The Save the Gardens members have presented several locations for additional sports fields that would meet the need for the Naperville Central High School football, lacrosse teams and community sports programming needs. Due to the long term impact of this decision, we are publicly presenting a proposed Option 2A which is a win-win-win solution. This proposed option provides fields for Naperville Central High School near the high school, preserves the current investment by the park district and the gardeners in the current garden plots on West Street, and adds additional fields for use by high school lacrosse teams and the community football leagues.
As stated in Option 2, move football teams onto the third field at Knoch Park (South of Martin Avenue), currently used by youth football leagues. To add athletic fields that could be used by the community football leagues on weekends and the lacrosse teams, the school district would develop two new multi-purpose fields at Brush Hill Park. This park of 10.7 acres is bordered on only one side by a residential area. The sports fields would be developed west of the neighborhood section of the park, which is circled on the attached diagram. A small parking area on the western edge of the park, off of Ogden Avenue, would need to be added for easy public access. Since this park is only a 5-10 minute drive from the high school, it could also be used for discus in the spring and lacrosse teams in the fall..
This option 2A has the advantages of providing the NCHS football teams practice areas near the school, not disrupting the garden plot program, and is less costly for the park district than other options presented. This would save the Park District $250,000 (the estimated cost of developing new garden plots.) During these challenging economic times, we think this is a practical, fiscally sound alternative worthy of thorough consideration.
Attached documents:
Summary of Option 2A
Diagram of proposed development of Brush Hill Park
Summary: New Option 2A
Option 2A:
Naperville Central High School football team practice uses the football field in South Knoch Park, and school district develops two new fields in Brush Hill Park for future sports needs.
Advantages:
Allows Naperville Central High School football team to practice near high school
Does not relocate any garden plots and saves the Naperville Park District $250,000
Provides two new fields for football leagues and lacrosse teams at nearby Brush Hill Park
Expands number of sports fields available for park district sports programs
Cost of development is limited to $500,000 paid by the school district
Nearby Brush Hill Park could be used for discus in the spring and used by lacrosse teams in the fall. The second field use would need to be scheduled around the spring Little League schedule.
This option provides 3 sports fields, one more than option 1A
An alternate location for lacrosse teams would be leased space at All Saints Church
Disadvantages:
Discus players and lacrosse teams would travel to Brush Hill Park (5-10 min. drive from high school)
Development Expenses:
School district pays development expense ($500,000 estimate) for two new fields in Brush Hill Park
Naperville Park District adds gravel parking space for Brush Hill sports fields
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