Homer Twp. to transfer $10 million in park land Homer Glen
Homer Township plans to turn over six of its parks worth about $10 million to the village of Homer Glen in May.
Township and village officials held a joint meeting Wednesday to discuss the transfer of property, which includes Culver, Goreham, Lamers, Sendra and Yangas parks and the sports complex area.
The parks include such amenities as playgrounds, baseball fields, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, ponds, walking paths and picnic benches.
The 35-acre sports complex includes two lighted football fields, four lighted baseball fields, scoreboards, a concession area and restrooms, which are maintained by private Homer area athletic organizations.
Township Supervisor Steve Balich said when subdivisions were built, developers either offered park donations to the township because the village did not incorporate until 2001, or the village was too young and did not have the resources to maintain the parks.
All of the parks are owned by the township but are within the corporate limits of Homer Glen.
The township also owns Morris Park, and is negotiating with the city of Lockport, the Lockport Township Park District and the Lockport Junior Porters football and cheer organization to see how it can donate the park to Lockport, Balich said.
Balich said the township’s park levy is expected to decrease about 75% when it donates the parks in Homer Glen’s boundaries and it should reduce even more after negotiations with Lockport entities.
Homer Township plans to maintain the parks until May 1, when the village’s next budget cycle begins.
The expected cost of parks maintenance would be between $800,000 and $1 million, according to village documents, and staff will incorporate these new costs into its fiscal year 2023 budget.
The board spent about $562,000 on park maintenance in fiscal year 2021.
Village staff said delaying acceptance of the township parks until May allows the village to prepare for additional costs.
Finance director John Sawyers will update the village board on the parks budget.
John Robinson, the village’s parks and facilities superintendent, surveyed the township parks and said many of the safety issues include adding mulch so the proper depth is reached.
Robinson, a certified playground safety inspector, said many repairs are minor, such as repairing sidewalks and walkways and replacing rusted swing chains and benches.
At Sendra Park, the basketball post and backboard is leaning and needs to be removed or repaired, and the wooden exercise equipment along the walking path is in poor shape, he said.
Basketball and volleyball nets would need to be replaced at Yangas Park, he said.
Robinson said park equipment is typically replaced or refurbished every 15 to 20 years.
When the village looks to replace playground equipment, it can also look into replacing mulch with a surface that can be accessed by wheelchairs.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Friday October 22nd the Special Town Meeting Held at the Village of Homer Glen Community Room to get permission from the voters (Electors) to buy, sell, lease or other conveyance of Township property. This is the final step needed to transfer ownership of the Township Parks in Homer Glen to the Village of Homer Glen.
