First, good neighbors

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013 10:00 PM

Funny what happens when an institution residing in a residential neighborhood asks for something extra. The institution, in this case the 107-year-old River Forest Tennis Club, thought its relations with its neighbors were copasetic. Turns out the neighbors were just barely tolerating the inconvenience and nuisance of living adjacent to a seven-day-a-week sports club.

But last month when the tennis club was about to ask the village government for permission to install lights so that more tennis could be played, the neighbors said, "Wait a minute. What about the traffic and parking congestion? What about the noise? And now you want lights in the middle of our neighborhood so members of your private club can play more tennis!?" That would be the gist of the 85 comments on the issue at OakPark.com as of Monday.

Wisely, the tennis club's leaders, who are also River Foresters, have chosen to spike the lights application, at least for now, and do some serious listening and problem-solving with neighbors. This is a good response but one that may never have happened if the issue of lights had not been raised.

Reader Comments

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RF Homeowner from RF

Posted: January 16th, 2013 7:29 AM

And for clarity -- the RFTC is pushing the boundaries of what neighbors and RF "non-members" can tolerate. MY issues are 1) traffic and parking on Oak render it useless in the summer and 2) noise pollution from the loud speaker during "the season". And btw -- don't usurp the parking in the library / RS lot nor in the Roosevelt turn around -- those are taxpayer lots, not RFTC lots.

RF Homeowner from RF

Posted: January 16th, 2013 7:25 AM

@RF Achievement -- couldn't agree more. In fact, where IS the Village on this? Timely election coming up -- can't wait to hear their thoughts.

RF Achievement

Posted: January 16th, 2013 6:37 AM

About time the people living around the club held them to a HIGHER standard. Both must co exist. If not, it is up to the village politicians (too many are also members of the club) to Fix it. Keep up the pressure - and make the relationship work. Right now, it is too one sided where the club has been doing what and when it wants with little of no oversight.

RF Homeowner from RF

Posted: January 15th, 2013 10:40 PM

@Concerned: If you took some time to read the 85 comments to the original article you would read how the sleepy little tennis club that has been around for a very long time has evolved over the years so that it does not compare to what it was when it started way before the current neighbors lived there. THIS year neighbors up to six blocks away got to hear swim meets being announced over loud speakers... yes, you are correct, I do not agree with you. Get informed.

Concerned from Oak Park

Posted: January 13th, 2013 9:58 PM

To RF Homeowner: Ouch! I didn't realize that only neighbors of the RFTC were entitled to respond with a public comment in a public newspaper. I guess I must have stated a viewpoint that disagreed with your own. Maybe that is my real offense.

RF Homeowner from RF

Posted: January 13th, 2013 2:25 PM

@concerned: yup you are correct. This is not your issue. Go read the 85 comments made on the first article regarding this topic if you are interested in the detail. Still, it is not your issue.

Concerned from Oak Park

Posted: January 13th, 2013 1:31 AM

I realize this is not my personal issue in that I do not reside in RF, however it seems that the tennis club has been there for a lot longer than any of the neighbors, however adding "lights" does seem to be pushing the boundries.

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