It’s too early for us to either endorse or criticize the proposal of the River Forest Park District to convert a commercial building into an indoor rec center. There are legitimate questions still to be answered before voters make the final choice on funding this project as part of the Feb. 2 Illinois primary election.
It’s never too early, though, to tamp down the objections of a handful of neighbors to a project such as this and say that NIMBYism is a weak argument in deciding a municipal matter.
About 40 people attended a public hearing on the rec center proposal in mid-November. By our reading, a close majority of those citizens leaned against the concept, several of them over concerns about traffic and impact on the neighboring block.
From our less passionate viewpoint, a clear argument for this project is its location. The structure, widely known as the Oilily building, backs up to a railroad trestle, is adjacent to a current park facility and is, therefore, about as buffered from residential neighbors as is possible in River Forest.
Opponents will have to do more than muster immediate home-owners and their concerns about local kids arriving for gymnastics lessons to convince us this project is a bad idea.
In fact, opponents – and right now they seem few and disconnected – will need to get organized soon and settle on their arguments. We get the view that voting this plan down will lower the park district tax bite as current bonds expire. We understand questions about why River Forest needs both a park district rec center and the nearby River Forest Community Center. Those are legit talking points.
But we’d note that, so far, the park district has done a good job in lining up this vote over the past 18 months. They have been methodical and thoughtful on financing and project planning. They make a credible argument that the current dismal economy is actually a good time to take on this project as costs are lower than in many a year.
So let’s have the discussion. But don’t base it on the possible opposition of a dozen families living across the street.