As you contemplate whether to commit $40 million of our tax dollars to build a new indoor aquatics facility, make sure you read exactly what the ballot will say:
“Shall the Park District of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, build and equip an indoor aquatics facility and issue its bonds to the amount of $40,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”
Now look at the PDOP website or the FAQs that will be provided to attendees at info sessions on Jan. 22, Feb. 4, and Feb. 25, and see what the ballot does not say:
Where will the new facility be located?
“The proposed indoor aquatics facility would be added to the Ridgeland Common Complex site at 415 Lake St. in Oak Park, replacing the current outdoor pool.”
Many voters will complete their ballots without having seen those five important words: “replacing the current outdoor pool”.
The real referendum question is whether we want to spend $40 million of our tax dollars to rip out the popular, much-used, existing outdoor pool at Ridgeland. The new pool would not be in addition to, but instead of the outdoor pool.
Is this omitted language an oversight, incompetence, or intentional voter manipulation?
I encourage you to attend one of the two remaining information sessions: 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 and Feb. 25 at the CRC on Madison Street and submit your own questions.
I plan to vote No on March 17.
Ellen Edwards
Oak Park
