More than 100 residents filled the Summit Park District gymnasium Tuesday night filling every seat and standing along the wall and in doorways, as they warned officials not to touch Argo Park.
Many had questions. Many came with the same message.
“We have history. Don’t take that away from us,” one resident told the board. “Give our kids that opportunity. If we don’t, then we’re going to lose another generation.”
The special meeting was called for a community discussion about possible improvements and a potential partnership involving Argo Park and adjacent Argo Community High School. No vote was taken and no plans were approved.
The meeting was held in the Summit Park District gymnasium, 5700 S. Archer Road, and poor audio quality and inconsistent microphone use made portions of the meeting difficult to hear.
Park District Executive Director John Jekot said the district has had preliminary conversations with School District 217 and School District 104 but stressed nothing has been approved.
“There is absolutely no decision being made tonight,” Jekot said, adding the park is not being sold.
“The proposal is not selling park land,” Jekot said. “Any agreement would require approval from all governing boards.”
Jekot also said District 217 does not own any portion of Argo Park.
“The high school district does not own any portion of the park and has no authority to sell or transfer park property,” he said.
Longtime resident Rita Young cut directly to the point.
“Do you live here, sir?” she asked Jekot.
“No,” he replied.
“This is our community,” one resident said. “We’re the ones who live here.”
Residents repeatedly described Argo Park as the place they grew up.
“When we didn’t have anywhere to play, we would go to the park,” one man said. “That’s why we have this.”
Others tied the park to keeping kids safe.
“If we don’t invest in them, who is?” another resident said. “We do what we can and the best we can for our children.”
“Will there be public access to this area, or are we giving it up?” one woman asked.
Jekot said maintaining access is part of the intent.
“There is every effort to maintain access,” he said.
That answer did not satisfy many in the room.
“You take the swings away. You take the little horse away. You take everything away from the kids,” one resident said.
Summit resident Keenan Lanfair said officials were talking about change without understanding how the park was actually used.
“I grew up here,” Lanfair said. “I actually see the condition of the park.” He pushed back on claims that the park is unused.
“People act like nothing happens at that park,” Lanfair said. “That’s not true.”
Lanfair said removing equipment removes reasons for children to go there.
“You take the reason away,” he said. “You take the swing away. You take the little horse away. You take everything away from the kids because they do utilize them.”
He also pushed back against restricting access.
“There’s no restricted area in there,” Lanfair said. “You gotta have the same park down here.”
Lanfair said officials need to work with residents instead of around them.
“All we have to do is work with us,” he said.
One Summit resident said residents have already seen what happens when projects move forward without community input.
“They poured a lot of money into Legion Park. They did,” the resident said. “But guess what? They didn’t ask the community what they wanted.”
“They did a couple of things for the little kids, but the older kids have nothing to do.”
Janice Harvey raised concerns about whether Summit taxpayers were carrying the financial burden while other towns benefitted.
“I’d just like to know, do Justice, Bedford Park, and Bridgeview pay the same property tax we pay for 217 and 104?” Harvey asked.
She said residents deserve clarity.
“If those three other towns aren’t paying their share, then our property taxpayers are paying for everything while their kids are being bused here,” Harvey said.
One resident reminded board members that District 217 officials are elected by the community and said residents deserve answers before any partnership moves forward.
“We elect you,” the resident said. “So, our own high school needs to answer our questions.”
The resident pointed to past actions by the high school district that were done without public input.
“A couple of years ago, Argo High School took it upon themselves to put that fence right here,” the resident said. “They did it without any information.”
The resident said the district is now discussing new plans without clear explanation.
“Our high school wants to come in… and they want to put in a little soccer field,” the resident said.
The resident urged neighbors to attend future high school board meetings.
“It’s very important that everyone here attend the next Argo High School board meeting,” the resident said. “Those are the ones that have to answer this question as well.”
Several residents questioned why no one from Argo Community High School or District 217 attended the meeting.
“If District 217 is so interested in this, where are they?” one man asked.
Another resident added, “Our own high school needs to answer our questions. Not just the park district.”
Jekot closed the meeting by reiterating that nothing was being approved.
“No decision is being made tonight,” he said.
“This is not the end of this,” one resident said. “We’ll be back.”
The next Argo High School Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the high school.
