The Summit Park District held a special meeting earlier this month and revoked the outdoor field rental permit effectively kicking out the Golden Eagles soccer program from its longtime home.
The meeting room was filled with soccer players, parents, team representatives and community members on August 5 when the permit was revoked.
Those wishing to speak were given 2 minutes each to address the board. The time limit guidelines were established by the Illinois Public Access Counselor, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act.
The revocation was approved on a 5-0 vote by park district commissioners.
Summit Park District Executive Director, John Jekot, explained the reason for the revocation to the Desplaines Valley News.
“Over the past several weeks, safety concerns have been observed involving misuse of alcohol as well as parking concerns,” Jekot said. “Cars have been seen driving too fast for conditions, parking in restricted areas such as handicap spots, in front of fire hydrants, and no parking zones, ignoring coned off and barricaded areas.”
“It has been seen that drivers would simply exit their cars, move the cones and barricades and proceed to park their cars. Complaints have been received from businesses across the street that cars are improperly parked in their parking lot, with semi-trucks having difficulty maneuvering while entering and exiting the site. Open alcohol has been seen being consumed as well as empty alcohol related containers seen in garbage cans,” he said.
“A decision was made to immediately suspend the permit pending further action of the board, based on dangerous circumstances and risk to the public created by the conditions created by the permittee,” Jekot added.
Juan Carlos Martinez with the Golden Eagles Soccer Club was contacted by the Desplaines Valley News and said he had no comment.
“We’ve moved on. We play at other facilities including Alsip, Hodgkins and Hickory Hills,” he said.
The team’s Facebook page indicated the team’s home was now in Hickory Hills.
A Hickory Hills Park District official said there was no current contract with the team to play in that village, but that the team has played in Hickory Hills in the past.