The Peotone Park District sent a letter to the Peotone School District on October 27 in hopes of stirring some resolution to the ball field conundrum that has plagued both districts for the past year, and it seems the resolution is somewhat anticlimactic, though still unsettled.
During the last year, questions over field upkeep, financial responsibility, and ownership remained unanswered at the start of last season, as kids were ready to play ball, with the Peotone Baseball Softball Association stepping in at the 11th hour to assist with much-needed ballfield repairs.
The disagreement caused considerable turmoil for months, with some members of the public calling for the park district’s dissolution amid allegations of mismanagement. Shortly thereafter, the school district’s budgetary crisis came to light, and the school board president abruptly resigned.
This left the agreement over the ball fields in the lurch as the ball seasons concluded, and the school district attended to its business.
The letter, furnished to The Vedette by the park district, was sent on October 27 to School Board President Dawn Love, who replaced Rick Uthe after his resignation, and sought “a solution that is equitable for the school district and the park district.”
The park district requested a meeting to review the 1992 Intergovernmental Agreement and suggested forming a committee comprised of school and park board members to do so.
“We feel it is important to move into 2026 with a clear agreement that will help both organizations plan for this coming year and years to come,” the correspondence included.
Park Manager Kelly LaMore reported she had since heard back from Supt. Brandon Owens, who indicated in a phone call the school district simply wished to keep the current IGA in place.
“We are disappointed the school board does not feel meeting is necessary, especially after discussions this summer. It is very important for taxing bodies in small communities, such as Peotone, to work together in the best interest of both organizations and its residents,” LaMore said in a statement following the meeting.
In other news, winterization of bathrooms and daylight savings adjustments have been completed. Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Eschbach reported he will be able to complete the main building’s roof painting. He is still in talks with PBSA regarding the maintenance on the dugout roofs of fields six and seven.
The board received several quotes for a prescribed burn to maintain the naturalized area east of the Division Street playground; more quotes are anticipated.
After reviewing UTV models, Eschbach determined a Kubota RTV520 would be the best fit for the UTV-replacement purchase that was approved last month.
Residents interested in winter programming should keep an eye out for the flyer, which will be distributed later this month, LaMore said.
Winter highlights include a Santa Shuffle on December 13, a run/walk event that starts at the park and ends at Cornerstone Coffee Shop. The run will be less than a mile, and participants will be encouraged to don Santa suits or other holiday apparel. More information and registration is available online: https://peotoneparkdistrict.com/events/santa-shuffle/.
The park district also is continuing work on a 60th anniversary celebration.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.