As opponents of the location of the new fieldhouse for Field Park in northwest Oak Park desperately reach out to anyone they can think of in an attempt to change the location of the structure, the controversial new Field Center building came in significantly over budget delaying the start of any work on the new building to at least August.
“The bids we received were significantly over budget, largely due to rising construction material costs and the impact of pending tariffs,” said Ann Marie Buczek, the Park District of Oak Park’s director of marketing and community engagement. “In response, we made a strategic shift from hiring a general contractor to hiring a construction manager, which allows us greater control over costs.”
But, she said, “It’s important to note that while the delivery method has changed, the original design of the building remains the same.”
The new 4,600 square foot building has a budget of $2.8 million. It will replace the nearly 100-year-old Field Center, which was designed by noted Oak Park architect John Van Bergen.
The design and location for the new fieldhouse, chosen after a design competition, was approved by a 4 to 1 vote on Jan. 30, with then commissioner David Wick casting the only no vote.
The new Field Center is slated to be built on a popular landscape feature on the northwest side of the park, destroying a significant portion of a hill where kids sled in winter and kids and adults gather year round.
That location has generated vocal opposition from many who live near the park, who point out that some 100-year-old trees would have to be removed.
“The hill is a natural playlot,” said Joy Michel, who has lived next to Field Park for 42 years.
In the past few weeks, in what seems to be a last desperate attempt to stop the project, the most determined opponents of the project have reached out, without success, to other units of local government as they try to change the location of the new fieldhouse. They have asked the Oak Park Village Board to intervene as well as the local school district.
Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman met in May with a handful of opponents at the gazebo in Field Park. Scaman listened to their concerns but said that there was nothing the village could really do to stop the construction of the new fieldhouse at the location the Park District selected.
“I was there to answer questions and I was there to make sure that the residents understood the minimal ability the village has to step in in this situation and I felt that I needed to do that because that’s not immediately understood,” Scaman said afterward. “I can’t just go unilaterally to any of our (governmental) bodies and tell them to stop doing what they’re doing.”
On May 27, Les Golden, a vocal opponent of the location of the new fieldhouse, went to a meeting of Oak Park Elementary District 97 Board of Education and implored the School District to work with the Park District to build a new fieldhouse on stilts above the parking lot of the Mann School, just east of the park. Golden said that it would allow covered parking as well as be a better location for the fieldhouse.
A spokeswoman for District 97 said that the School District would not get involved.
“District 97 values its partnership with the Park District of Oak Park,” wrote District 97 senior director of communications and engagement Amanda Siegfried. “Both organizations support strong programming for youth in our community The property mentioned during the May 27 public comment pertains to a Park District project. For this reason, we respectfully defer to them for any comments or decisions regarding this proposal.”
Park District Of Oak Park Executive Director Jan Arnold said, in response to resident complaints, the park district moved the location of the new fieldhouse a bit east and changed the orientation of the building from diagonal to perpendicular, changes that will preserve approximately 65% of the hill.
“The Park District is committed to serving all 53,000 Oak Park residents and values the role community feedback plays in shaping our decisions,” Arnold said in an email sent by Buczek. “Throughout this project, we’ve actively listened to residents and gained important insights, most notably, the significance of the berm in the park’s northwest corner. In response, we revised the original design to preserve most of the berm, ensuring it remains a valued feature for years to come. We believe this updated plan reflects a thoughtful balance between community priorities and long-term park improvements.”
But opponents of the location of the fieldhouse are not mollified.
“I feel the Park District is not listening to residents,” said Joyce Porter in a public comment made at the May 20 Village Board meeting.
Instead they are frustrated.
“People are very disappointed around here,” said John Michel who spoke at the May 13 Village Board meeting asking the village to intervene.
Michel said that he helped to gather 300 signatures on a petition against the location of the new fieldhouse.
“It’s all about the location; it’s not about the building itself,” Michel said.
The indefatigable Golden is also angry.
“The maddening aspect of all this is that the vast majority, if not all, residents of the Field Park area are adamantly against the plan to destroy the hill and its trees,” Golden said. “We are being ignored. These neighbors are being ignored. They feel they have no representation.”
John and Joy Michel say that they don’t see why the new fieldhouse can’t be built where the current fieldhouse is located. They say the new location is closer to a street, Berkshire, with more traffic. But building the new fieldhouse in a new location will allow current programming to continue in the current fieldhouse until the new one is built. After the new building is built the old fieldhouse will be torn down.
Buczek said the new larger building will allow the Park District to provide after school care for an additional 35 children and will provide space for dance classes and performances during times when it is not used for afterschool programs.
Bob Skolnik is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
