Park Board members send letter, claim retaliation by Tinley Park for interest in mental health center

Feb. 21—An ongoing tussle between Tinley Park and the village's Park District over the rights to acquire and redevelop state-owned land in the village is fraying long-standing relations between the two, with the Park District saying it is continually being punished by the village.

In a recent letter to village officials, Park Board members say "it is simply not feasible to work with you on any event when the village is engaged in this kind of behavior."

The Park District was denied a permit to hold its annual Running O' the Green 8k race on March 5, the same day as the village's Irish Parade. The district said it had for many years held the race on the same day as the village parade but the race will instead take place March 12.

The Park District said it was also informed by the village that the costs of providing village employees, such as police, required for the race will be borne by the Park District, which is a departure from past years.

The district, in its letter, said the obstacles that have been thrown up are "retaliation and punishment" for the district.

Pat Carr, the village's administrator, said Tinley Park had seen the letter from the Park District and has no comment.

The Park District and village are both interested in acquiring the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center and adjacent Howe Developmental Center, with the Park District proposing recreational uses at the 280-acre site northwest of Harlem Avenue and 183rd Street and the village looking at entertainment uses.

Village officials say they have been working for years to try to acquire the property and have spent considerable sums on studies and consultants.

The property has considerable environmental issues attached to it, with any plans to redevelop the site carrying costs estimated in the millions to remediate problems such as asbestos and tainted soil.

While the village and Park District have enjoyed a cooperative relationship for decades, that has soured in recent months, after Park Board members in November indicated to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, which controls the former mental health center property, of the district's interest in acquiring the state-owned land.

The Park District said it has had to find other sources of fuel for district vehicles and de-icing salt for Park District properties after Tinley Park cut off long-standing supply agreements for both products.

The Park District last month canceled its annual July 4 fireworks show after Tinley Park officials opted to hold a display July 3, co-opting an event the Park District had held for decades.

Board members wrote those actions by the village "are exactly what they appear to be — retaliation and punishment of the Park District because we bid" on the mental health center property.

The Park District has proposed uses for the site including a domed, regulation-size soccer field and a stadium with a running track.

The village is proposing a mixed-use entertainment district that would "be a powerful economic engine" producing tax revenue and make Tinley Park "an all around-destination to live, work and play," Mayor Michael Glotz said in a post last month on the village's website.

In redeveloping the site, the village has control over zoning of the property and has created a tax increment financing district that could provide benefits in any redevelopment. Village officials have said that while recreational uses are part of a broader plan for the site, the goal is to bring revenue-producing development such as businesses.

mnolan@tribpub.com

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