Let Voters Decide On White Pines Sale: Official

BENSENVILLE, IL – Bensenville's village president is calling for a referendum to let voters decide whether to sell nearly half of White Pines Golf Club.

A Bensenville Park District official, though, is casting doubt on the idea.

The golf club is just a few blocks north of the Elmhurst city limit.

At last week's park board meeting, Village President Frank DeSimone asked the park district to hold a referendum on selling the club, which consists of two 18-hole golf courses.

"I don't want to jump the gun until I have the proof and evidence in front of me," DeSimone said in an interview with Patch. "I haven't seen any solid plans."

DeSimone said the park district has yet to present the whole story on its plan.

"Certain individuals who live around the golf course are more vocal, and it's a hot topic," DeSimone said.

In an interview, Joe Vallez, the district's executive director, said he recognized some residents were calling for a referendum.

"They are saying the referendum would allow voters to choose," Vallez said.

But he said a referendum would end up letting a certain percentage of the voters decide.

"In reality, the five elected park district commissioners are residents," he said. "They were voted by the residents to take this responsibility of the governing of this agency."

The park district has been considering selling 125 acres of the 260-acre club. Officials say a sale could bring up to $150 million.

That money could pay for a backlog of repairs and upgrades for other parks, including the pool, according to the district.

Before the pandemic, the golf club lost money for six years, reflecting a general trend in the industry. But it saw surpluses once the coronavirus hit, likely because many other places shut down.

Some nearby residents are opposed to selling part of the golf course, saying the change would worsen traffic, noise and flooding.

No decisions have been made.