La Grange Gives Community Center To Park District

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange village trustees this week agreed to give the Community Center to the local park district.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Village President Mark Kuchler said the decision was in the best interests of residents.

In the early 1960s, the village built the center, which is at the southwest corner of Lincoln and Washington avenues.

In 1980, the park district agreed to use and maintain the center under a 99-year lease.

"The park district has their own properties," Kuchler told the board. "When the pie is only so big and they're dividing the pie, it's sometimes hard for the park district to move money to a building owned by the village.

By the same token, he said, the village may not invest in a building that doesn't really fit into its mission.

Trustee Shawana McGee said some residents are wondering whether the transfer would affect the community's usage of the building.

"They're concerned that the park district will be busy loading the building with their programs, and it would limit the use that the residents would have," McGee said.

Jenny Bechtold, the park district's executive director, said she didn't expect the programming in the building to change dramatically.

"We'll probably look at having some more programs because we do want it to be a well-used community center," she said.

The board voted unanimously for the transfer.