Vacant Andrew Land Should Be Used For Pioneers Football: O'Grady

ORLAND PARK, IL — The vacant Andrew Corporation land north of 153rd Street and between 108th and West avenues in Orland Park has been "an eyesore in the middle of our community" since the former hardware manufacturer closed their facility there in the mid-2000's, Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady said while suggesting another use for the land.

O'Grady said in a news release village of Orland Park officials and residents should support a plan that would call for the land to be used as fields for the Pioneer Football League.

“For more than four decades, the Orland Park Pioneers Football, Cheer and Flag organization has been the foundation of the Orland Park football community and very popular with Orland Park families,” O’Grady said.

The Pioneers currently use the John Humphrey Complex in town, but talk has come up recently for them to move to another site. Both Centennial and Schussler parks have come up as possible future sites for the league, but O'Grady said "safety issues" that could arise at both make the Andrew property the most logical solution.

“I urge the village to approach the Andrew Corporation about donating the site, and thereby taking a beneficial tax break, and turn the vacant property into a premier, year-round sports complex,” the township supervisor said.

“Putting the Andrew Corporation land to this type of use can be beneficial to the Orland Park community in many ways: it can give the Pioneers program a proper and permanent home; it removes an eyesore from our community; it can provide a facility for additional sporting events and youth activities; it can potentially increase revenue through more restaurant and lodging use; it can create more corporate and community partnerships and strengthen the ones already in place.”