Residents Concerned About Plainfield Rec Center Proposal

PLAINFIELD, IL — Village planning staff will meet with residents to address concerns about the Plainfield Park District's proposal for a recreation center before the measure goes before the board for a vote on Aug. 21, officials said Monday. The board voted 5-1 to direct the village attorney to draft an ordinance approving a special use permit for the Plainfield Park District's proposed two-story rec center at Gregory Bott Park, 24550 W. Renwick Road. Two residents spoke up during the village board meeting's public comment period on Monday to raise concerns about additional traffic and potential flooding issues at the proposed recreation center.

"I really want to know where I'm being represented in these meetings and this planning" for the rec center, Renwick Road resident Colleen Brown said. "(Residents) really have a lot of concerns and questions," she said, adding she has fears about additional traffic the center could bring and the safety of children in the neighborhood.

Another neighbor, Theresa Faletti, said many residents were not made aware of planning meetings, and said she feared a proposed retention pond could increase flood risk at the site. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Plainfield Director of Planning Jonathan Proulx said staff will work to address residents' concerns and include the results of those talks in a report that will be presented to the board prior to the Aug. 21 meeting.

The park district has said it plans to begin construction in early 2018 and complete the project by December 2018. Plans call for a 38,000-square-foot facility with a multi-court gymnasium, preschool classrooms and multi-purpose room on the first floor and multi-lane walking/jogging track, health and fitness exercise area and restrooms on the second floor.

Only trustee Brian Wojowski voted against the proposal on Monday.

More from Patch:

• Gym Space No. 1 Priority for New Plainfield Rec Center
  
• Election Results: Voters Say Yes to Plainfield Park District Referendum

Image via Village of Plainfield documents