White Pines Controversy: A Look At Sale Elsewhere

BERWYN, IL — The Bensenville Park District is considering selling nearly half of White Pines Golf Club, just north of Elmhurst. As it is doing so, a controversy over the sale of parkland in Berwyn may be relevant.

Both the Bensenville and North Berwyn park districts have the same executive director, Joe Vallez.

In North Berwyn, the park district closed Unity Park, 1227 Kenilworth Ave., in May 2019. Officials cited the cost of replacing old playground equipment, vandalism and other negative activity, which they said caused blight in the neighborhood.

The district then sold the closed park to an investment firm for $21,500. The investment firm, in turn, sold the land to a real estate developer for at least $55,000, according to a Why Berwyn blog post. The developer had the right to build two new houses there. One of the houses is selling for more than $700,000.

Some residents say the park district is indirectly contributing to the gentrification of the area. Within a two-block radius of the two new houses on Kenilworth Avenue, three houses sold or are selling over the median house price in Berwyn of around $300,000. Two of those properties are going for more than $500,000.

The North Berwyn Park District has also faced recent scrutiny for an apparent lack of openness and lack of community engagement. Recently, Patch discovered the park district is a year behind in submitting required financial documents to the state. Vallez said this was due to the district's auditing firm quitting last year.

Patch has filed a public records request to see the communications between the park district and the auditing firm.

Back in Bensenville, the park district has said the sale of White Pines land could generate as much as $150 million for the district.

Some residents have opposed the proposed sale, saying it would create more traffic, noise and flooding. There has been no decision made on whether to sell the land. Local officials have called for a referendum to let voters decide the fate of the club.

Voters in the North Berwyn Park District are set to decide on a $5 million referendum. If approved, it would allow the park district to replace old playground equipment at one of its parks and replace an old pool with a water park and splash pad.