Sky Zone Voted Out Of Orland Park, Heading To Court For Appeal

ORLAND PARK, IL — Sky Zone Trampoline Park is shutting down in Orland Park after the Village Board of Trustees decided to back Village Manager George Koczwara's December decision to revoke its business license. Representatives of the entertainment facility say they are filing an appeal to the Cook County Circuit Court and hope to bounce back.

The trampoline park is closing after a Sept. 12, 2020, incident that led to multiple days of hearings to review evidence and determine if a revocation or suspension of its business license was necessary. The village stated in a release Monday night that the incident had "unreasonably interfered with the peace, safety, security and general welfare" of children who were there and the surrounding community.

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The hearings took place on Sept. 30, Oct. 6 and Oct. 16, according to the village. Testimonies of 10 village-called witnesses and two witnesses called by Sky Zone were included. The village said that within the testimonies there were multiple and repetitive reports of concern regarding the safety and welfare of attendees at Sky Zone that night.

Sky Zone had 10 days to file an appeal to the village board to redeem its licenses, or the business would close. On the 10th day, the facility filed the appeal and a hearing was set, which took place on Feb. 22. At that hearing, Sky Zone representatives were not shy to let the village know they are ready to file a lawsuit in Cook County if the village board does not overturn the decision.

On Monday, after the board voted 7-0 to have the park shut down, Sky Zone's Gordon Jesperson, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at ‎CircusTrix Holdings, LLC sent Patch the following statement:

"Sky Zone is extremely disappointed by the decision of the Orland Park Village Board to uphold its Village Manager’s decision revoking our business license. We look forward to appealing this matter to the Cook County Circuit Court where a judge and not a village official will hear our case.

Since 2016, the Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Orland Park has operated a family-friendly facility in a safe manner, contributing jobs and significant tax revenue to the Village. The Village of Orland Park is the only municipality to revoke one of Sky Zone’s business licenses among more than 300 Sky Zone parks and affiliates throughout the world. There is no legitimate basis to revoke Sky Zone’s business license and is a drastic step without precedent.

Contrary to the Village Manager’s assertion and internal video evidence, Sky Zone never exceeded its occupancy limit on September 12, 2020. Further, no fight or unlawful activity occurred at Sky Zone on that evening. Sky Zone’s operations were conducted in a safe manner and continued to operate safely in the weeks following Sept. 12. We thank the community for its support and hope to operate again soon and in partnership with the Village."

The business can reopen if a judge grants an appeal. After the vote, Koczwara called the decision unfortunate.

"We don't want to close businesses, but businesses close themselves," Koczwara said. "It was a fair and thorough process. We want every business to succeed."

Mayor of Orland Park Keith Pekau told Patch the unanimous decision the board made was all based on the village's review of evidence.

"It's our job to look at the village manager's decision," Pekau said. "Did he make a reasonable decision? We unanimously said he did. So we looked at all 700 pages of testimony, and we looked at all 41 pages of the decision, and we listened to yet another hearing. That's the decision the board made unanimously, so that's what we're charged to do."

On Sept. 12, 2020, reports that Sky Zone was packed past capacity with minors, some of whom were unaccompanied, caused police from Orland Park and other towns to head to the facility. Initial reports from Orland Park officials indicated there was a fight inside Sky Zone, and more than 840 people inside.

Attorney Kevin Gerow, representing Sky Zone at the Feb. 22 hearing, said that number is inaccurate, adding there were about 842 tickets sales made during the whole day on Sept. 12, and the facility opened just after 9 a.m.

The business, located at 66 Orland Square, is now closed.

Related:

840 People At Orland Sky Zone Fight: Mayor | Orland Park, IL Patch

Sky Zone Has 10 Days To Save License In Orland After Revocation | Orland Park, IL Patch

Orland Park Set Sky Zone Hearing To Possibly Revoke License | Orland Park, IL Patch