Village, Park District Bat Blame As Perceived Feud Continues

TINLEY PARK, IL — Perceived tensions between two Tinley Park entities over the long-vacant Tinley Mental Health Center land continue to affect public events and standing agreements, as residents watch in disbelief.

The Tinley Park-Park District says its decision to pursue the land as a sole entity has irked the Village, resulting in complications with longstanding local events and agreements. This week, the park district said moves by the Village forced it to reschedule its Running O' The Green 8K race, typically held the same day as the town's Irish parade. In its announcement, the park district said the Village cited staffing issues on the original scheduled date of March 5.

Last month, the park district canceled its 40-year tradition of July 4 fireworks, after the Village announced its plan to hold its own celebration on July 3.

Park District Executive Director Shawn Roby believes the two public bodies' competing interests in the land are at the center of the conflict. Roby noted changes in previously established arrangements between the park district and village, specifically EMA and public works services during its races, and salt and fuel agreements.

During its permit application process for the March race, emails document that the park district was informed it would be charged for police and public works presence during the race. Quoted rates for security are $45 per hour with a two-hour minimum, or traffic control officers for $20 per hour with a two-hour minimum, and public works presence of $35 per hour, per person. The Village has not previously charged the park district for those services, staff told Patch.

Also impacted, Roby said, were the salt and fuel agreements previously established. In a "handshake agreement," the park district purchased salt from the village at a set rate. In an intergovernmental agreement, a fuel rate of $2.86 was also locked in, Roby said. Both have been nullified.

"I’ll let you make the connection between why this is happening," Roby previously told Patch.

The park district board recently approved a fuel agreement with the Orland Township Highway Department for road salt.

Village Manager Pat Carr last month disputed Roby's claims to Patch, saying that as part of the fuel agreement, they were allotted a set number of gallons. Public Works Director John Urbanski informed Carr that the Village would see a change in its pricing if it exceeded that amount.

"Once we exceeded that, it went back to market price," Carr said. "We had to re-do things so we can maintain our market price."

Carr declined to comment on the salt agreement, saying he was unfamiliar with its terms.

The verbal sparring remains the latest sign of the fraying relationship between the two taxing bodies, who both are eyeing the 280 acres on the corner of 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue. Listed as surplus property owned by the State, the Village has long sought after the land, with hopes of using portions of the land in different ways, in part for a sportsplex and multi-purpose athletic fields, and also to centralize all Village resources by moving Village Hall, the police department and more to one location, Glotz said. The Village's most recent attempt to purchase the land at a price tag of $4.5 million fell through as recently as February 2022.

The park district in November declared its intent to pursue the property as a sole entity.
In December, the park district released its preliminary plans for the property, with visions of multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a playground and splash pad, concession stands, spectator stands, lighting, ample parking, as well as a pond, picnic areas and open green space. The Village said it was "shocked" by the park district's plan, saying that had they acquired the land, they planned to work with public bodies like the park district to make the best use of it. Park district officials have sought to meet with Village officials twice since declaring their interest in the property, Roby said, but have been unsuccessful.

Since the park district announced its decision to cancel its July 4 event, both entities have been under fire by residents. Village Manager Pat Carr took to social media last week, in an attempt to explain the Village's reasoning behind planning its own, separate celebration at the 80th Avenue Metra Station, rather than sharing in the planning of the event with the park district at McCarthy Park.

Carr refuted claims that the land dispute and the Village's planning of a separate event were connected, citing instead safety issues and concerns.

"For many years, the Park District, in partnership with the Village, has hosted an Independence Day celebration on July 4 at McCarthy Park," Carr wrote. "... While it’s definitely a beautiful park, the truth is, it’s outgrown the size and scope of the event. Independence Day attracts large crowds, which causes traffic and parking problems. More importantly, it causes safety and security issues, which have been brought up with both the public safety team and the Park District. These issues have become more difficult to address at the current site, which is why we have selected the 80th Avenue train station for the event."

The Village's decision to pursue a different location, Carr said, stemmed from what ultimately proved to be a false shooting threat made before last year's event. McCarthy Park is "a hard location to protect," Carr told Patch previously, expounding in his social media post to say that, "most people that day didn’t see the bomb officers and dogs searching the area for hours prior to the event or going door to door inspecting buildings on the perimeter."

"This allows us to do it safer, and more efficient," Carr told Patch previously. "That’s one of the main reasons we’re doing this."

Residents are critical of both bodies, with one calling Carr's post, "More finger pointing. It’s just embarrassing at this point."

Another resident commented it's a "Political cat fight!!!!" and that the change of location is "disappointing."

Carr in his note said that the Village has reached out to the park district several times, with no response, in an attempt to work with the park district on a July event. Roby said it's not true that he did not respond.

"We have always wanted to talk with the village about these events, and we have been trying to talk with them since December," Roby said in an email to Patch. "... we asked for a discussion with the village about their plans. Pat Carr has since indicated they are willing to engage in a discussion, and we plan to do so. However, we are very aware that while the village purports to want to work together, they’re also working to end agreements with us and engage in behavior that says otherwise."

"Changing the date all together just proves that the Village is not interested in working with the Park district," a resident responded. "My family will certainly NOT be attending the festivities. More importantly, this power struggle decision-making will strongly impact my choices come the next election."

As the park district points to legislators' support of its plans for the mental health center land, it's also met with criticism.

"What are you trying to gain by sharing this?" one follower wrote on social media, saying the park district seems "unprofessional ... and not helping anyone.

"Both sides need to work together for the good of this community. You are tearing the village apart. You were voted in to serve this community not better yourself politically. It’s time to serve your constituents not play high school games."

Roby told Patch last month the park district has in the past sought to work with the Village whenever possible to save taxpayers money.

"So now we the residents and taxpayers are collateral damage in the village and park district's (expletive) match," one Patch commenter wrote. "We will go elsewhere on the 4th. Both groups need to get their house in order."