Wilmette Hears Out Public on Ice Rink Plan

The Wilmette Board of Park Commissioners held a meeting with residents Monday to discuss the proposed ice rink at . Nearly 60 residents attended the hearing to express their views on the controversial plan.

Following , the board listened to the comments and concerns of residents who live near the park. Commissioner Jim Brault said the board would take into account the public's feedback in moving forward with the ice rink proposal.

Earlier:

"What we'd like is a modified plan that incorporates the comments and suggestions of the community," Brault said.

Following the board's discussion of the proposal in April, officials reported that more than 45 letters and just as many phone calls had been received from residents who are both supportive and concerned about the project's scope.

Brault said the 60-foot-wide by 180-foot-long ice rink would have no permanent features, such as light poles. Plans call for the surface to be the same size as the playground on the north side of park. It will be used primarily for pickup hockey games, but recreational skating will be allowed during the weekends from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We hope it will promote informal outdoor fun in the long, dark days of winter," the commissioner said. "It will get kids and parents off Xbox, off the couch."

The installation of lights is one of the more controversial aspects of the proposal. Some residents are concerned about the brightness and distraction of having lighted areas near their homes.

"I don't really need to have my living room lit up by night lights," said one resident, whose house is across from the park. "I like going out at night, looking at the stars. It's pleasing without the lights."

Brault said the planned light poles would be removed at the end of the ice skating season, which runs from Dec. 15-March 15.

Another resident commended the board for trying to get children outside during the winter months, but suggested using Howard Park instead because it already had light poles and a spacious parking area. also has garages, which may be an advantage.

"You have no place to park equipment," the resident said. "Having an ice rink, speaking from experience, takes a lot of maintenance."

A Loyola Academy senior, who spoke at the meeting, said the ice rink would be a benefit to children of all ages.

"It would let older kids like me [who will] teach younger kids how to skate and how to play OK," the student said. "I see the outdoor rink as an overall gain for the village."

The proposal doesn't have a consensus among the board members as some harbor doubts.

"If we do decide to proceed here, there will be future public hearings," Commissioner Michael Murdock said. "I don't know where I am on this. I genuinely want to hear what people have to say."

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