Lake Forest Residents Voice Disapproval of High School's Drainage Plan

When a Lake Forest resident told the roomful of attendees at Tuesday night's Lake Forest High School District board meeting that if they were there to speak against the district's proposed drainage project at its track field they should "stand up and be counted," nearly every person got to their feet.

The overall concern is not as much about the track itself, but a detention area to capture storm water in the grassy area between Lindenmeyer Field and the eastern boundary of the school.

The area currently there to capture excessive rainwater must be deepened to meeting existing Lake County storm water requirements, according to Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations Allen Albus.

"The redesign of the track means storm water management needs to be brought up to code," Albus said at Tuesday's meeting. "There is no storm water management there now."

Residents who disapprove of the project are concerned that the park adjacent to the track will be destroyed by the expansion of the track from six lanes to eight.

"I would like to see some common sense," said Ravine Drive resident Lupton Patrick during the meeting. "Postpone this venture of tearing apart a community park which we will never get back again."

Other residents were concerned with what Patrick referred to as "the five foot hole" that will be dug in order for the drainage pipes to be installed.

"Who is going to keep children out of a five foot pit?" asked Ravine Drive resident Joe Levicki. "What about mosquitos?"

Despite the concern coming from residents, the tone of the meeting was more congenial than confrontational. Levicki compared the school board to Godzilla, but a friendly Godzilla, to chuckles from the other attendees.

"When your footprint moves around it affects a lot of people," he explained.

Albus told the crowd that he would be happy to meet with them to discuss details of the project. He invited attendees to join a meeting he already had planned for Wednesday morning.

"I've heard a lot of things said that we can go through," Albus said. "At 11 a.m. if you come to the front door we'll be happy to meet and go through all the questions asked tonight."

After residents spoke, some said they appreciated the fact that the board seemed willing to hear them out.

"I think the fact that the school board is willing to... extend the discussion is a gracious concession," said Alfred Tomaselli. "I do think it's a positive indication that the high school board is willing to meet with us about this."