Neighbor park districts blocking plan to relieve Glenview flooding

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:44AM

A plan to control flooding in eastern Glenview has run into a roadblock as necessary detention ponds eyed for Northbrook and Wilmette parks are being opposed by both those park disticts.

Currently, about 200 Glenview properties along the West Fork and a few on the Middle Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River, experience frequent flooding. The The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has approved a North Branch watershed plan that is aimed at relieving this flooding in the village.

In a report to Glenview trustees Jan. 17, Joe Kenney, Glenview’s director of capital projects, said the MWRD project was in a “preliminary engineering phas.”

One part of the plan would create a 1,100 acre-foot holding pond at Northbrook’s Anetsberger Golf Course, a nine-hole course at 1750 Techny Road, adjacent to the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River.

The other would form a 2,800-acre-foot storage space withn the 18-hole Wilmette Golf Course at 3900 Fairway Drive, adjacent to the Middle Fork of the North Branch.

But, Rick Hanetho, executive director of Northbrook Park District, said both his park district and Northbrook village officials were opposed to the flood-control plan.

In a 2000 referendum, 74 percent of Northbrook voters approved purchasing 60 acres for the golf course and Trail Through Time walking paths in Techny Prairie Park and Fields for $15.5 million.

“The village and park district met with the (water) reclamation district about buying the property. It’s not going to happen,” said Hanetho. “This would be a hard sell to the park district and village, asking them to sell one the nicest parks just to benefit Glenview,” he said.

He also pointed out the Northbrook Park District acquired an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development state grant that lawfully maintained the golf course and walking trail only as recreational lands.

The MWRD’s Supervisor of Civil Engineering, John Murray, said he understood Northbrook’s position in protecting the lands.

He also explained his department was considering steepening an existing, dry detention area on the eastside of Techny Prairie Park and Fields.

“We told the reclamation district we would be willing to find ways to do a minor expansion and get more capacity out the existing basin,” Hanetho said.

Murray said the park district owned the basin.

“But we have rights there, too, so we’ll work with the park district. We know we won’t get everything, but we want to find out how more water storage can be accomplished,” he said.

Similarly, Steve Wilson, executive director of Wilmette Park District, said the district bought its property, which had been a golf course since the early 1900s, in 1972 after a public referendum.

“It’s a unique piece of property and no way could we ever recreate a similar golf course in Wilmette,” Wilson said.

“The village asked for our feelings and we said, ‘No.’”

Similar to how the public valued Northbrook’s Anetsberger Golf Course, Murray said Wilmette officials held the same regard for Wilmette Golf Course.

The reclamation district also will review an existing water basin on land Glenview owns south of Techny Basin on the West Fork.