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Trustees debate outside tournaments and use of Manteno's parks, raise fee and access concerns
Summary
Trustees discussed growing interest from outside organizers in Manteno's parks and pickleball courts and raised concerns about for-profit tournaments restricting local use; staff urged public input at committee meetings and trustees proposed a parks committee to manage use and maintenance.
Trustees and village staff discussed growing outside interest in Manteno parks and pickleball courts and the need to balance visitor use with resident access.
Trustee Woodrow said the village frequently receives requests from outside groups wanting to use parks for tournaments, and cautioned about allowing for-profit events that could limit residents' access. "Some of these people actually run tournaments for profit... so that's what we have to be careful about, in terms of allowing people to come in from other communities," said Village Administrator Chris Lorac, who explained that Manteno's 10 pickleball courts draw regional interest and organizers have inquired about using the facilities.
Trustees said they want parks to remain available primarily to residents and nonprofit community organizations (schools, churches) and said they will discuss code language and permit rules in committee. Trustee Woodrow proposed reconstituting a parks committee to help handle maintenance and programming and invited residents to volunteer or attend future committee meetings.
Why it matters: Manteno's park amenities attract visitors and potential tournament organizers, creating tension between revenue- or tourism-driven uses and residents' everyday access. Committee-level discussion and possible permit language changes will determine how the village manages reservations, fees and allowed users.
Next steps: Trustees scheduled related committee discussions and encouraged residents to attend upcoming meetings to share perspectives on tournament policies, fees and park use rules.
