La Grange Park resident urges board to require financial protections, safety measures for Nazareth Academy night games

Kristen McKee, a homeowner near Woodlawn and Malden Avenue, told the La Grange Park Village Board on Sept. 23 that her house was struck and a vintage stained-glass bathroom window was cracked during heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic outside a Nazareth Academy night football game on Sept. 12.

“My family…we live near the intersection of Woodlawn and Malden Avenue, two blocks from Nazareth Academy sports fields,” McKee said. “Individuals came onto our property and aggressively pounded on our front window while I was home with my young son…We discovered our vintage stained glass bathroom window…bent inward, cracked and broken. We filed a police report and are obtaining a repair estimate. The first one was between $2,000 and $4,000.”

McKee said the school refused to assume liability and asked the board to condition approvals for night games on two requirements: a publicized property-damage claims process with a commitment that documented damage associated with game activity will be covered, and a review and strengthening of safety precautions for night games with large crowds. “Families should not be left paying out of pocket for the consequences of events that they did not choose,” she said.

President Decipio acknowledged receipt of McKee’s materials and said staff would follow up. “We did receive the information…Julia or Mandy will get in touch with you,” he said during the meeting’s public-participation segment.

Why it matters: McKee’s request asks the village to use its event-approval process to reduce risk to nearby homeowners and to ensure predictable recourse for property damage when large-school events occur near residential blocks.

Ending: Board staff committed to follow up with McKee; no regulatory change or formal action was taken at the meeting.