Committee recommends 10‑year Kennedy Park user agreement with village control over field availability

The Parks and Recreation Committee on Feb. 23 voted to recommend a draft user agreement for Kennedy Park user groups to the village board, favoring a 10‑year term to provide stability for long‑running youth organizations while adding language to protect village authority to close fields for weather or safety.

Staff described the draft as a consolidation of prior agreements that would allow user groups to book fields through the Sportsman scheduling system after the village retains priority. The draft includes an Oct. 1 effective date and a clause that allows either party to terminate the agreement with one year’s notice. Multiple committee members pressed staff to change wording that read “not longer than 10 years” to a clearer, fixed 10‑year term and to add explicit language saying the village may declare fields unplayable based on weather or field condition.

Committee members also requested that the staff attach an “Exhibit A” illustrating acceptable post‑event field restoration and maintenance expectations so both parties have a clear standard to follow. Public comment earlier in the meeting had asked whether the agreement should be limited to one year while park renovations settle; staff and several members said a 10‑year tenure would better support planned investments at Kennedy Park but agreed to incorporate public feedback into the draft.

The vote to forward the revised draft to the board passed by voice vote; staff will incorporate the technical edits discussed and include the exhibit before the board packet is prepared.