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Residents urge Johnsburg trustees to drop incubator plan for Rescue Squad Park
Summary
Residents and former rescue squad members told the Village of Johnsburg Board on June 16 that a proposed incubator retail program in Johnsburg Rescue Squad Park would mar a memorial site, raise safety and traffic concerns and draw little foot traffic; trustees did not take a vote on the proposal at the meeting.
Residents and former members of the Johnsburg Rescue Squad urged the Village of Johnsburg Board of Trustees on June 16 to abandon a proposal to place a small incubator retail program in Johnsburg Rescue Squad Park, calling the park a memorial that should remain a passive, quiet space.
Bill Schwartzlow, who identified himself as a village resident and a member and trustee of the past Johnsburg Rescue Squad, told trustees the rescue squad donated "$150,000" to develop the park and "gave an additional $22,700," and said the proposal to place metal container retail units near the gazebo would "ruin the beautiful park." Schwartzlow said the park was intended to "keep the legacy and lasting name going of Johnsburg Rescue Squad."
Why it matters: Supporters of a downtown development strategy described the incubator as a way to draw activity to the village center, but multiple residents said the Rescue Squad Park’s memorial purpose, limited foot traffic and safety concerns make the proposed placement inappropriate.
Several neighbors gave specific objections. Rob Pizer, who lives next to the park, said the location has "no foot traffic," questioning how the incubator would attract customers and noting he had previously been denied a storage unit on his own property under village ordinance. Longtime volunteer Al Ruble, drawing on his experience in the fire department and rescue squad, said he was "concerned that there would be multiple accidents at that location," citing the driveway and entrance placement for the proposed coffee shop or retail containers.
Speakers with rescue squad history emphasized the site’s memorial role. A speaker addressed in the meeting as Hedman recounted decades of service and said Johnsburg Rescue Squad was the first chartered rescue squad in the state, urging trustees to preserve the park. Another former squad member (identified in the meeting as Mr. May) reiterated that the park was intended to be passive and suggested either a different building style or a different site. A rescue squad member called Chuck recommended a lot half a block away that he said offered more parking as a better alternative.
Trustees and staff responded with planning context but did not vote on the incubator plan. When asked if other sites were considered, "Josh" (a village staff member addressed directly in the meeting) said the board selected the park for higher visibility to "integrate our downtown" and to build foot traffic for the area. Josh told the board the village plans to move forward with a municipal parking lot across the street from the park and that the incubator-style sites would have electricity only ("no water, no sewer, just the electric"), operate mainly on weekends and run seasonally from May through October.
No formal action on the incubator plan was reported at the meeting. Trustees approved the evening's omnibus agenda and continued with other business; speakers asked trustees to consider alternate village-owned lots and to preserve the Rescue Squad Park’s memorial character.
The board did not take a vote on locating incubator retail units in Rescue Squad Park at this meeting. Trustees moved on to other items, including scheduling July meetings and swearing in a new police officer.
