Residents urge Shorewood to preserve Whitetail Park’s open green space amid redesign plans

Jojo Rebecca, a 10‑year‑old resident of Kipling Estates, told the board she loves playing in Whitetail Park’s large open field and asked trustees to retain that green space in upcoming redevelopment plans. "If the field is gone, kids like me won't have the same place to run, explore, and use our imagination," she said during the citizens' comment period.

Brie Brubaker, also of Kipling Estates and Jojo's mother, presented a petition signed by more than 100 neighborhood residents asking the board to reconsider current park designs that could replace much of the open field with new structures. Brubaker said the petition does not oppose improvements outright but seeks "an equal balance" that preserves the field and suggested relocating some amenities, such as a skate spot, away from residential areas.

Parks staff replied later in the meeting that community outreach for an OSLAD grant application included an in‑person open house and an online survey and that staff heard substantial opposition to a skate spot. To improve the village’s grant competitiveness while responding to feedback, staff proposed a fenced futsal court (roughly 50 by 80 feet) instead of the skate amenity; staff said the concept is still a draft and will return to the board for final approval. Parks staff noted that retaining some green space is possible but that the grant scoring rules require new amenities to earn points, and the village may need to balance grant goals against open‑space preservation.