For whatever reason, this is one of those pieces of property that fell through the cracks. The acknowledgement that the district lost track of this property brings to mind an episode a few years ago in which the Village of Bensenville built an ice rink on Forest Preserve District property, unbeknownst to forest preserve leaders. Officials also promised to account fully for all the district's property holdings. But Griffin said in that case the district knew it owned the property but did not know that Bensenville had plans to build on it. In the current situation, he said, the district has not known for years it owned the property.
Trees are on the site, but there is little else attractive about the area.
Tires, concrete, automotive debris and landscape waste are strewn about. The county, which is a separate governmental entity from the Forest Preserve District, inspected the site in March after getting a complaint. Kevin Dixon, director of the county's solid waste division, said the inspection found open dumping on the property. The letter is a first attempt to inform the district it owns the land and should clean it up, Dixon said. The county is now asking the district staff to put together a cleanup program and schedule.