A 'Mosquito Heaven' In Darien Park Or Not?

DARIEN, IL — Darien resident Jim Poteraske says South Grove Park has become a "mosquito heaven" as a result of the stagnant water in the pond.

But the park district said it has received no complaints about mosquitos at the park.

In an interview Monday, Poteraske said one of the fountains in the pond has been not been working for much of the last year. That has resulted in the stagnant water, thus the mosquitos, he said.

"It's ridiculous. This isn't a new thing," Poteraske said. "Why don't they solve this?"

However, Blake Ertmanis, superintendent of parks and facilities, said Tuesday that the district has had "zero complaints" about mosquitos near the pond in the seven years he has worked there.

He said one of the four fountains has been down at times because muskrats have chewed on a wire, causing shorts. But he said that fountain is up now.

Another fountain is not operational because the district is fixing it. A contractor handles the pond for the district, including controlling the growth of mosquito-attracting algae, he said.

"I get reports twice a month about what they're doing with the pond," Ertmanis said in an interview. "They do stuff for mosquitos. They haven't recommended treatment for mosquitos. The park district has never treated anything for mosquitos anywhere in the park district since I've been here."