Oak Brook Supports $18M Bond To Buy McDonald's Soccer Fields

OAK BROOK, IL --- The residents of Oak Brook have voted in favor of a referendum proposal to buy a 34-acre parcel of land known as the McDonald's Soccer Fields. The Park District's referendum, which had 68 percent of votes in its favor, proposed a $17.9 million bond sale to secure the land from McDonald's.

According to the DuPage County Election Commission's results page, 3,234 voters were in favor of the referendum and 1,515 opposed it. These as-yet unofficial results mean more than twice as many voters chose "yes" to the referendum question.

The Park District's proposal focuses on the patch of land between Jorie Boulevard and Kensington Road. The use of the property, which has been owned by McDonald's, came into question after the fast food giant relocated its headquarters from Oak Brook to Chicago this summer.

According to the Oak Brook Park District website, the bonds would have to be paid off within 20 years. They add that the impact on a resident who owns a $1 million home would be a property tax increase of nearly $270.

The Park District's goal is to maintain the land as an "open space" with updated trails and athletic fields.

In a news release, Oak Brook Park District Executive Director Laure Kosey said the 34-acre McDonald's Soccer Fields land was under contract via PulteGroup Inc., which Kosey says has proposed developing townhomes.

Tuesday's votes in favor of the referendum may have the chance to change the fate of this green space. Kosey said, "If the referendum passes, the Park District will act to acquire this land and retain it as open space, free of development. If the referendum does not pass, Pulte’s proposed multi-family townhouses may be built."

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