OSWEGO, IL — The Village Board has voted to accept a local developer’s donation of land near Oswego Junction for the purposes of building a public park and events space. With the vote, village officials will now work to design a plan for the space — and are seeking the public’s input in the plans.
Tuesday’s vote by the Village Board to accept the three acres of land behind Oswego Junction came after a meeting between village officials and businessman Kevin Fialko, who owns the land. The parties previously met to discuss Fialko’s plans for the property, with Fialko suggesting some kind of public space that can also host special events.
Fialko agreed to donate the land to Oswego if the village agreed to build within three years a public park and events venue at the site, roughly bounded by the Metra park-and-ride lot and a retention pond near Orchard and Mill roads.
On Tuesday, Oswego board members voted unanimously to accept that deal. Though the plan is still in its early phases, officials said it has a chance to further economic development near Oswego Junction while offering a new amenity to residents. (If the park is not built in three years, the property reverts to Fialko, according to the deal.)
“It’s not every day you have a meeting with someone who offers to donate land to the village,” Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said. “It’s something that can be a great thing for Orchard Road.”
Concrete plans — or cost estimates — for the project have not been made public. But officials previously said that they are envisioning a public park with some kind of stage component that would allow for the hosting of concerts and other events. There will be a public engagement process to help inform the plans, Di Santo said.
“We’re very early in the process,” he said. “We want to hear ideas. We want to hear concerns.”
Concerts and other performances would likely be just one aspect of the park’s entertainment venue. It could also hold seasonal activities including pumpkin patches and ice skating, said Village Trustee James Marter. School District 308 could also use the space for programming, including concerts and battle of the bands, he said.
“It will be a little bit of everything,” Marter said, but “the biggest part is the community space.”
The donated land roughly abuts the area where Metra has considered building an Oswego station. Village officials have been working to entice Metra to the area, and having a destination entertainment venue at the door of the station could help in those efforts, officials said. (Either way, the existing park-and-ride lot would be used as parking for the park/events space, Village President Troy Parlier said.)
Fialko already hosts his Vet Fest event at Oswego Junction. Partnering with a developer who has experiencing putting on special events will only help ensure the future park’s success, said Village Trustee Brian Thomas.
“I think it’s a win-win all the way around,” he said.
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