Portion of Indian Trail Park could be sold for development
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A portion of one of Union Grove’s parks could give way to a private multi-family development as part of a proposal under review.
Don Houston of Houston Properties LLC went before the village Plan Commission on March 4 with a pitch to construct two 10-unit apartment buildings on the back portion of Indian Trail Park, a green space in the south central portion of the village.
Under the proposal, the village could charge Houston an as-yet determined fee to acquire the property for his development.
Indian Trail Park would not disappear under the proposal. Village Administrator Michael Hawes said about 17,000 square feet of the half-acre park would be sliced away if the village and Houston were to agree on a purchase price.
Houston, who serves as Waterford’s village president, did not present commissioners with renderings, engineering data or any other specifics during the preliminary discussion earlier this month.
“Truthfully, I didn’t want to spend any money until I knew what I had to work with,” Houston said.
While plenty of questions still hang in the balance, several Union Grove officials said Indian Trail Park could use some TLC.
“It could definitely use some improvements,” said Trustee Jan Winget, who chairs the Plan Commission. “I can tell you the biggest complaint has been the litter.”
Trustee Ryan Johnson, who serves on the village’s Recreation Commission, said there has been support within the group for the sale, though it comes with a caveat.
“We don’t care if it’s a cash sale, but we want to see that park get upgrades,” Johnson said. “We want to see those funds (from the sale) go back into the park.”
Commissioners kicked Houston’s proposal over to the Village Board for further exploration of a possible sale.
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