What Should Woodridge Do with the 44 Open Acres Near Towne Center?

A six-year battle finally transferred the ownership of 44 open acres of land near Woodridge's Towne Center from to Woodridge in 2010. 

Now the big question is what to do with the land. 

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below. 

The and plan to complete a Towne Center Master Plan by the end of the year.

Last month, the two groups started looking for proposals for the plan which "will identify community needs and an implementation plan that contemplates land uses, project phasing and financing for the Town Centre Area of the Village of Woodridge," the village said in a press release. 

The consultant will also coordinate public input, including public open houses, key person interviews and steering committee meetings to determine a preferred land use plan for the area. 

We want to know -- what do you think Woodridge should do with the 44 acres? 

The grassroots community group Keep Green Space Green was active during the six years to keep the land open. The domain name for keepgreenspacegreen.com has since expired. 

"It will be an open space for generations to come," Keep Green Space Green member . "To me, that's the heart of Woodridge."

The village board has suggested may be part of the plan for the open space. 

Should the land stay open? Or should part, or all of it, be developed? If so, for what use? Tell us. 

More background 

Community High School District 99 bought the site more than 30 years ago for a third high school. After a referendum to build a new school failed to pass three times, the school board took steps to sell the land. 

Woodridge offered $10 million for the property, but District 99 wanted $20 million. Woodridge countered with an eminent domain action, and a 2007 court ruling opened the way for the village to acquire the land for $14.2 million, including $550,000 of interest accrued on the property.

District 99 appealed. In July, the Appellate Court upheld the lower court. The District 99 school board voted not to appeal further.

The land dispute cost the village $800,000 in legal fees. Those fees are split between the Village of Woodridge and the Woodridge Park District, said Jack Knight, management analyst and deputy village clerk for the Village of Woodridge.