Brainerd Supporters Hosts Open House

Supporters of the Brainerd property are working hard to raise awareness and appreciation in an effort to preserve the former high school building.

On Friday, the Brainerd Community Center Inc. is hosting an open house to talk about the future of Brainerd. Members of the Save Brainerd organization will also be on hand to answer questions and discuss the value of preserving the Brainerd property, located on Route 176 and Brainerd Avenue.

“We hope to make more people aware of what’s going with the Save Brainerd Group, and how we are moving forward with our goal of making a community center a reality,” said Jill Harkaway, a member of the Brainerd Community Center board.

The Brainerd property belongs to Community High School District 128. In 2006, the Village of Libertyville entered into a 50-year lease agreement with the district. A year later, the village sublet the property to Brainerd Community Center.

According to the terms of the sublease the center would need to pay off the entire balance within the first 25 years, by 2031. The group has asked the village board for a three-year extension on its initial $250,000 lease payment, which is due July 2, 2011. In mid February, the group will make meet with District 128 to further discuss a lease extension.

In the meantime, Harkaway says the group has been conducting informal surveys to find out how the community would like to use the space.

“We are asking the public for ideas of what type of programs they would like to see presented at the community center so that we can try and make those things match,” Harkaway said.

Some of the ideas include turning the center into a venue where young musicians could jam together, exhibition space for artists, or a community theater where locals could host plays.

Right now most of the informal surveys are conducted through open house events.

“We have not been more organized in getting the surveys out, but we could put it on our website if people were interested in looking it over and giving feedback.”

Harkaway hopes through events such as open houses, the community will realize how much the historic site has to offer.

“My goal is to try and create some really fun events that people will enjoy taking part in and give them a glimpse of what the center could bring to them.”

The open house will take place at the Libertyville High School cafeteria on Feb. 4 at 8pm.

For more information, call 847-722-8517