Rotary Club Hopes to Move Event Downtown

Members of the Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club have begun discussion with village officials to move their Goose is Loose Festival this summer from the Libertyville Sports Complex to Church Street in downtown Libertyville.

Club members told Parks and Recreation Commitee members that the event, which is one of two major fund-raiser, has seen a decline in attendance the last several years. They hope moving the event will attract a bigger crowd to the event. The funds benefit local organizations and other Rotary supporters.

To not interfere with other activities planned downtown, the club proposes holding the event from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 23. Church Street would be closed from the Cook Memorial Library exit to Milwaukee Avenue through that day. A large tent would be set up on the street, and the event would feature food, drinks, live music and the goose dropping raffle, which would be computer generated versus the high wire act presented at the complex site.

Trustee Drew Cullum said his concerns are that the event remain cost neutral for the village and the event does not interfere with events planned by area churches such as weddings.

A club representative told members he will reach out to area churches to make sure the event would not be a disruption and will later submit a detailed description to the committee of the event.

Reducing Golf Fees

In other park news, Connie Kowal, director of recreation and sports complex, said he is proposing to reduce the golf fees at the Libertyville Sports Complex.

"Golf course fees are extraordinarily too high, and we need to look at reducing those to increase play," he said.

Kowal said he wants the Libertyville fees to be more comparable to other courses in Grayslake and Waukegan, adding both are $3 less than Libertyville.

Trustee Nick Proepper said he thinks they should should give him the freedom to give it a shot.

"We want you to increase revenue at that par three golf course," he said. "It's not just because I live right there. It is one of the little jewels of our community. I want to see the revenue there. I don't want to go to any of the alternatives."