Brainerd to Be Demolished for Green Space

The following statement was published on the District 128 Facebook page Wednesday following Tuesday's 'no' vote on the Brainerd referendum:

D128 Statement Regarding Brainerd Property.

The Community High School District 128 (D128) Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Prentiss Lea respect and appreciate the sustained efforts of the Brainerd Preservation Committee in recent years to raise sufficient funds to re-purpose the Brainerd building into a multi-use community center. The committee, supporters and volunteers are to be commended for their efforts. District 128 was honored to work with the committee through a creative lease agreement with the Village of Libertyville to provide an opportunity to make their vision a reality.

As a result of the Tuesday, March 18 Brainerd referendum vote, D128 will move forward with planning to re-purpose the Brainerd property to meet D128 and Libertyville High School (LHS) needs. One of the most significant needs at LHS continues to be additional green space for athletic related activities. As such, the Brainerd Building and Jackson Gym will be demolished in the future to provide open acreage for additional green space. A final decision for specific green space use on the property will be part of a broader district capital needs discussion. Although parking is always an issue at Libertyville High School, existing parking at the Brainerd property will likely not be substantially expanded, but rather, reconfigured to maximize green space use. A small portion of the property will be allocated to provide a remembrance to the historical significance of the Brainerd Building and Jackson Gym.