Winnetka, IL – After an extensive legal battle spanning over two years, a settlement has been reached in a lawsuit that accused the Winnetka Park District of jeopardizing public land. The resolution keeps Centennial Park Beach under park district management, dissolving fears of privatization.
The dispute was settled Thursday evening when the Winnetka Park Board voted unanimously to reach an agreement with local resident Robert Schriesheim, the plaintiff in the case. As per the settlement terms, the district has promised not to transfer ownership of the beach to any private entity, ensuring the land remains accessible to the public.
Robert Schriesheim, the resident who initiated the lawsuit, expressed his contentment, affirming that the agreement safeguards the Public Trust Doctrine. This doctrine ensures that access to the beach is not restricted and remains open for public use. He underscored that the settlement not only preserves existing public rights but also allows him to challenge any future decisions that might attempt to privatize vital natural resources.
The decision to settle came after the park district approached Schriesheim, with both sides recognizing the mutual benefit of avoiding further litigation costs and stress. Commissioner Colleen Root, an attorney and park board member, remarked on the settlement as a positive outcome for everyone involved, praising the preservation of the beach as a triumph for public trust.
Commissioner Warren James echoed this sentiment, celebrating the settlement as a boon for the community.
The origins of the legal battle date back to October 2022 when Schriesheim filed a lawsuit challenging the district’s property exchange agreement with a third party, Ishbia. This agreement involved acquiring a property adjacent to the park, which would effectively make the beachfront contiguous, in exchange for a portion of land at the southern edge of Centennial Park.
Schriesheim contended that this swap violated the Illinois Park District Code, which stipulates that such exchanges must involve lands of equal value, and breached the public trust doctrine by transferring land designated for public use.
In October 2023, the lawsuit faced a setback when County Judge Eve Reilly dismissed the case. According to her ruling, the district’s land appraisals, which substantiated the exchange, were deemed fair and timely. Reilly determined that Schriesheim’s arguments didn’t persuasively demonstrate that the park district acted irrationally or without justification.
Despite the dismissal preventing the refiling of claims related to the appraisals, it left room for Schriesheim to amend his claims concerning the public trust doctrine. He revised his lawsuit, focusing on this angle, which eventually led to the recent settlement agreement.
In May 2024, further attempts by the park district to have the modified lawsuit dismissed were rejected by Judge Reilly, paving the way for this conclusive settlement.
This outcome not only resolves the ongoing litigation but also confirms the enduring protection of Centennial Park Beach for public access and enjoyment, reinforcing the principles of public trust.
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