RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD $1.00
Vol. 40, No. 22
R-B student honored Page 3
June 4, 2025 RBHSs shortstop Sean Campbell (19) lays out trying to stop a hit by Oak Lawn during the IHSA Class 4A Nazareth Regional semifinal on May 29.
RBHS could reach land use agreement with Brookfield Zoo Senate Bill 637 may let the zoo sublease the field north of RB to D208
Brookfield previews possible community center design A village board presentation was the final step of the village’s feasibility study By TRENT BROWN
STEVE JOHNSTON
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Legislation that passed the Illinois General Assembly over the weekend could enable Riverside Brookfield High School and Brookfield Zoo Chicago to reach a long-awaited agreement on who can use the baseball field north of the school. Senate Bill 637, which passed the Illinois House of Representatives on Thurs-
day, May 29, and the Illinois Senate on Saturday, May 31, would make the agreement possible. State Sen. Mike Porfirio, whose district includes parts of Brookfield, Riverside and neighboring communities, introduced the bill in January. If signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, the bill would amend the act that regulates the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s relationship with the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates the zoo.
Staff Reporter
The change would allow zoo leadership to sublease its land, which it leases from the forest preserves, to nonprofits or government entities like District 208. The zoo now cannot sublease any of its land. The baseball field in question, immediately north of RB, is on forest preserves land that is leased to the zoo. While the zoo has historically permitted the school
After months of collecting feedback from residents and the village board, Brookfield’s contracted firm for the project has finished a feasibility study for a potential community center at Ehlert Park complete with a gym, a fitness room, community spaces and even a rooftop terrace. While Brookfield has not formally engaged
See ZOO on page 12
See FEASIBILITY on page 4
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