Future of Bessie Rhodes Property as Public Parkland

The closure of Evanston/Skokie School District 65’s only magnet bilingual school could transform the area into new public parkland. The Skokie Park District, led by Executive Director Michelle Tuft, aims to purchase the now-closed Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies. The property is adjacent to Timber Ridge Park, located at 9040 Lawndale Avenue in Skokie.

The Skokie Park District plans to ask voters to approve a $53 million, 20-year bond referendum in the upcoming November 3 election. This funding would develop the new Channelside Park South in Skokie and upgrade an existing park. The purchase of Bessie Rhodes and the expansion of Timber Ridge Park is a distinct project, estimated to cost $12.4 million, with the park district seeking grants to support this initiative. If voters approve the referendum, local property taxes will increase starting in 2027.

The Skokie Park District faces competition from other potential buyers for the Bessie Rhodes property but has garnered local support. “When District 65 announced the school’s closure and sale, many residents showed interest in the Park District acquiring the property,” Tuft informed Pioneer Press. “Our Board saw the opportunity and decided to explore purchasing the property.”

Even if the $53 million referendum does not pass, the expansion of Timber Ridge Park could proceed, provided District 65 sells the Bessie Rhodes property to the Skokie Park District. To finance this acquisition, the Board applied for the state-funded Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant via the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. If successful, this grant could provide up to $1.125 million, with a matching amount required from the district.

Design plans show features like a basketball court, recreation center, soccer field, playground, restrooms, a walking path, additional seating, and more. The estimated project cost is $7.7 million, not including the school’s purchase, expected to be around $4.7 million. Funding sources may include state legislators’ budgets and private donations.

If the Park District receives the grant, further OSLAD development funding, including another $600,000 matching grant, may follow in the 2027 cycle. The total OSLAD funding received will shape the redevelopment budget and influence the final design. All plans are provisional until the official sale, which could take several months.

Bessie Rhodes School permanently closed on June 5 due to staffing shortages and budget cuts as District 65 addressed its long-standing financial troubles. The Skokie Park District remains eager to purchase the property, which lies next to Timber Ridge Park, a district-maintained area.

District 65 must agree to sell the property to Skokie Park District. Two governmental agencies, including Evanston Township High School, have shown interest. District 65 has not yet commented on potential buyers or when the property may go on sale.

To involve the public, the Park District held information sessions to gather community feedback on the potential park extension. An online petition advocating for the sale to the Skokie Park District has collected over 800 signatures as of August 27.

Nathan Lichtenstein, the petition’s organizer, expressed the importance of community gathering spaces and cultural facilities. He warned that if the property exits public ownership, reclaiming the land opportunity might be unlikely. “Land near a park is hard to secure and preserve. Future generations need this resource, and acting now is vital,” he wrote on change.org.