A significant portion of Canal Shores’ 10th hole is in danger of being paved over for the benefit of the Keefe Family Trust (Trust) associated with real estate developer, Dick Keefe Development Corporation. Canal Shores and neighbors are working to defeat an easement request for a road across the 10th hole.
On behalf of the Trust, the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (Cook County) is
requesting the easement from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). The requested
easement would be approximately 60′ wide x 300′ long and used to access a parcel that the Trust
owns. The parcel lies north of Isabella in Evanston and south of Maple Ave. in Wilmette just on the
east side of the CTA tracks. The easement containing the roadway would run south from Maple Avenue.
In addition to destroying the 10th hole tee area and much of the fairway, the easement would
permanently harm Canal Shores’ most ecologically sensitive area, which includes multiple century-old
oak trees and three wetlands. One of the wetlands would be paved over. The other two wetlands
would be negatively affected. This easement would also greatly harm one of the most aesthetic holes
at Canal Shores and reduce valuable green space.
The Wilmette Park District will be meeting on October 10 in public session
to address this request. MWRD’s Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the request at its October 18 meeting.
Canal Shores is reaching out into the community to build support for preservation of the course.
Visit the Canal Shores website www.canalshores.org/dontpave10 to learn more about key dates and meetings and information on how to reach elected offcials.