Plans for a proposed athletic field at Schurz High School would close a portion of Waveland Avenue. View Full Caption Facebook/Old Irving Park Association

IRVING PARK — Is Waveland Avenue unnecessary?

A proposal for a new athletic field at Schurz High School says yes, but some neighbors strongly disagree.

Plans for the field — a combined soccer/football/softball campus that would replace the school's existing practice field — surfaced last week in a 12-page document floated by Schurz and the Urban School Foundation in order to solicit grant funding for the $1.2 million project.

Residents of Old Irving Park immediately objected to language in the proposal that called for the closing of Waveland Avenue between Milwaukee and Lowell avenues to accommodate a full-size soccer field. The document states, "This street is viewed by local residents as an unnecessary road that allows unwanted access to residential streets."

Neighbors took to social media sites to oppose the closure.

"This would be horrible," wrote another neighbor on a lengthy EveryBlock thread.

The Old Irving Park Association responded with an email to members: "I think we can all agree that the Schurz H.S. field could use upgrading, which would benefit both students and neighborhood residents. However, not at the cost of our communal quality of life."

Ald. John Arena (45th) issued a statement promising to hold a community meeting in early October that would bring all parties involved to the table.

"Please remember that the proposal is just that — a proposal — and no final decision has been made," Arena said.

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