Members of area volleyball leagues are weighing-in on a proposed apartment complex along the Illinois River. The River Trail apartment project would likely relocate the existing sand courts:
Supporters of sand volleyball say about 500 people use the courts next to the RiverPlex each week. Advocate Laura Bertsch says, if the project goes forward, any re-located courts need to be a healthy distance away from new roads and car traffic:
“When you’re outside, diving and running in sand, you need safe space around you that’s also and, to be able to dive for a ball or step back and serve.”
Bertsch says re-located courts also would need to be large enough to comfortably fit spectators. Parts of the proposed plan still needs approval from the City Planning and Zoning Commission before heading to the full council for consideration.