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Two years ago, I jumped all over the Eclipse Select Soccer Club for practicing at the Howe Mental Facility in Tinley Park.
Growing up in the south suburbs, I know the area well. I know the issues the facility has had from mental patients escaping and walking down 183rd St. or out in the open land.
Last year, I reminded Eclipse Select that it continued to put its paying players and families in harms way.
And guess what?
Today, Gov. Pat Quinn announced the closure of Howe, which was stripped of its federal certification and blamed in the deaths of at least 31 disabled adults since 2005. While an independent commission of state lawmakers in April recommended closing the center, Eclipse Select continued to put children on the property.
All it would've taken is one accident to make this a bigger story. The club dodged a bullet, but it needs to use common sense.
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I could never figure out why a club like the Eclipse would play there . The fields were horrible . Uneven , covered in weeds , and couldn't hold a heavy rain.
Thankfully nothing happened.What's with the parents who allow their kids to be put in these situations? They need to develop some backbone and confront the coaches and administrators.
When I think of it I know a few soccer coaches and parents who would have blended in well at Howe during it's heyday.
Perhaps some Eclipse coaches felt at home there????
Talk about people that don't know what their talking about! The Howe center is a great piece of real estate that may one day become a great area for soccer. And some really good practices have been heald there but knowing the real nature of the facility no child has EVER been put in danger by the residents. To imply anything like it would be SICK. It has the POTENTIAL to be a great location for Ecliple and for soccer in general but that is in the hands of the State of Illinois.
Seeing that I grew up in the area, spent two decades of my life there and listened to local mayors question at times why youth were on the property when I was with SouthtownStar, I think I have a clue. But when you question someone on a blog using a fake name, it's easy to be clueless.
So here are couple points of feedback:
1. You spell h-e-l-d. Not heald. Spell check, catch it.
2. You spell E-c-l-i-p-s-e. Not Ecliple. Spell check, find it.
2. If the facility does close, which many people are trying to fight, then that's a different story.
3. If you believe what you believe, then maybe we should start holding practices at Statesville, too.
4. Have there been mental patients to escape and wander around grounds, along 183rd St. and have police searching - yes. Countless times. Why do you think there are signs on 183rd St. warning cars not to pick anyone up on the side of the road.
5. You don't put children on the grounds of a mental facility. All it will take is one child to be hurt. It doesn't matter if it's never happened, it could right there within 100 yards.
I agree .. Don't put harms way with our childred.
Thanks