The Redmers have held the position since 2002, shortly after the property was purchased.  It was they who organized Spring and Fall Clean-up Days which brought hundreds of people out to replant native trees, tear out invasive species and lay trails of wood chips for hikers and horses.  Between these events both Donna and Jack could be found working on the old track property, clearing brush and mowing to turn the trash and brush covered land into a welcoming place for families to hike and picnic.

The fact that Donna and Jack live adjacent to the Meadowdale property is another asset the township wll lose.  Any untoward action on the track was quickly confronted or reported, reducing vandalism and late-night beer parties.

Jack used his tractor and hayrack to carry people from all over around the track.  This was the only way many veteran racers could revisit the turns they remembered navigating in the old days.  (Most Meadowdale racers are 70+ years old by now.)

They were also the Paul Reveres who spread the alarm about the Forest Preserve District plan to demolish the Pure Oil silo along Hwy 31.  Their work resulted in a volunteer effort to both get the silo and area around it cleaned up, and a fund raising campaign that paid for the project, saving the FPD the $25K they would have spent to demolish and haul the concrete structure. 

The Redmers also contributed greatly to the 50th Anniversary celebration that recalled the first race at Meadowdale in August of 1958. This couple has contributed an incredible amount to the preservation of this piece of property and the historic race track that once occupied it.  They deserve better than the treatment given them by the township.

Comment:

I've been told that the lack of care since the Redmers were forced out is obvious.  Grass is growing unchecked and the chips laid out for the trails are being scattered by the recent heavy rains.  Pictures to come. 

Ross Fosbender 

Meadowdale Stewards Donna and Jack Redmer

forced out by Dundee Township 

Countless hours of labor and uncounted dollars from their own pockets apparently count for nothing to the bigwigs of Dundee Township.  They have harassed Jack and Donna Redmer into resigning as the volunteer stewards of the township’s portion of Raceway Woods.