Village of Deerfield v. Rapka

The plaintiff, Village of Deerfield, filed a petition in the circuit court of Lake County to condemn approximately 127 acres of land lying outside of but immediately adjacent to the plaintiff’s corporate limits. The petition represented that the purpose of the acquisition was for the establishment of a playground or recreational center as allegedly authorized under division 95 of the Illinois Municipal Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 24, pars. 11 — 95—1 through 11 — 95—14). The defendants, who are owners of certain parcels included in the land sought to be condemned, filed a motion to dismiss…