ACLJ Secures Right of Christian Outreach Group To Use Public Park After It Was Mysteriously Denied

By 

Geoffrey Surtees

|
March 28, 2023

2 min read

Religious Liberty

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Last year, a Christian outreach group dedicated to serving families in its community asked a village in Illinois if it could use a public park pavilion to provide free food and summertime activities for children in the area. This shouldn’t have posed any problems, as the group had used the pavilion for 10 previous years without issue.

Inexplicably, the village didn’t respond to the group’s request. Despite submitting the necessary pavilion application and even showing up at a village council meeting to ask for the status of its application when it didn’t receive a response, nothing was done. Instead of being able to provide its community services at the pavilion for the summer of 2022, the group had to find alternative and less convenient arrangements, including renting a large tent at its own expense.

The group reached out to the ACLJ for assistance. We sent a demand letter to the village mayor setting forth the facts of the matter, explaining the relevant law, and requesting that the village rectify the situation so the group could use the pavilion in the summer of 2023.

We also submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the village requesting copies of all relevant ordinances, policies, and procedures, as well as copies of all pavilion applications submitted to the village in 2022.

After negotiations with the village attorney, we are pleased to announce that the matter has been successfully resolved. Because of our intervention, the village has agreed to allow the Christian group to use the park pavilion for eight weeks next summer. Children in the area will now be able to enjoy a meal and participate in summertime activities free of charge. The village even agreed to waive the usage fee for the pavilion.

Representing religious groups who serve their communities is an important work of the ACLJ. Churches, religious associations, and charities provide critical resources for those in their communities. When their efforts are impeded, especially by the government, everyone suffers. We are grateful that we were able to vindicate the rights of the Christian outreach group in this case, and we stand prepared to do it again if necessary.