A group of DeKalb citizens has started a petition to maintain a section of from being lost to private ownership through a proposed land swap, according to a Monday news release.

The 42-acre Kiwanis Park, at Fairview Drive and South Fourth Street, is proposed to be traded to ShoDeen Development in exchange for a 33-acre section of land near the new DeKalb High School, 501 W. Dresser Road.

According to the release, the DeKalb School District hopes to use the land gained near the high school for future expansion of its educational programming and development, and Shodeen looks to develop the parksland for housing.

DeKalb resident Bessie Chronopoulos is leading a campaign to protect the from development. In a statement included in the release, Chronopoulos said she hoped to involve the community in her objective.

“I plan to connect with as many people as possible to do what I can to protect the quality of life in our community,” Chronopoulos said in the release. “Hopefully others can be encouraged to come forward and thus show that the power of ‘us’ can motivate those entrusted with leadership positions to make good decisions for ‘us’ all.”

The group plans to attend meetings of the school board, park board and city council in hopes of spreading their message and maintaining the Kiwanis Park land. The petition has reached more than 200 people, according to the release.