A large crowd took part in a public hearing for the East Lincoln Highway revitalization plan Wednesday.

Residents and business owners voiced concerns about the plan’s projected placement of a ballpark in between three railroad tracks to the DeKalb plan commission.

“It does not seem to be a good idea to have children playing in an area with so much train traffic,” resident Jannis Granger said.

Commissioners said they wanted to move the railroad maintenance shed to the proposed area instead of building a park.

“This move will allow us to free up the depot for other uses,” said acting community development director Russ Farnum.

The old train depot is the centerpiece of a future development project that has yet to start.

“This depot is a diamond in the ruff that could spark investment opportunities in the downtown area,” said Greg Flisram, a representative of Vandewalle and Associates. “It could really get the east side going.”

Another major area of development concern is the intersection of Peace Road and Lincoln Highway.

“Twenty years from now, DeKalb will be the outer rim of Chicago,” Flisram said. “Let’s get out ahead of the growth and create jobs in that area that do not junk it up.”

The plan commission voted to extend the public hearing until its next meeting to make sure all residents who wish to be heard will be present.

Copies of the plan are available online at www.cityofdekalb.com, at the DeKalb Library, 309 Oak St. and the Community Development Building, 223 S. Fourth St.

The next plan commission meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 11 at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St.