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HYDE PARK, U.S.A., May 2, 2003: For years, suburban Hindus have made a 45- to 60-minute trek to the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Hyde Park, only to then spend another 20 minutes searching for places to park. That may soon end if the society meets its ambitious goal of raising several million dollars for the construction of a new temple in the southwest suburbs. The Hyde Park group hopes to raise $6.5 million for a complex in unincorporated Homer Township to serve the religious needs of Hindu community. The new temple, including a 100-car parking lot, would be built on 15 acres. “The problem we face is most of our congregation is out in the suburbs,” said Swami Varadananda, manager of the society, adding that he also expects the move will attract more members. The society hopes that by the end of the year it will complete the purchase of land near Homer Glen to build the Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple. If all goes according to plan, the society will begin construction in 2004 and will move by 2005. The entire project is estimated to cost $6.5 million. The Village of Homer Glen is supportive of the temple idea and may annex the property if residents and village officials approve, said Village Manager Glenn Spachman. “We would like to extend our boundaries to include this property. It’s a natural growth of the village,” said Spachman, noting there will be a public hearing before the Planning Commission May 15. “They certainly would make good neighbors.”

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