Advisory Council and Chicago Park District information

A service of Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Parks Committee and the HPKCC website, www.hydepark.org.

To Calendars and Directories

• Council meetings and contacts
• Park District meetings and information
• July-Aug 03 budget hearings

Regular dates of area park advisory councils
with contact information

Note: Kennicott and Kenwood Parks are now in the Central Region. The remaining non-Lakefront are now in the South Region. Always look at the Parks homepage as meetings are sometimes moved in or and location. We hope that Bessie Coleman park will soon have a council and Kenwood Park's revived--both will be in the Central Region.

Re: budget hearings Final round will be in December at downtown headquarters.

Rainbow Beach council meets 3rd Thursdays. Arthur Ashe park nearby is starting a council.

Park advisory councils were established and recognized by the Park District starting about 1981-2 to advise concerning their parks. This was pursuant to settlement of a class action suit in federal court alleging discrimination against and neglect of south and west side park needs by the District. The councils are the recognized bodies representing their communities and to which the district has to listen but not necessarily agree and follow through. It is this writer's observation that those councils are most successful that are both proactive and constructive in advice and insist that they be consulted first and immediately about changes and projects. Even when a project is not deemed bad but only half-measure and partly off the mark, councils should not be afraid to say "No", then let the District come to them and negotiate until the details are right. Although their role is only advisory, they often take a leading role and have great power, in part because they are the eyes and ears and often hands in the park day after day, year after year. They should act as an asset and resource for their park (having of course done their homework) and should expect to be treated as such by the District. Actually doing things and raising funds/spending for the park and its users is not only responsible but a good source of respect from both their community and the Park District and its staff. And councils are wise to have long-range planning committees that are ready with specifics and sketches, discussed with the park supervisor and area or regional manager, park neighbors, community leaders/stakeholders, and the alderman well before the budget rounds start. And don't be shy in seeking publicity/press and holding big meetings, and being friends if possible with your alderman. Too many parks do not have active councils. Friends of the Parks provides many services, resources and training. Start by calling Renee Chester 312 857-2757 x15. The Center for Neighborhood Technology also has a Parks Alliance with resources. Contact Karen Hobbs there.

The Chicago Park District has published Guidelines (latest in 2000) for the organization and operation of councils. (Copies are available at the Region offices). Friends of the Parks also publishes a very helpful guide, newly revised. Also helpful is a park district booklet on establishing dog parks, which is really a primer on getting any facility or special arrangement for your park or for your community in your park, or a new park.

Certain park district council rules rules are very important:

• advance public notice of meetings is required, especially for organizational meetings and elections;
• meetings are subject to the Illinois Open Meetings Act (except executive sessions) and Roberts Rules of Order or equivalent;
• while modest dues are allowed, no Chicago citizen may be barred from membership or participation for nonpayment of dues. (An attendance rule is permissible for voting, such as 4 of the past 12 meetings.)

Otherwise, councils largely adopt their own rules and find their own roles- as the District says they should, and they can resist District efforts at standardization, for example, with a common date for elections. Many don't find it necessary to have officers or bylaws, although if organized--especially if as a 501--and a formal request for recognition is submitted to the District, certain offices have to be filled, and in any case the contact/lead should be given to the District Outreach Manager. Only a few councils are 501 nonprofits. Councils that take in more than a few dollars are well advised to set up their own account and/or spend the money on things for their park or risk their money being "swept up" by the Park District, and to link up with a 501 fund manager such as the park district-affiliated Parkways Foundation or Friends of the Parks or their local neighborhood association or chamber of commerce.

This writer advises councils to hold at least quarterly meetings and to strive for new blood and turnover in order to remain viable.

Stephanie Franklin, President of Nichols Park, advises: regularize your proceedings and standing with the Park District, have your own bank account and be or hook up with a non-profit, and seek members-especially in a 3 block radius of the park.

Gary Ossewaarde, HPKCC Parks Committee Chairman

Chicago Park District information and meetings

(More in Parks Directory)

The Chicago Park District is headquartered at 541 North Fairbanks, 60611, 312 742-PLAY.
CEO and General Superintendent: Timothy J. Mitchell. Board of Commissioners: President Maria N. Saldana, Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs, Rev. Daniel Matos-Real, Cindy Mitchell, Robert J. Pickens, Rouhy J. Shalabi, Martin Koldyke. See below for 2003 schedule of Park District Board of Commissioners and Committee meetings.

Governmental and Community Relations. Director: Michael Kelly; Manager of Community Outreach (including advisory councils): Robert Steele. Spokesman and press: Julian Green.

The bureaucracy can be formidable and hard to reach if you don't have the phone number. (The district is also poor at answering mail, but formal communications and requests should be in writing with request for reply. The Conference and Friends of the Parks can help with whom to contact. The e-mail for most at the District is the first name followed by a dot and (immediately after) the last name@chicagoparkdistrict.com. Coordinating the advisory councils is Robert Steele.

Region offices. Hyde Park and Kenwood are divided into three Chicago Park District Regions.

In the Lakefront Region are (n-s) Burnham, Cornell, Harold Washington, and Jackson parks. Offices: Downtown hq. Lakefront Director: Alonzo Williams. 312 742-4641. Area manager sout lakefront Daphne Johnson, 312 656-6717, located at South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive.

The South Region offices are at Tarkington Park. 312 747-7661.
Region Manager Liz Millan. Information:. Area managers for HP-K parks are, for some A. J. Jackson and for others Gloria Beard. Park supervisors are usually assigned to and based at a park with a field house (i.e. Dyett, Midway Plaisance, and Washington) but manage a suite of other parks. Trades: ask for "Dominick."

The Central Region offices (serving parks north of 51st Street) are in Garfield Park. Region Manager Art Richardson. Area local Harold Bailey.

Schedule of Chicago Park District
Board of Commissioners and Committee meetings

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETINGS
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF THE
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT

The regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District for the Year 2004 will be held on the dates and the times listed below. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable public notice or by further public notice, the meetings will take place in the Eighth Floor Board Room of the Administration Building, 541 North Fairbanks, Chicago, Illinois 60611. All Committee Meetings will take place in the Chicago Park District Administration Building.
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. SECTION 12101 et seq.), the Chicago Park District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or admission/access to programs and activities.
Any person with a disability who desires special accommodations or the services of a signer in order to attend a meeting of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners should contact the Secretary of the Office of the Commissioners, Section 504 Compliance Officer, 312-742-4686 (541 North Fairbanks, Chicago, Illinois, 60611) or telephone 312-747-2001 TTY at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Committee meetings as below, Board at 4 pm. But sometimes comm. mtgs. are before board meetings.

Administration at 10:30, Programs and Recreation 10:35, Capital Improvements, 10:40 am.

They all normally meet on Wednesday, sometimes second, sometimes third Wednesday of the month.

María N. Saldaña President, Anita Voravudhi, Secretary Pro Tempore

(May's is the Annual Meeting.)

Non-downtown board meeting locations:

February
April
July
October