The Green Hyde Park Calendar and Resources Page, with guide to issues

A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference's new Environmental Sustainability Committee and the Parks Committee and this website, www.hydepark.org. Join HPKCC and support our work. Environment Chair Rani Fedson. Parks Chair Gary Ossewaarde.

See green websites links at the bottom. To all our Calendars, Directories.
Shortcut to Experimental Station garden and farmer's market news
To HPKCC Sustainable Environment Action Task Force or EST. See there important information from and links to Civic Knowledge Partnering for Sustainable Chicago and to the Focus the Nation movement. To our committee's Sustainable Environment Documents w links to imp. articles. Next meeting May 3o, 6 pm, Treasure Island lower level, 1526 E. 55th.
To Parks Home. To Birding in Jackson Park. To Park Issues. To Neighborhood. To Walkable Communities and Bike/Running.
Visit our gardening pages! Also, Hyde Park Garden Fair and their site. LILAC (Landscape Initiative Lake Park Ave.- an HPKCC Committee involved with Metra embankment and Lake Park Ave. See also about the Lake Park Corridor- the graphics first page illustrates some conservation solutions). Jackson Park home. Nichols Park Advisory Council home. Burnham (47th) Nature Sanctuary and Prairie Path-which has much naturalist/natural area managing material, Washington Park environmental news, Washington Park Arboretum.
2005 Drought and Tree Care. See reports of the 53rd TIF Streetscape Committee in TIF Council Meetings. To Jackson Park habitat and bird history and future.

Here: (Shortcut to Green Links)

Special on Regents Park Mayor's award. UC, UC Hospitals join Clean Air Counts program but UC still gets D+ in organization's survey--UC greens say that's unfair. See on Civic Knowledge Project Sustainability Partnership the Environmental Sustainability Committee page.

The parks pages in this website (see the parks home for full links of home/gateway pages for local parks) explore ecological and environmental issues and places to visit; many pages have picture galleries. Navigate to the gateways for Bessie Coleman, Burnham, Jackson, Harold Washington, Kenwood, Midway, Nichols, Promontory Point, South Shore, Spruce, and Washington. Other Parks page explores many community green opportunities and places including public and private gardens and oases. See also Park Issues.

Top

Some views....

Cass Sunstein, leader at the UC Law School, tells UC Earth Week that while much has been accomplished, if we don't do much more.... For example, estimates of how much climate change will affect the economy don't tdake acunt of the devasting effect coming to animals. The U.S. is a main and disproportionate causer of climate change and has to help the countries that will be devastated. He says progress has slacked off since the Montreal Protocol that helped with Ozone (perhaps becaues the costs of doing it were lower than health costs if we hadn't) first under Clinton, who signed but would not submit the Kyoto Agreement, then under Bush II. He said the three presidential candidates are in substantial agreement on what to do, including capping emissions.

Acting to green the planet

June 26 2007 5th Ward meeting focused on how to improve, increase participation in the blue cart recycling program. It appears there are more recyclables than traditional "garbage"- residents are seeking to increases the pickups to one a week instead of bi-monthly. (A article in the Herald in June? 2007 implied that the city does not want to have the program be very successful, fearing increased cost.) 5th Ward sanitation Superintendent Gloria Pittman, on the other hand, told the ward meeting that more could participate and there should be block captains who, inter alia could put up reminders about dates and times of pickup. The alderman also announced a pilot for permanent street cleaning signs.

There's the macro, and the micro... For one consideration on the former, is an article on the question of sustainability in demolishing vs recycling buildings. See:
http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=295&Itemid=1

Recycle that X-Mas Tree- http://www.trecycle.org/ is one that does it and picks up, also at certain park fieldhouses such as Jackson.

Reducing your water footprint may be as important as reducing your carbon footprint. Reduce or skip the flush, change to permeable and green surfaces incl. the newer grass seeds, use rain gardens and the new barrels with screens (avail. for $40 from CMetWaterReclDistr).

If large numbers started refusing the plastic bags at the stores, see how soon the stores would change!

World Cafe (http://www.worldcafe.org) is coming to Chicago neighborhoods under auspices of the Chicago Conservation Corps. HPKCC Sustainability Committee is considering sponsoring a Cafe in the area, whereat peopel commit to doing things (like those below) that gain points in a "low carbon diet."

Audubon is starting a new Conservation Leadership collaboration and seeking proposals and partners: http://www.togethergreen.org.

Micro: Acting whatever way you can: 15 ways to help green the planet

Based on Redeye, April 19 2007, by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz

Advice sources: terrapass.com, afreshsqueeze.com, carbonfund.org, gocarbonzero.org.

  1. Change light bulbs with compact fluorescent. At aldermanic offices. 75% less energy; savings greatly exceed cost. [See caution on disposal below.]
  2. Pay bills online
  3. Drive responsibly. Steady pace, under 60 mph, right tire inflation, fill tank during cool of day.
  4. Eliminate junk mail (only 22% is even recycled). go to dmaconsumers.org "do not mail" list; optoutprescreen.com stops credit card and insurance offers, free.
  5. Unplug electronics- cell phone chargers, TVs, DVD players, stereos, microwaves and others with transformers that do nothing when the power is off and don't need something always going from power or battery. (This site doses not recommend that for computers or telephones except during storms or power outages.)
  6. Greening baby. Example gDiapers- just flush insert down the toilet. gdiapers.com.
  7. Ditch the car--or even drop 10 miles of driving a week--that's 500 pounds of CO2. Or cu the trips under 2 miles (the majority) wherever possible. Try a hybrid or a car with at least 30 mpg. And there is carsharing (I-GO or Zipcar here). Climatecrisis.net (An Inconvenient Truth website).
  8. Maintain and tighten up your home. Insulation (home, piping, utilities), filtration, caulking and weatherstripping.
  9. Rethink the laundry. Using cold or warm water really makes a difference, so does doing full loads. Skip the dryer when possible. And there are dry cleaners that are greener and safer- five Greener Cleaners in Chicago area- greenercleaner.net.
  10. Recycle, even though you know it's done less than effectively--The Resource Center and similar are very good. The 5th Ward now has the green cart alternatives for housing of under 4 units. there are 15 citywide center for drop off, esp. for hazardous and electronic. There are places that take electronics including Chicago Theological Seminary (for reuse) and the facility at 1150 N. Branch Street. Walgreens or libraries will take batteries (contain mercury!). chicagorecyling.org.
  11. Plant trees. Absorb CO2. Help keep trees alive, mulched- especially in our parks and parkways. Shade trees help,too.
  12. Pay for your carbon emissions. Fund renewable energy projects. Calculate at terrapass.com. Carbon credits are used to fund wind farms, etc. Or buy green tags. green-e.org.
  13. Get a water bottle. You'd be surprised how much resources, carbon and costs are saved.
  14. Shop locally or from/at home. Start with farmers' markets (the City puts out a list, two are in Harper Court and South Shore Bank lot at 71st/Jeffrey. There is Community Supported Agriculture--subscribe for the produce of a nearby farm brought to a central location for pick up: localharvest.org. Growing Power.
  15. Paper or plastic. If your instinct was 50 one 50 other, you're right or at least close! (Although Delta Institute says paper is the lesser evil.) Take cloth bags to the store- reusablebags.com (Chicago based).
    [Others point out that if you do use plastic, reuse the items as many times as possible, then leave them in the store's recycling bins-do that also with plastic bottles, another item being targeted for elimination as energy intensive. Some uses for recycled plastic bags are outdoor fencing and decking, pipe, new bags. Many stores including the Co-op give a few pennies discount for not taking plastic, other stores actually charge you for a plastic bag now. The stores are also good places to leave dry cleaning and newspaper bags also. Others note that plastic bags do require 40 percent less energy to manufacture than paper bags and 91 percent less energy pound for pound to recycle.]
    [AOL has an article showing how use of the microwave can save on energy and waste. ]


Recommendations for green living, from the HPKCC Environmental Sustainable Taskforce:

USE

CONSERVE

AVOID

 

Top

Compost your leaves and other yard waste, or bag it and place it next to the carts. More info incl. on how to get a handy bin with brochure: www.urbanext.uicu.edu/homecomposting.

How to green your home (see MSI green home coming, below)

Based on materials by Growing Home Partners, Inc. at a Hyde Park Historical Society lecture May 2007

Four goals/principles for new or remodeled home construction:

-Energy conservation

-Resource conservation

-Healthier and more environmentally-friendly

-Lower life cycle costs with better quality

Green is:

-A holistic, complete building approach starting with an energy efficient envelope and finishing with green materials and appliances

-The result is better built, more durable homes that cost less to operate and maintain, as also are more comfortable and healthy

The Power of Efficiency

-Home value increases by about $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills-- Green > Value

-If every U.S. household replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulb, it would be the equivalent of removing one million cars from the road. [Caution: these and all fluorescent lamps contain mercury and must be disposed of properly at a knowlegeable and truly green collection place. Batteries must also be collected for recycling.]

-If just 1 in 10 homes used ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, the benefit to our air quality would be the same as planting 1.7 million acres of trees.


From the outside in:

  1. Site Considerations
  2. Walls, Windows and Insulation
  3. Roofing
  4. Mechanicals - HVAC & Hot Water
  5. Fixtures - Water and Lighting
  6. Finishes
  7. Financing

Site Considerations

The Main issues are: -Passive Solar Access, -Orientation of Windows, -Landscaping

Windows

Insulation

Keys to Effective Wall Insulation (visit Illinois Association of Energy Raters at www.ilenergyraters.org

  1. Airtight construction. -Air leaks sealed during construction and prior to insulation
  2. Moisture control -exterior rain drainage system, -vapor barrier on appropriate side of wall
  3. Complete insulation coverage -no gaps or compressed insulation,
    -advanced framing to maximize insulation and reduce thermal bridging

Roofing

Functions of a Roof

  1. Keep out rain and snow
  2. Protect from fire
  3. Curbside appeal
  4. Provide temperature abatement
  5. Source of water for landscaping

Roofing Options: Asphalt 15 yr or 50 yr Recycled, clay tile, lead-free metal roofing (copper, steel or aluminum), slate, cedar shake, recycled synthetic shingle, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPOV), rubber flat roof with high reflectivity coating, green roof.

Mechanicals- HVAC

The average home spends at minimum $1,500 annually on energy bills
Heating and cooling accounts for as much as 50% of home's energy use
Small changes can make big differences.

Three keys to guaranteeing better efficiency are
-Getting the right contractor
-Sealing ducts and insulating
-Getting the right equipment

Options: Look for Energy Star and High Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) 93% or better
-Furnaces (gas, electric or fuel oil)
-Air Source Heat Pump
-Geothermal Heat Pump (coming: using streets for shared use- smaller structures. Not yet for radiators)
-Boilers
-Radiant (Hydronic or Infrared)

Electronic thermostats- Programmable and accurate; can save $100 a year with proper use

Mechanicals- Hot Water

Look at the appliance's energyguide "This model uses ---KWH a year", "estimated yearly operating cost is---". What uses most hot water? Clothes washing, followed by showering and bathing.

Residential uses- Service Water (faucets, showers..), Heating (Hydronic)
Options- Conventional tank, solar thermal, on-demand
Quick Fixes: Insulate the tank, turn down the temperature

Fixtures- Lighting (can account for 10-25% of energy use)

  1. Low-e glazing on windows
  2. Seasonal window shading including overhangs, deciduous trees, reflective treatments
  3. Tubular skylights
  4. ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures
  5. CFLs and full spectrum fluorescent lamps
  6. Dimmer switches
  7. Motion sensors

Finishes

Indoor Air Quality:
-EPA reports that the air inside our homes can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside. Recommended: take the clean air assessment offered by the American Lung Association.
-Americans spend 90% of their time indoors!

Countertops

Options to consider
-Recycled Glass Tile (one-half the energy of ceramic tile, 100% recycled)
-Glass Tile Countertops such as IceStone (high recycled content, typ. use concrete base)
-Recycled Paper such as PaperStone, shetkaSTONE (Up to 100% recycled paper and plastic resin, stain- resistant, heat-resistant, no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can be scratched)
-Butcher Block /SmartWood (uses wood accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
-Concrete (Portland cement is resource intensive but using fly ash helps negate). Visit Concrete Age.
-Natural stones like granite, esp. if nearby

Flooring (lots of options coming out)

-Bamboo (renewable, matures 4-7 years, not always harvested sustainably, formaldehydes sometimes)
- Cork (renewable, biodegradable 9 years, cushions, acoustically insulates)
-Linoleum (all natural like linseed oil, durable to 40 years
-Natural Carpet (wool, coir, jute backing, can be recycled)
-Salvaged wood (old growth woods better)
-Polished concrete (if using passive solar or radiant heat)

Cabinetry

Conventional particleboard with glued wood veneer is not good-formaldehydes VOCs, deteriorate fast
Better: Greenway Cabinetry, Breathe Easy Cabinets, Environmental Language.

Walls

-Low VOC, low residue paints. Visit www.afmsafecoat.com, others
-Natural clay plasters (clays, recycled aggregates, natural pigments- lots of different colors and textures! American Clay the best known brand
-Milk paints

Furniture

Avoid: Leather, over stuffed, built with MDF or other particle board, silk
Use: stainless steel, FSc or Polywood built, reclaimed lumber, ready-to-assemble, natural (non VOC) finishes. Pacifica and Verde are two green firms.

Financing- Mortgage: What makes an Energy Efficient Mortgage? Visit www.efanniemae.com.

Rebates- State of Illinois Solar Energy Rebate Program (www.commerce.state.il.us%-12345X)

Top

What do the current plastic recycling symbols mean? http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321

Be aware that not only is the whole bottled water thing not green (and if not used properly unhealthy), some of the bottles have toxins and carcinogens that are only just starting to be removed from manufactures.

Attentiion LIHEAP eligable: Learn from the CEDA-Reach Project : Residential Energy Assistance Challenge.

Lower your energy bills, Learn about banking and budgeting, Conserve energy. 208 S. LaSale, Suite 2010, 60604.

Reach gives financial ed an pudgetning, indiv. or goup. Weatherization kits. Monthly case management mts. Strategies to lower energy bills. Fare and gas cards. Reward stipend towards utilities.

If a LIHEAP client res. of Cook, income up to 150% of pverty, in a disconnect cycle.

Biking is green:

Bikes are green! (but don't in the process make others black and blue or covered with red!)

From the League of American Bicyclists website: Bikes:

Top

Transit efficiency and living near transit can also be green, along with walkability and biking.

Centers for Neighborhood Technology unveils webtool to transit-efficient mortgages, transit-sustainable neighborhoods and more. Includes comments by the HPKCC Transit Task Force chair, James Withrow.

Hyde Park Herald, April23, 2008. By Kate Hawley

Longtime Hyde Park resident Charlotte Des Jardins hasn't driven a car in three decades--which she estimates has saved her $150,000. "You can literally go anywhere on public transportation," she said. She takes it to work downtown, to farflung parts of the city and even out to the suburbs, where she recently visited a friend in the hospital.

That's an example of how public transportation can cut down on the cost of living, according to the Center for Neighborhood Technology, a Chicago-based nonprofit that focuses on sustainable urban development.

In early April, the center unveiled an online tool that looks at the affordability of hosing based on access to public transit. The two-year project was supported in part by the Brookings Institution. Through interactive maps, the site reveals that living in the suburbs isn't necessarily a better bargain. While home prices tend to be cheaper the father you go from th city's core, those savings are often offset by the higher costs associated with car ownership and commuting, according to the center's data.

to create the web site, the center used information from the 2000 Census in 52 metropolitan areas, including Chicago. Color-coded maps give a visual breakdown of demographics such as median household income, average monthly rent, housing affordability, vehicle ownership and access to public transportation.

The center is considering ways it can update the data, especially to reflect the recent rise in gas prices, according to Nichole Gotthelf, a spokesperson. A zoom function allows users to spotlight Hyde Park. according to the map, the neighborhood has a high degree of public transit "connectivity," meaning that everyone who lives in the neighborhood is within walking distance of at least two public transportation stops. Large swaths of the neighborhood are near 9 or more stops.

But Hyde Park's public transportation could be better, argues James withrow, a neighborhood resident since 2001 and the author of the blog Hyde Park Urbanist. "There are a lot of different choices here, which is wonderful," he said, but the CTA and Metra trains don't connect well." Withrow is a supporter of the Gray Line, and idea floated by Mike Payne, a transit buff with no Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) affiliation who's nonetheless gotten some attention in the press for his proposal to convert Metra tracks running south and southeast from downtown into a CTA-run service. This, Withrow argues, would make Hyde Park more inviting as a shopping destination for those who live outside the knighthood.

For those who live in the neighborhood, bus and train options are plentiful, Des Jardins said. She has no complaints about the CTA, only about the very occasional rider who doesn't allow a senior citizen like herself a spot in one of the priority seats. "I don't know why people complain about public transportation," she said. "It's really not bad when you consider that there's very little available in most places."

Greening the Olympics? Metropolitan Planning Council has issued "Rules for the Games" for the 2016 Olympics bid.

Priority #1: improve transportation options in metropolitan Chicago. (based on already developed plans)

Priority #2: Coordinate pre-Games development with the revitalization of Chicago's Mid-South and West side communities currently underway. (community input, redevelopment to reverse disinvestment)

Priority #3: Maximize benefits for Chicago's low and moderate-income residents. (expanding earning power for neighborhoods and attracting, retaining young professionals and middle-class families)

Priority #4: Grow Chicago's reputation as a green city. (sustainable revolution: green neighborhoods with ped-bike friendly streets, compact mixed use development, accessible open space and transportation, mix of housing types)

Greening the City?

Among the ways the city is gradually moving toward green are the blue carts, green roofs, increasing its hybrid car fleet, and a bike drop-off and rental program like that in Paris France (These would be at the Kiosks JC Decaux now has ). But the real test is new buildings, new homes and retrofitting, as well as true recycling. And the city has announced it will drop blue bag in favor of blue bins.
Fifth Ward Superintendent Gloria Pittman says 60% are recycling

Museum of Science and Industry building real, demonstration green and sustainable house, with how to live green: Smart Home: Green + Wired- open May 8 through Summer.

Hyde Park Herald, January 23, 2008. By Daschell M. Phillips

About a century ago the place that we now call the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) was one of may structures built for the Columbian Exposition. The fair is where Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse first introduced the public to electric power by providing alternating current to illuminate the Exposition. Now that the world is focusing on becoming greener, the museum property will once again be a place where visitors are introduced to an enhanced way of life. MSI will build a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable "green" home on the east side of the museum to showcase how people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives and to highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. The home - which is designed by Oakland, Calif. -based company Michelle Kaufmann Designs - will be the basis for the museum's Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit, which will be open from May 8 through January 4, 2009.

"Michelle Kauffman Designs is a leader in modular homes," said Anne Rachford, director of temporary exhibits and events at MSI. "We saw a sliding glass design of her work at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., and we felt fortunate because we realized that we had the space to build an actual home based on the design."

The new interior architecture will demonstrate the use of natural light, open spaces, energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and energy-efficient building components to maximize a healthy living environment.

Visitors will see how storm water runoff can be collected for landscape irrigation; how toilets can be equipped to use waste water from the shower and bath; how spray-in foam insulation can create a completely sealed building, resulting in better air quality, a quieter home and greater efficiency; ow recycled bottles and residue generated in the combustion of coal - called fly ash - can create bathroom countertops and other household structures.

Wired magazine will participate in the exhibit by connecting the museum with people who can bring "smart" technology into the green home, which wil demonstrate how a home can be equipped to save resources while residents are away as well as keep a home and its occupants protected. The "smart" technologies demonstration will include a full-home automation system that allows homeowners to control heat, winter coverings, lighting, security sensors, cameras and a touch screen that will track electricity and water consumption in the home on a real-time basis.

The way in which the modular home will be built is also eco-friendly and time and cost effective. Construction will take place on an assembly line at the All American Homes' modular construction facility in Decatur, Ind. Building the home at the plant allows homes to be built 60 percent faster than on-site construction; will reduce the amount of lumber waste that is often created on site and the drywall scrap that is usually sent to a landfill will be sent to farmer to prepare soil for planting.

This exhibit wil require an additional timed-entry ticket, which will be $10 for adults and seniors and $5 for children ages 3-11. Advanced tickets will be on sale at www.msichicago.org by Feb. 15.

 

Illinois

This week, the Illinois General Assembly may vote on whether or not to adopt the Clean Car Program here in Illinois. There are a number of legislators who have not yet taken a position on the bill, and need to hear from you right away!

The Clean Car Program is the fastest way to reduce global warming pollution from the automobiles, which are responsible for about one-quarter of the global warming pollution emitted in Illinois. In addition, it will save consumers money at the gas pump – more than $1 billion statewide – and it will make our air cleaner and safer to breathe.

How can you help?

1. Call your State Representative. If you’re not sure who your state rep is, either call us at 312-291-0696 x 306 and we can help you look it up, or look it up at this website. http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx
2. Ask to speak with your State Representative. Tell them to support H.B. 3424, the Illinois Clean Cars Act. Tell them it will reduce air pollution, reduce global warming pollution and save consumers money at the gas pump.
3. Let us know what they say


For more facts about the Illinois Clean Cars Act, go to http://www.environmentillinois.org/global-warming/clean-cars


Thanks,

Tracy Wax
Environmental Associate
Environment Illinois
407 S. Dearborn St., Suite 701
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 291-0696 x 306
cell: (617) 968-6217

Gains reported by Environment Illinois for 2007

VICTORY ACHIEVED IN CAMPAIGN TO CUT DANGEROUS MERCURY POLLUTION
It was just one year ago that we celebrated a major victory, when the
state of Illinois finalized a rule requiring 21 power plants across
Illinois to cut their toxic mercury emissions by 90 percent. With that
move, Illinois went from being one of the nation's biggest sources of this
dangerous pollutant, to having among the nation's toughest mercury
clean-up standards. Altogether, 6300 pounds of mercury per year will be
eliminated. After three long years of campaigning to persuade the state to
act, Environment Illinois staff and members were gratified to see a
result that has become a model for many other states.

ILLINOIS SETS AGGRESSIVE GLOBAL WARMING TARGET
In February, Governor Blagojevich set a target for reducing the
pollution that causes global warming in Illinois to 1990 levels by 2020
(roughly 18 percent) and 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. These targets
are the same goals that Environment Illinois has been advocating for
years, on both the state and federal level. We were honored to be
appointed to the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group, a 40-member body
charged with finding cost-effective policies to meet the emission reduction
target. The work of the advisory group culminated in September, when
the group voted to recommend 24 policies which, taken together, will put
Illinois on track to do its part to prevent dangerous global warming.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES STANDARDS FOR CLEAN ENERGY IN ILLINOIS
This spring, Environment Illinois was one of the lead organizations
working to boost energy efficiency and renewable energy in the state. We
scored a victory when the General Assembly unanimously passed a strong
renewable energy standard which will increase the amount of power we get
from clean renewable energy to 10 percent by 2015 and 25 percent by
2025. The same legislation sets the first ever utility energy efficiency
standards, which requires our utilities to use energy efficiency
programs to lower demand throughout the state. This program will save about a
billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, approximately the
amount that 100,000 people would use in a year. Our General Assembly
recognized that renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions not only
reduce pollution but they help improve our economy, creating jobs and
saving consumers money on their energy bills.

TWO VICTORIES TO PROTECT LAKE MICHIGAN
This year we scored two victories to protect the immense but vulnerable
Lake Michigan waters and wildlife. First, we worked with the Illinois
Environmental Council to pass a regional compact to restrict water
withdrawals from the Great Lakes to levels that can be naturally
replenished. Illinois's passage of the Compact helps clear the way for its
implementation, but to become law, it must pass the state Legislatures of all
eight Great Lakes states, as well as the U.S. Congress.

In July, it was reported that BP had secured a permit from the state of
Indiana and the U.S. EPA to dramatically increase its dumping of
ammonia and solid pollutants into Lake Michigan from its Whiting, Indiana
refinery. That day, Environment Illinois supporters jumped into action,
and within 3 weeks, nearly 80,000 people had signed our online petition
to BP asking them to commit to no increase in pollution. Environment
Illinois's Max Muller was featured on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer
urging the company to install the necessary pollution controls to ensure
continued progress toward elimination of dumping into Lake Michigan. By
the end of August, under pressure from Sen. Dick Durbin, Reps. Rahm
Emanuel and Mark Kirk, Mayor Daley and thousands of others, BP relented and
pledged to avoid any pollution increase at the facility. Now we and our
allies are working to make sure they live up to this pledge, and to
prevent future BP fiascos.

FUNDING SECURED TO PROTECT VANISHING OPEN SPACES
This session, Environment Illinois and our allies called on legislators
to fully fund the state's two on-going land acquisitions programs, the
Open Space Land Acquisition and Development fund (OSLAD) and the
Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF), which help communities build parks
and playgrounds and provide habitat for the state's most vulnerable
endangered species. Although these programs have a dedicated funding source
in the Real Estate Transfer Tax, Illinois consistently diverts those
funds-typically allocating less than half of earmarked revenue toward
open space acquisition. Environment Illinois teamed up with a coalition of
over 30 other public interest organizations and successfully pushed
for full funding of OSLAD and NAAF.

As you can see, it has been a very busy year for Environment Illinois.
We are looking forward to an equally successful year in 2008 with the
start of the new legislative session in Springfield. Priorities include
passing legislation to cut global warming pollution from automobiles
and power plants, developing policies that will go further to preserve
our threatened open spaces and family farms, and phasing out toxic
chemicals that threaten children's health. Top

Greening the U of C? Why is it among the last?

U of C, Hospitals join the clean air and other initiatives, is slowly improving both "ratings" and actual sustainabilty features (esp. in new buildings) while Green Initiative held another competition on bulbs (wisdom debated). But UC has increased lighting on campus for security, getting criticism on green/energy and light pollution incl. from astronomy club.

The University's Sustainbility Council has now hired a green czar, Eric Heineman, and expert on sustainable practices, technology and education. Created in 2004, the council has sudents, faculty, and administrators. The Council annually issues a Sustainability Report.

In addition, the University has sent out a call for reseatch propposals for the Chicago Energy Initiative, anounced Mardch 21, 2008. The Stigler Center in the GSB wil be the program's home. Fous is the economic, environmental and geopolitical impacts of energy use. Robert Topel called "the development adn distriution of abundant enery" the most imotant social problemof our time. Energy is essial to the maintenance of living standards in developed countries and to the spread of prosperity worldwid, Topel said.. Aspects incude scarcity of resources, balancing environmental concerns with economic issues, and relationship of energy to national and international security.

Student Government has supported Earth Hour, which called on all to refrainf rom using electric lights worldwide March 29 from 8-9 pm. The week of April 21-25 is full of Earth Week programs.

Breckinridge House won the contest to reduce electric consumption (largely through lights) during February, but overall usage was higher than last year.

The Maroon (Feb. 08) reports on the competition between dorms, but says that's temporary and needs institutional investment for there to be serious impact, noting other institutions' investments in green technology and monitoring to realize savings. "College campuses are increasingly at the forrefront of environmental awareness, yet the U of C has been an exception to this trend. It is unacceptable that the University has lacked a sustainability coordinator, a person charged with ensuring that new campus buildings have sustainability features. This position is especially important now as the University embrks on several major construction projects. An investment in energy monitorsis a bright idea that could help the University take an environmental stand."

Regents Park again wins Mayor Daley's Landscape Award

Hyde Park Herald, December 1, 2004. by Mike Stevens

Regents park's rooftop garden continued its winning tradition earlier this fall grabbing a fifth landscaping award since 1998 from Mayor Richard M. Daley's Landscape Awards Program. The second place award, announced Nov. 6, marks the latest in a string of awards handed out to the Clinton Companies, which owns and manages Regents Park, 5020 S. Lake Shore drive.

For 11 years, Regent Park gardener German Garcia has pruned unruly junipers, helped plant up to 5,000 flowers annually and hauled heavy hoses for four hours at a stretch to reach trees outside of the irrigation system. "I feel proud," said Garcia. "If people notice it's nice because it's hard work."

Regents Park's twin 36-story towers brackets the one-and-a-quarter acre garden, which is packed with some 30,000 plants, meandering walkways, a waterfall and a pond. Built on a concrete roof of the garage, the garden sits three stories above street level making weight distribution essential when Phil Shipley designed the garden in 1982. Tree plantings correspond with support columns, lightweight lava rocks are used liberally and the pond only looks deep-it averages a one-foot depth. Even the boulders are light. Movie set-makers fashioned nearly 200 faux boulders from fiberglass.

Before the garden, the concrete slab hosted the occasional tennis match and orphaned barbecue pits. Now some residents from neighboring buildings have admitted to Regents Park officials that they picked their apartments for their view of the garden, Regents Park's director of Resident Relations Kimberly Kilibarda said. "If you're like me and you don't have a green thumb, it's nice to look out there and see a beautiful garden," Kilibarda said.

The recent recognition only adds to a long list of awards including eight CAMME awards for genera excellence from the Chicagoland Apartments Association... Top

Gardening classes for kids are to be held along with cooking classes in a unique program by Common Threads with St. Paul and Redeemer Church and Kenwood Community Park. www.ourcommonthreads.org. Also this summer gardening for kids and adults at Hyde Park Neighborhood Club.

Don't forget the 4 week gardening lecture series by Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee, Augustana Church, Wednesdays, 7:30 pm through February 14.

The University of Chicago and U of C Hospitals are both among several that have joined the area wide Clean Air Counts Coalition.

Despite several initiatives and surveys undertaken both by the organizations and the student coalition Chicago Sustainability Council, which includes the Green Campus Initiative, such as its light bulb replacement program (contest) in dorms (to low watt florescent), the Cambridge MA based Sustainability Endowments Institute gave the University only a D+ for 2005. Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth and Williams got A-, 22 got Bs, 54 Cs, and UC was among the 20 given Ds. The local Sustainability Council and the university are drafting a U of C Sustainability Index so they can see what needs to be done and monitor progress.

One of the university's first moves as it joined the Clean Air coalition was to start purchasing wind power and to start more recycling such as for batteries and printer cartridges.Top

Water conservation. See also the Drought and water crisis/Tree care page.

Open Lands, MPO, CNT and others in January 2006 issued a report and started an ongoing action, conservancy and education project aimed at sustainable water resources throughout Northeast Illinois--parts of which will have otherwise run out of water before 2020! 11 counties have now joined forces under aegis of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)- see www.chicagoareaplanning.org/watersupply/

Here are some ways to participate and conserve water--and money, from Open Lands, modified.

Top

Developer, in rush to cover every vacant square inch of neighborhood? fells last pre-settlement cottonwood near 55th and Woodlawn


Hyde Park Herald, June 21 2006. By Brian Wellner

The developer of a graystone in the 5400 block of South Woodlawn Avenue cut down an old cottonwood tree June 17 that he said would get in the way of an addition he is planning to build. By Monday morning, Eamon McCauley of North Side-based Mid-Continental Development had the stump of he 150-year-old tree removed.

"It's my property and I will cut it down if I want to," said McCauley, who bought the for flat and adjacent lot at 5482 S. Woodlawn Ave. last year. He is proposing to convert the adjacent lot into another four flat. The addition, he said, would have cut into the cottonwood's root and otherwise killed the tree. "We're buildings and we're going to remodel and build our addition," McCauley said."It's not fair to put in an addition and disturb a tree's roots."

But neighbors were appalled when they learned over the weekend that the tree was chopped down. Ken Dunn has lived in his home in the 54o0 block of South Woodlawn since 1972 and said the tree provided an abundance of shade to homes on the block and pedestrians passing by on the sidewalk. "It felt much warmer on Sunday when I walked down the street because there was no shade," Dunn said.

McCauley's property abuts the 55th Street Starbucks. the tree stood prominently next to the sidewalk on Woodlawn Avenue and a fence that separates his lot and Starbucks. Taller than most of the buildings around it, local preservationists said the tree was the last of four cottonwoods that had been growing on the property since before Hyde Park was settled. The first of the four cottonwoods was felled before McCauley purchased the property. The developer said the second stood in the footprint of of his addition and had to be taken down. The third, which stood near the alley behind the graystone, was rotted out on the inside and he said needed to be chopped down.

McCauley said he talked to local preservationists and an expert arborist about saving the fourth. The arborist, he sid, recommended that nothing be built within 20 feet of the tree, but that was not possible by McCauley's plans. "It was better off chopping it down," he said.

His decision came as surprise to Jack Spicer, a well-known Hyde Park preservationist. "With some respect for the history of the community, a bit of common sense an a little creativity, I believe that the developer could have built a nice building, made some money and still saved those trees," Spicer said.

Spicer said the cottonwood tree was probably older than the oldest house in Hyde Park. Cottonwoods usually grow along water sources. According to old maps of the neighborhood, a creek began around what is now the corner of 48th Street and Ellis Avenue, ran down Woodlawn to the Midway Plaisance and empties into Lake Michigan behind the Museum of Science and Industry. When the land was graded and the neighborhood developed, the creek went away but some of the cottonwoods remained. There is still one cottonwood in the 5600 block of South Kimbark Avenue across from Ray El mentary School. Preservationists are pushing the city to develop an ordinance that would save historic trees like this one.

McCauley is behind other condominium developments in Madison Park and in the 5100 block of South Kenwood Avenue. He said most of his buyers are doctors to the expanding University of Chicago Hospitals and parents of University of Chicago Lab School students wishing to be closer to the school. "The market is busy," he said. "We try to be respectful of the community we build in."

But Dunn said chopping down the cottonwood ruined some of the character of the neighborhood. "Suddenly that corner looks a little more like a suburb. We'll have to wait 100 years until there are trees of that character," he said.

___________________

Frances Vandervoort in the Herald said that trees are saving trees has a history in Hyde Park and that vacant lots are a rarity with cooling shades. "The large cottonwoods in Mr. McCauley's lot were here long before Hyde Park became a village in 1856. they likely marked the path of a stream flowing across the portion of the Chicago lake plain that became Hyde Park's history... Give us some new trees that will grow, be tended and become as much a part of Hyde Park as the cottonwoods once were."

S. Reddy, on the other hand, says that cottonwoods are a fire hazard and weed tree and should be eliminated.

Josh Telser asks people to ask their aldermen and the city to fill in missing trees on parkways near their homes.

Top

 

Appeals for volunteers

Professors Stephen Pruett-Jones, UC and Prof. Christopher Appelt of St. Xavier are seeking people to report and describe monk parakeet nests in a tracking and out-movement study project. One aim is to see if there are ways to have fewer adverse effects such as with power structures. pruett-jones@uchicago.edu, appelt@sxu.edu, 773 702-3115.http://earthweek.uchicago.edu.

Clean and Green Saturday May17. Call ald. office and 311. Tools will be provided.

A wide range of skills are needed at the Hyde Park Garden Fair for setup May 17 or the days of the fair, May 18 and 19.

Burnham Nature Sanctuary at 47th holds workdays 1st Saturday mornings starting spring 2008. 9:20, lot north of 47th between Metra and the Drive. gw.davis@ezi.net

Jackson Park Advisory Council invites you to participate in clearing work in the natural areas (Wooded Island, Bob-o-link Meadow) between 10 and 1 pm. Join Chicago Cares, other volunteer organizations on certain days - regular day is 2nd and 4th Saturday through October, 10 am -now meets at the Darrow Bridge south of the Museum Columbia Basin. -check with Ross Petersen, 773 486-0505. Spring 2007.

Letter from Ross Petersen, JPAC Vice President and Nature Committee Chairman

To the Editor:

On Jan. 8, the Jackson Park Advisory Council agreed to appropriate $500 for the purchase of native species of plants, to be planted by park volunteers this spring. Also, beginning in April, an extra volunteer workday will be added on the fourth Saturday of each month in addition to ongoing workdays on second Saturdays. The second volunteer workday will be used for the planting of these new species.

JPAC volunteers can expect to spend three hours, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., on each workday. Volunteers will meet at the Darrow Bridge at 10 a.m., and will be encouraged to work until 1 p.m.

These actions will enable JPAC to continue its efforts to improve Wooded Island habitat.

For more information, call Ross Petersen, 486-0505.

Jackson Park Schedule is every second and 4th Thursday April through November. 10-1 am from Darrow bridge (pkg. from lot to east from LSD/Museum east lot).

Kenwood Park, 50th and Dorchester, seeks volunteers for its Clean and Green Day May 17- come to the May 8 meetng at the fieldhouse or contact jmlemon@uchicago.edu.

Nichols Park volunteers. 2nd and 4th? Sundays 3-6 pm. May 10.....Bam Postell, Carol Schneider. 773 684-2619. Meadow and Formal Garden.

Washington Park Natural Area Workdays. 3rd Saturday of the month from March-October (March 15, April 19, [plus Apri 26 Arbor Day,] May 17, June 11, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18. May 1 is a big aquatic planting day. 9-noon meet at southeast corner of lagoon near Fountain of Time.ools and gloves provided. Steward Madiem at 773 203-3418 or Becky Schillo, Steardship Coordinator at 312 742-4072.

"The Brickyard Community Garden" 6117 S. Woodlawn- Contact Dorothy Pytel at dpytel@yahoo.com or 773-288-7984 for more information on this workdays op. The University of Chicago Community Affairs has given much help.

Another project: Woodlawn Cooperative Gardenwalk, 6211 S. St. Lawrence. Jewell Dickson, 773 684-6384, jjtd945@sbcglobal.net.

It's Flower Power hanging baskets time again for 2008 for 53rd and 55th- funds are sought. Check out in Hanging Baskets.
Please make check payable to Flower Power @ SECC and mail to 1511 East 53rd Street, 60615. 773-324-6926

Vegetable and other community gardens are coming back. Such gardens are being promoted by social and green agencies as a move toward community and intergenerational ties building and toward self-sufficiency and sustainability. Open Lands Project has a major program promoting this as urban sustainability;Chicago Botanic Garden has worked with students to develop a garden at Canter Middle School .Growing Home and Garfield Park Conservancy have helped gardens in Jackson Park including at LaRabida Children's Hospital. Kenwood Community Park has a growing garden including vegetables, part of the Common Threads and Black Star Project. Hyde Park Career Academy has a major vegetable and flower garden with its environmental study center at 63rd and Stony. Participants include, seniors, KidStart participants in a novel collaboration with the CPS. Jackson Park has a great vegetable garden in 2005 ne of Hayes and Cornell. And there's the Brickyard--see in box above. Another approach to sustainable gardening is to teach kids hands on from planting to health-sustaining cooking and nutrition and themselves becoming sharers, environmentally responsible and sustainable, and expanders of the program.

Experimental Station. 61st Blackstone is the big garden and one of the first--and one of the few to keep to its original "community" ideal--it how has a waiting list. Common as well as rental individual plots, teaching, community parties and resources. Contact Jack Spicer or the Experimental Station.

April 4 2008 Experimental Station holds a benefit program 5-8 pm at 61st and Blackstone to prepare as one of 3 gardens to nourish the South Side food desert with fresh food and a sense of community. In addition to the garden at 61st and Blackstone, it also sponsors the Woodlawn Buying Club, a wood-fired oven and the Urban Farm Project. They began planning a farmer's market in 2007. Featured in the market will be fruits vegetable, dairy, organically raise meats, and some non edible handmade wares- Sat mornings 9-1 May 17-Oct. 25 61st and Dorchester. Hope is to include live music, cooking workshops, nutritional information. Food stamps, WIC, Farmers Market Senior Nutrition Program will be able to purchase through Electronic Benefits Transfer. There is a large contingent of volunteers who are learning these businesses. Founding members are sought at the benefit that wil feature emcee Theaster Gates (artist and staff UC Civic Knowledge and Sustain Partners), music by the Josh Abrams Quartet, hors, bevs, wine tasting's by Damien Casten of Candid Wines, food demos, raffles of regionally grown foods. $20 advance, $25 at door.

Brickyard, connected with ChristWay Chapel at 64th and Woodlawn? is another with a community garden and involved in Sust-partners, Partnership for a Sustainable Chicago.

Jackson Park's large community garden at the southwest corner of the of the golf course near Marquette, is expected to have a major expansion of activity in 2007-08 and become an environmental and sustainability teaching center thanks to the city Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Growing Power. Likely to be added are sheds for year round activity.

Contact also Center for Neighborhood Technology, Common Grounds/Threads???, Metropolitan Planning Council, Open Lands Project, and The Resource Center. Most are directly linked at bottom of this page.

GreenCorps' community garden vegetable distribution day is May 19, flowers June 30. Don't miss the Hyde Park Garden Fair spring sale May 18 and 19 in HP Shopping Ctr.

Top

How greening and cleaning enhance neighborhoods

Seeing Green: Study Finds Greening is a Good Investment
Strategy for a Green City, Summer 2005

Advocates of urban greening often promote the intangible benefits that open space provides, such as improving the quality of city life and fostering a sense of community pride. While these benefits are difficult to quantify, a ground-breaking study from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania now offers solid evidence that investment in greening yields significant economic returns, specifically, dramatic increases in real estate values.

Funded by the William Penn Foundation, The Determinants of Neighborhood Transformation in Philadelphia: Identification and Analysis-The New Kensington Pilot Study, was developed and produced by Susan Wachter, professor of real estate, finance, and city and regional planning at the Wharton School. It looked at the economic impact of "place-based investment strategies," particularly the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's seven-year greening effort in the New Kensington area of North Philadelphia.

"We were always convinced that greening has a tremendously positive impact on communities," says J. Blaine Bonham, Jr., executive vice president of PHS. "The success of our Philadelphia Green program has demonstrated this. Now, the Wharton findings begin to quantify the positive return on the investment in greening."

From 1995 through 2002, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia Green program worked in partnership with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) to address the blight caused by more than 1,100 parcels of abandoned land in the neighborhood and to come up with a vacant-land management plan for the community. The goal was to improve the area's appearance and help stem population loss, attract new residents, and encourage reinvestment. The partners created a comprehensive greening program, funded largely by the city's Office of Housing and Community Development, with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation. The strategy included "stabilizing" vacant lots (clearing debris and installing fencing and trees), creating community gardens, planting trees, renovating parks, and transferring vacant lots to adjacent homeowners for private use. The results of the PHS-NKCDC partnership include 480 newly planted trees, 145 settled side yards, 217 stabilized lots, and 15 community gardens.

Wachter's team utilized new technology and economic models to measure the impact of greening as accurately as possible, adjusting for other factors that affect real estate values, such as varying characteristics of individual homes and proximity to public transportation and schools. Sales information and other real estate data came from Philadelphia's Board of Revision of Taxes, while NKCDC and PHS provided information on greening projects in the area.
The study incorporates sales records on thousands of homes and more than 50 variables. To analyze the relationship between greening investments and house values, the Wharton School's Geographic Information Systems laboratory created a special database that included the location and timing of greening projects.

The study found significant increases in the value of individual homes near cleaned lots, streets trees, and parks (see sidebar). It also found a considerable increase in the total value of property in the community. According to Wachter, tree plantings alone account for a total increase of about $4 million, while lot improvements increased the total value by $12 million.

Key Findings of the Wharton School Study
Cleaning and greening of vacant lots can increase adjacent property values by as much as 30%.
Planting a tree within 50 feet of a house can increase its value by about 9%.
Location of a house within 1/4 mile from a park increased values by 10%.
Neighborhood blocks with higher concentrations of unmanaged vacant lots displayed lower house prices, about 18%.

 

And it's good for the gardener too: closeness to nature and our literal roots, sense of accomplishment, sense of hope, fellowship, move outward to other positive changes.- Wangari Maathai.

Top

Kudos, scoldings, projects et al.

Beach closures in 2005 were close behind the levels of 2004. As of mid-July, there have been 29 swim bans including one on July 13 that closed all the South Side beaches. In 2004 there was a total of of 128, two fewer than the previous year. Storms are obviously not the present culprit, although a lake level 7 inches under last July's (resulting in less lake motion and in shallower waters) and a warm early-mid summer may have contributed. Experts increasingly cite gulls as a vector--nesting pairs have grown from 300,000 in 1970 to 800,000 today. Wire has been strung above the most popular roosting sites and signs posted on beaches discouraging litter.
In 2006 the city and park district decided to use different colored flags to advise of e-coli levels, and only ban swimming if it's over 1000 cfu, but there will be covered garbage cans and they do use machines that sieve and ultraviolet the sand. Park groups are investigating the matter and will not just let it pass as a done deal until fully satisfied this is safe and not cosmetic, and that the public is being fully apprised on site exactly why the yellow flag is flying that day. Visit Beach and Swim pollution home.

Frances Vandervoort is heading up a project to map out and document the topography, natural geography and geology, and hydrology and especially the trees and streams of Hyde Park and Kenwood. The Hyde Park Historical Society and Hyde Park Garden Fair are collaborating on the project to identify and document the Great Trees of Hyde Park and Kenwood. Coming is a publication and next year an exhibit at Hyde Park Historical Society. Ask us for contacts.

Rudolph Gartner scolded Hyde Parkers in 2004 in the Herald for their "uncaring trash disposal habits."

Hyde Parker Carolyn Ulrich, editor of Chicagoland Gardening, has one of 10 gardens in Chicagoland that was showcased and featured in a July 24 2005 walking tour.

Keeping the Lake clean. Dina Weinstein in a Herald commentary August 31 what she learned about lake pollution and swimming bans. She first suggests checking ahead of coming: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or 312 742-4920. As of late August, there had been 40 closures locally, attributed by the District to high temperatures, heavy rainfall (at the few times it has come), low lake levels, animals abetted by human litter, and people-especially babies and kids in the water.

Some recommendations are changing tables for infants at beach houses/comfort stations, adequate toilet and hand washing facilities, posting signs against drinking lake water or defecating in the lake, or ill and not-yet-toilet trained children not be in the lake. Also, discouragement of littering (feeding birds that poop) and encouragement to pick up after dogs.

In addition, kids have to play in litter from glass to and plastic bags to contaminated. Weinstein urged people to get involved with Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt a Beach and Cleanup programs, next planned Sept. 17. Contact the Alliance website (at bottom).

More information on swimming bans/beach closures.

And keeping the lake free of devastating Asian carp--the effort is foundering over lack/bickering over funding. Query the Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Water Resources.

The city's blue-bag system has been largely discredited in the media. Here is what Ken Dunn's Resource Center does instead: It intercepts garbage, including from U of C dining halls and many Hyde Park and citywide restaurants, brings them to the Center at 70th and Dorchester (1325 E. 70th) where it reuses, recycles or composts 99 percent of all waste. Dunn is as much an artist as environmentalist. (Visit Beyond Green at Smart Museum.) Now the city has a new pilot program with blue carts and guaranteed separation, that seems to work in the neighborhoods selected (Beverly, 5th Ward, and three others)--big increase in participation although still under half. Green and planning groups praise it, but say it should be rolled out faster. See http://www.bluecartschicago.org.

Old computers for Schools. Although the city now has several collection points for old computers and other electric devices, an alternative that refurbishes these for schools is Computers for Schools, 3350 N. Kedzie, Dock 2. 773 583-7575. Chicago Theological Seminary also has a program.

Environment Illinois has a outline for creating 30,000 manufacturing jobs and 19,000 in the wind sector.

What to do with geese droppings in our parks and open spaces has been a vexing and controversial question. (See Jackson Park's Geese page on the issues and proposed solutions.) To learn about one of several solutions, contact http://www.naturesweep.com.

From runoff to renewal: How low-impact development can reduce stormwater runoff and protect water quality. From Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat.

Where is stormwater a problem? In undeveloped vegetated areas the water percolates and recharges. But where the ground is covered with buildings and parking lots it just runs off gathering all kinds of contaminants and overwhelming infrastructure, and here eventually the rivers and Lake.
What can be done? Make the built environment behave like the natural one by including on-site natural features like vegetated roofs, permeable paving, rain gardens, rain barrels, and soil amendments, preserving/replacing natural vegetation, clustering development, designing buildings and road to minimize impervious surface cover.

Designing regulations that turn stormwater into a resource: standard: no net runoff, flexible means, reduce unnecessary setbacks, wide streets, traditional stormwater infrastructure incl. gutters, having separate stormwater utilities.

Can't be done? New Jersey and other states have mandated it be done. And document, report, file for investigation, push for funding.

Top

Natural Areas in Chicago Parks contact

312 735-8188? Natural Areas Manager Ms. Pranga. PD will hire also a natural areas volunteer coordinator (a newly created position) for the projects to be done.

Watch for 2007 Nature Oasis South Side Programs and Events Schedule

Sponsored by Com Ed. Register/ ask for regr. form and receive details on meeting times and places, maps and directions at 312 742-5039. All are free. Note, only Stroller Strut can be registered for by phone.

Note: There will always be disagreements over policies toward natural areas, such as how vigorously to eradicate invasives, how thick or thin is too much. Most experts and experienced observers call for a healthy mix with emphasis on biodiversity, mostly natives, medium-speed growing, and plants of all levels from ground to canopy. Being able to feed and shelter birds and other wildlife is highly important. The Chicago Park District, which runs several "natural areas" including in Burnham, Jackson, Nichols, and Washington in this area, pledges to make sure that what is planted is healthy and is sustained and maintained. A new position of volunteer coordinator has been created. The district says that without volunteers and limited use of fast-decay herbicides, natural areas and sanctuaries could not be maintained.

Randi Doeker, a former Hyde Parker, past president of Chicago Ornithological Society, writes in the January 17 2007 Herald that birds deserve a four star environment. She says pets land wild animals are not compatible in the natural areas. (Others say it's OK if on leash--but the park district says not in natural areas.) She calls for using all the input and expert and scientific advice available in support of expansion of biodiversity in the city. She calls for a habitat for birds similar to the plant life their ancestors found. This requires "taking out the discount bird-motel and replacing it with a four-star environment. "There are many great birding spots" in the parks" within easy reach of Hyde Park.

Top

Calendar By date, ongoing, and more ongoing news


We are interested in hearing about any events you may have coming up in the new year at your park- please let us know of them so we can post them on our website. (This website can also forward the document to you- contact us at hpkcc@aol.com.) Watch for events in conjunction with a new nationwide initiative, Children and Nature.

HPKCC's Sustainable Environment Committee meets last Fridays. 6 pm, Treasure Island lower level, 1526 E. 55th St. Rani Fedson.May 30. SEEKING NEW MEMBERS! Welcome to new chair Vicki Suchovski.

Now open- opening of Smart Home: Green + Wired at Museum of Science and Industry (through Jan. 4, 2009)- see description. Tickets on sale from Feb. 15 at www.msichicago.org.

May 10, Saturday, 9:30>. University of Chicago conference, "Is Development Sustainable?" Keynote Dr. Robert Repetto, econopmica and sustainable development at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Honors Ted Steck on his retirement. Stuart 102, 5835 S. Greenwood.

May 16-17. Hyde Park Garden Fair Spring Sale 9-6 and 9-4. Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard. Helps neighborhod beautification and Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference.

May 16, Friday, 10 am-5pm. a FREE day long symposium that will investigate the American landscape as the subject and object of artistic creativity, cultural expression, spiritual meaning, and social responsibility. One of our network members, Dr. Michael Hogue from the Meadville Lombard Theological School will be speaking! Details contact mvasudevan@uchicago.edu of Civic Knowledge Partnership for a Sustainable Chicago.

May 16, Thursday, 7 pm. 57th Street Books and Experimental Station present Wendy Johnson, Gardening at the Dragon's Gate. At Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone.

May 17. Clean and Green. Kenwood Park is one hosting one, so is Washington Park at the lagoons May 1. Call 311- or better your ward office to have tools provided and trash pickup after.

May 17. South Shore Cultural Center Adv. Council Spring Plant and Geranium Sale.

Environment Illinois on problems, setting agenda, Currie interview

Environment Illinois has two bills in the legislature seeking to reduce mercury and other toxins in the environment, HB 934 and SB1241. It worked hard to get the state (Dec. 12 2006) to adopt a rule significantly reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired plants--90% by 2009. These 21 plants are responsible for 71% of Illinois's mercury pollution. Public pressure made the difference, EI said. It says that next on the docket are clean car standards protecting water quality in the great lakes, reducing carbon and other emissions that promote global warming.

To reduce our contribution to global warming, EI says Illinois should:

It also says the idea of turning coal in to liquefied fuel would be a step in the wrong direction. Where does our CO2 come from? Electricity 38%, Transportation 28%, Industrial 23%, Residential 11% [But much is from farm animals...]

In a recent interview with EI, Rep. Currie generally supported these and more environmental policies.

EI's idea for a New Energy Future

It notes that there are environment and energy responsible funds such as Green Century.

The EPA is studying how to make products less toxic as with decBDE flame retardant and will soon issue a report.

 

On the new swim ban policy. See page in Jackson Park.

Note that the park district, Ill Dept. Nat Res, and EPA will do a full study of the 63rd beach watershed and all outflow sources.

FROM AOL:

Group Sues EPA Over Beach Pollution
Releases List of Dirtiest and Cleanest Beaches


LOS ANGELES (Aug. 4 2006) - An environmental group has sued federal regulators, charging that they failed to protect beaches and the Great Lakes from pollution and that negligence by the Bush administration exposed swimmers and surfers to potential illnesses.

The lawsuit, filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council in U.S. District Court on Thursday, charged that the Environmental Protection Agency failed to protect the public against the "substantial adverse health effects" from contact with contaminated beach water.

In 2000, Congress passed a law requiring the EPA to update its beach-water health standards by 2005. The agency missed the deadline and current standards are two decades old, according to court documents.

The lawsuit was filed on the same day the group issued a report that found beach closings due to hazardous bacterial contamination in Los Angeles County jumped 50 percent in 2005. Across the nation, beaches were closed or posted with health advisories 20,000 times last year, the report said.

EPA spokesman Dale Kemery did not address the lawsuit, but said in a statement "the state of the nation's beach health remains high, even as the number of beaches monitored increased by 11 percent in 2005."

The agency "has made significant progress in carrying out its responsibilities under the" 2000 law, he said.

The lawsuit asks the court to order the agency to complete the water-quality studies and publish revised safety rules.

The pollution comes from a wide mix of sources, including animal waste, factories, septic tanks, sewage, pesticides and oil and metals deposited on city streets.

City's response in 2006: Can't fix it, so change rules?

The city has changed the protocol on swimming bans at beaches. You will have to watch for flags changing from green to yellow to red! As we understand it, there will now be closures only if the indicator bacteria goes above 1,000 colony-forming units per milliliter, not the current 235 and that the closures will now occur upon one day rather than two of exceedance of standard.

The change occurred with no or little notice to or discussion with environmental watchdog groups (except one), or park watchdog groups including advisory councils. Notice in media was weak--and the NBC coverage of beach closings focused on the pollution reality in certain states and general infrequency of testing, lack of application of fast-testing, and slowness of notice and closures since the test water has to be incubated. Except for attacking causes, Chicago is way ahead of the game on most of these, but still has a high number and percentage of closure days, 63rd generally leading the pack.

The 235 standard was developed and implemented as mandatory for beach advisories (notification must be prompt) by EPA at least as early as 1986 (according to EPA website--citations below). Presumably it had been shown that at 235 the statistical or epidemiological possibility of say 1 in 1,000 getting sick becomes real--seldom from E. coli but from the other pathogens that accompany E. coli. The 2001 Whitman report on 63rd Beach E. coli (which see) cites and applies 235 as the enforceable limit. The Centers for Disease Control website indicates CDC is still more comfortable with 235 rather than 1,000. What is OK for normal persons may not be safe for the very young, the elderly, or immuno-compromised.

We understand from EPA that 235 is still their standard, but those qualifying for grants or wishing to have the imprimatur of compliance are not required to use it--just so they timely give an advisory or close the beach. EPA in discussions with the Park District asked for better measures to inform the public what the yellow and read flags mean. Illinois adopted 1000 from the Wisconsin Beach master's directive (which incorporated several reforms Wisconsin had not been doing.) Although the state (Dept. Public Health) and not the federal EPA are responsible for beaches, neither has authority to direct jurisdictions to take any measures.

EPA and IDPH have met with the park district and told them of specific measures that would improve meaningful public notification.

Our researchers have yet to discover why the precise number 1,000 or any higher number is now acceptable, but by closing after one day of testing the city is said by EPA to be in compliance with the performance criteria for grants and will now be eligible for BEACH grant funds. The city tests 5 to 7 days a week, and there is a precise governmental criteria as to what the municipality must do after a water quality standard is exceeded.

We are also uncertain of time of day of testing at various beaches--a major 2001 study at 63rd Street Beach showed that conservative practice makes it essential that testing be done by mid morning--concentrations generally go down--usually dramatically--thereafter and only occasionally up (and then from extremely low to still under 235.

The city will post yellow flags (with ((impressionistically)) vague signage and public information) when cfu is above 235 and installed new covered garbage wheeled garbage cans, in addition to discouraging gull congregations downtown. (See public brochure, below).

At a City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation hearing June 2006, questioning on this matter is reported as having been met with complacency and remark that advocacy groups "approved" the change. Only one group was notified and invited to appear.

As of the end of June 2006, 63rd Street beach had already been closed twice at the new 1,000 cfu trigger--with no easily-available information as to how often the yellow flag was put up (showing the beach would have been closed at over 235 cfu--people are supposed to go there every day to keep count???). (EPA and IDPH is keeping such documentation.) One closure