Jackson Park Advisory Counicil (JPAC) Website and Jackson Park Chicago homepage

Jackson Park Advisory Council Website

This website is managed by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. JPAC webmaster: Gary Ossewaarde, 773 947-9541, 773 288-8343. HPKCC site administrator: Gary Ossewaarde, Anita Hollins (HPKCC pres. and publications committee chair). hpkcc@aol.com. Visit hydepark.org home, parks home.

To whole hydepark.org JPAC/Jackson Park website index.
To index/contents links of this homepage. Officers. Meetings +

NEWSLETTERS UP NOW- (earlier issues index),March 2013, April 2013, May 2013
MINUTES AND RESOLUTIONS incl. now April 2013.

Check the meetings and events section regularly->>>>>>MAY 13, MONDAY, 7:30 PM. JACKSON PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL WILL HEAR IMPORTANT PROPOSALS AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PARK from park district and others. Fieldhouse, 6401 S. Stony Island Ave. This includes a landscaping possible grant and related to historical recognition. THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT MEETING- PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. CkPD is considering a landscape restoration proposal from and funded through a federal agency, to be presented by Mitchell Murdock of the Park District. Other groups will present on their activities and hopes for the park. Among those CPkD hopes to hear from are all interested in preserving the park's history.

SEE JPAC's NEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE http://www.jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org. FEATURES, CALENDAR, MAP, And find us on FACEBOOK there.
Email jpacmail@jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org. (cc to President commissioner751@comcast.net 0r 773 844-2225 and Secretary garyossewaarde@yahoo.com.)
Meetings and events- next (June 10) council meeting is at 7:30 pm-
Fieldhouse, 6401 S. Stony Island. Inter alia continue the conversation on CPkD-ACE on restoration, historic, and nature plans. Be thinking of vistas and beautiful or historic features in the park you especially love or think could be restored or improved.

OFFICERS ELECTED AT THE NOVEMBER 2012 MEETING:
President: Louise McCurry, Vice President: Aaron Stephens, Secretary: Gary Ossewaarde, Treasurer: Dwight Powell.
Chairs; Nature- Fran Vandervoort, Safety- Esther Schechter, Aaron Stephens - Sports, Stewards- Norm Bell, Gail Parry, Jerry Levy.
OUR STEWARDS WERE HONORED BY FOTP IN NOV.; PRES. MCCURRY HONORED AT FOTP LUNCH FEB. 7. AND JPAC HONORED AT HYDE PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY DINNER FEB. 23.

WORKDAYS SCHEDULE and instructions. Check frequently for changes! Next, Bobolink 2nd Saturdays 9 am to noon and Wooded Island 4th Saturdays 10 am-1 pm. - habitat management and restoration.

Bird and other walks.

Chronicle of the Frederick Douglass memorial project and dedication.

Changes to park programs registration

We are asking for your continued support and volunteer efforts to help in the future of JPAC. We want to ensure this beautiful park is here for many years to come and we can't do it alone. We need your help! Please visit our new website for volunteer opportunities, member meetings, donation information and survey forms.
Start at http://jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org/index.html.

CONTRIBUTE DUES (contribution is not required for participation and voting) FOR 2013 NOW.

Friend (basic membership)- $35, Guardian- $100, Conservator- $250, Patron- $500, Founder $1,000

2011 JPAC Membership and contribution appeal letter and response form in pdf. 2012 letter coming.

VISIT JPAC'S FIRST 'SUBJECT' WEBSITE, BOBOLINK MEADOW VOLUNTEER WEBSITE (http://bluestem.info/bobolink/). being UPDATED March 2012.
Go there to communicate with stewards Norm Bell and Gail Perry and to learn about the Meadow, its care, Workdays, and other opportunities, and link to Chicago Park District page on Bobolink. Also has the Wooded Island steward contact. More about Bobolink. Reports on recent workdays there.

MSI's facade restoration. About plans for the west drop off and lot: see in January Newsletter.

Read Jackson Park is abuzz with activities-- Our June update as modified for Hyde Park Herald and Friends of the Parks Advocate. And read our THANKS. And our new Jackson Park Nature News.

PARK WINTER PROGRAMS- ONLINE AT CPD WEBSITE FROM 9 AM NOV. 28, DEC. 3 AT FIELDHOUSE. VIEW ONLINE FROM NOV. 14.

Next COUNCIL MEETING March 11, Monday, 7:30, fieldhouse, 6401 S. Stony Island.
Council and other meetings. To pages with latest minutes and resolutions. News. .

WOODED ISLAND HABITAT RESTORATION PLAN. Context and links to 2011 update and the Locator map.

Jackson Park Advisory Council is seeking letters and petition signers for naming the north bridge to Wooded Island after Nancy Hays. See, print April 2011 petition (in pdf). To turn in, please contact Gary Ossewaarde at garyossewaarde@yahoo.com or 773 288-8343

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.

JPAC PRESS RELEASE DECEMBER 2010- Jackson Park Has Been Revitalized (in own page)
BYLAWS- LATEST INFORMATION AND DRAFTS. Bylaws Draft 8 WAS APPROVED December 13 with holdback of one claus re officers.

About the Urban Farm and Community Allotment Garden.

Elected November, 2012: President, Louise McCurry (commissioner751@comcast.net) ; Vice President, Aaron Stephens; Secretary, Newsletter-website-mailing list-meetings- Gary Ossewaarde (garyossewaarde@yahoo.com); Treasurer, Dwight Powell.
Fran Vandervoort has been selected Nominations chair and will propose a slate at the November 2012 meeting.

JPAC now has a binder in the fieldhouse office with attendance, schedules, recent records. Schedule of meetings is posted in the fieldhouse office.
JPAC continues its financial drive for 2010- visit Membership page (sent letter up soon). Friends of the Parks is now our fiscal agent-greatly appreciated.

IF you see something that might be wrong going on, speak up! 911; William.Tillis@chicagoparkdistrict.com 773 256-0903. Park Security 312 742-2193, garyossewaarde@yahoo.com.

Note: All booking private events/permits: contact William Tillis at the fieldhouse 773 256-0903 then downtown Park Services. call 312 742-5369 Chicago Park District Park Services. Better: Go to http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com and click permits (all types) or special event permits. This site and JPAC have no booking responsibility.

JPAC Website: navigation indices to subpages, links
(Visit also http://www.jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org/)
To index of this homepage. Link index to our other Jackson Park pages:

Contact, Officer Information/Membership. 2011 Membership and contribution letter & response form
Join the Newsletter mailing list (no charge)-garyossewaarde@yahoo.com.
TAKE THE WEB VERSION OF OUR SURVEY -or do it online at jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org
Who We Are - Mission, Accompls.; Pk Treasures/Amenities; Guarding the Park

Newsletters

*Earlier minutes and Newsletters are archived by Gary Ossewaarde-- going back to the founding in 1983 (with gaps in the early years). These may be viewed by appointment. 773 947-9541 or garyossewaarde@yahoo.com.

Photo Galleries:

Animal Bridge
A round and in the park: Site of Mary Rose Shaughnessy
Paved Granite Beach and Iowa Bldg. old views. Granite Beach and reconstr.
'Iowa' Building today
Lake Sh Dr and underpass work,57th-59th #1, #2, #3, 63rd. So Lkft Access projs
Lagoons and lagoon restoration
Nike C-41 base
Osaka Garden (and to others)
Submarine move route and exhibit construction
Wooded Island
63rd St. Beach House and Schiff Play Fountain

In Other Sites:

Other JPAC sites:
OFFICIAL JPAC WEBSITE AND CALENDAR: http://www.jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org/
Check in at Bobolink Meadow Volunteer Website. Includes tons of information, pics, maps about the Meadow

In hydepark.org

Parks homepage and navigator

Lakefront Protection Ordinance
Osaka Japanese Garden home
Parks outside links and resources index
Wooded Island prospects, work objectives

Park Issues
Birding home and Wooded Island Summaries, Purple Martins, Monk Parakeets
Columbian Exposition
Green (and beyond) page, with links

Outside (find more in the Green page)

Chicago Park District e-mail staff-1stname.2ndname@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Jackson Park page in Chicago Park District website.
Museum of Science and Industry's website
Hyde Park Historical Society website
Friends of the Japanese Garden (Osaka Garden) https://sites.google.com/site/friendsofthejapanesegarden/home
Friends of the Parks
We encourage you to visit from TNC The Nature Conservancy the Illinois newspage, including volunteer and learning opportunities in the area: "Gatherings Online": http://www.nature.org/illinois.
Also Hal Cohen's blog, http://www.woodedisland. blogspot.com/ and others listed in the Birding homepage of hydepark.org.

In this homepage...

Special announcements.
Recent meetings (May 13 and a possible restoration project)
Grand opening of the Jackson Park-Nancy Hays Gallery in the fieldhouse
Windy City Hoops coming to youth at Jackson Park
President McCurry honored at FOTP luncheon Feb. 7 2013; JPAC stewards honored at FOTP November 2012 gala, and JPAC at Hyde Park Historical Society dinner.
CPD Budget passes, mostly holds line with more sports initiatives
Changes to program registration for fall 2012- time sensitive to Aug. 20-21.
Erika Allen appointed commissioner. Runs urban garden in Jackson Park.
Viking Ship- a new chance
Mulch Trail in Wooded Island and dragonfly walk! And four features in the Herald!
And link to the Openlands Wooded Island Tree Survey, survey done with JPAC's volunteers
Pickleball, anyone?
Park District and Viking Ship restoration group reach accord
Gerda Schild
Lakefront Bike Trail
Beaches and new ways of finding/informing of high bacteria
Our survey. Class Registration online- stay with the page and don't leave despite delays. Chicago Sculpture International readies installations!
Help to go to day camp
Oaks, Composting workshop, and a big volunteer day with Chicago Hugs/tourism bureau.
Read Jackson Park is abuzz with activities-- Our June update as modified for Hyde Park Herald.
Thanks!
Workdays. Gift of Bluestem from Wash. Pk. Conservancy. Community garden coming?, Conflict at 63rd pen.- compromise offered, New artificial playing field announced (see page), Dog park advancing
JPAC press release December 2010
Phoenix panels from Fair reunited, restored, on display at Art Institute
Short vitae, Navigator indexes (above)
Opening for a dog park
Sports Corner
About the Jackson Park Urban Farm and Community Allotment Garden (Growing Power)
Endangered and threatened birds that have been spotted in Jackson Park and nearby.
Next events, council MEETINGS, Artificial surface. Nov 2010 walkthrough report.
March 9 2011 walk through report Aug 27 beach sweep pic.
Brief reports of recent actions- for full description see the monthly Newsletters and in Minutes and Resolutions, linked above
Who, Where? (getting there, about the park and its attractions, park management, help keep up your park)
Field House happenings. Facilities and opportunities
Programs and specials. From the Supervisor.
Recreation by outside vendors
Biography of former JPAC President Eric Hatchett, whose advocacy largely restored the 63rd St. Bathing Pavilion.
Essay: Our busy "underutilized" park

Top

Chicago Park District administrative offices and facilities will be closed for three days adjacent to the holidays. The mandatory shut down days are effective:

Check CPD website for 2012 shutdowns. Patrons should contact their local park for more information.

In the Bobolink area donated to JPAC by Madiem Kawa of the Washington Park Conservancy in July 2012.

Special reports and announcements

At May 13 council meeting, Mitchell Murdock of Chicago Park District Natural Resources, Julia Bachrach of CPD planning/history, and a representative of the US Army Corps of Engineering presented and sought input on the early stages of planning of historic, landscape, and sound ecological and habitat planning and restoration and improvements in the park, designed Section 506 Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration (GLFER). The CPD and ACE have partially-overlapping but somewhat different mandates, and they are evaluating, with public input, whether there may a partnered set of projects for the park that could cost up to $10 million. (Lakeshore work including La Rabida is excluded as that is controlled by a separate federally-designated ongoing program for the entire lakeshore.) Principles were set forth, with the park district stressing the historic integrity of the park including Olmsted's vision of vistas, and also good habitat in the appropriate/designated parts of the park. The next opportunity for public input will be at the next meeting, including a mapping exercise. This will still be ahead of the start of official feasibility and project-discovery exploration. Ongoing public input is promised early and during the entire development and implementation of the project.
Dwight Powell moved, 2nd Fran Vandervoort and approved to encourage continued exploration and planning of the Section 506 project.

The meeting was preceded by a sparkling grape juice toast in the JPAC room, with many posted photographs about the park, and also memories of jazz musician Ken Chaney who taught at the park.

Other brief presentations and information: Pres. McCurry- progress on park safety, various repairs made including in a key unpaved parking lot, meeting of exec. committee with Friends of the Phoenix Garden and stakeholders, meeting with DuSable Fishing club, plans for a park walk-through with PD top leadership, the May 11 and May 18 workshops, dredging underway in the harbors, nature plus tours with children's groups.
Fieldhouse instructor described successes with Windy City Hops and spring and summer programs--including JP teams' victories,
Jerry Levy and others revealed Bobolink and Wooded Island blooming and with migrating birds after a late start. Fran Vandervoort reported on progress on nature trail materials and thinking about park signage.
Sonia Cooke of the Phoenix Japanese Garden (Osaka) Foundation described over 125 cherry trees being planted after careful study this season from around the MSI Columbia Basin (where they had been slated for the Columbian Exposition) and down to the Garden this season- and more to come in future years replacing invasive thickets.
Douglas Washington of AYSO soccer and others presented the need for new mobile soccer nets for the 63rd fields.
Ray Johnson of Friends of the White City discussed the need for and types of historic signage (including views) they wish to raise funds for. (Mr. Johnson is also involved in funding a trophy case for the fieldhouse.)
Beth Herring stressed the need for replacement of play equipment in the northwest corner of the park by Bret Harte School- for which JPAC has submitted a proposal to the CPD-Friends of the Parks play equipment replacement initiative.
CeCe Edwards of Grand Crossing Park described a Black Star Project tutoring program in their park that JPAC may wish to adopt also. She also called attention the stated decision of CPD to not treat ash trees in parks for the emerald borer (a little under 20% in parks are ashes and CPD would rather replace them with other species.)

Communications: at least 6 beavers have been removed from the park.

About the new JPAC office and Nancy Hays Gallery, unrolled with a toast at the May 2013 JPAC meeting

Flyer (with picture of past president and photographer Nancy Hays):
JPAC Welcomes you to enjoy the wonders of Jackson Park in Pictures

Welcome to the Opening of the Jackson Park -Nancy Hays Gallery. Nancy was a brilliant nature photographer, Hyde Park Herald Photographer, founding member of Friends of the Parks and The Jackson Park Advisory Council.
Her photos are in the easels on the table.

This month is a members exhibit with photos by Fran Vandervoort, Madiem Kawa, Robert McCurry, and Nancy Hays.
Each month we will have a new and exciting exhibit of p ark kids photos, member photos, and neighbors photos of our beautiful park. you are invited t join o ur gallery committee to bring Jackson Park's natural areas, sports, volunteers, and lakefront activities.
Thank you to Mr. William Tillis, Park Supervisor and Mr. Cordell Hopkins, Area Manager for allowing this space to be used as the Jackson Park Gallery.

Windy City Hoops comes to Jackson Park. Windy City Hoops will bring year round basketball to boys and girls aged 13-18 in var. parks (incl. Jackson)- Fridays 7-10 and Saturdays 5-10. Forms are at parks or aldermanic offices.312 742-7529 or 312 774-2001.

JPAC President Louise McCurry was recognized by Friends of the Parks at its Annual Luncheon February 7, Thursday, 12 pm at the Chicago Cultural Center. Ms. McCurry is being recognized for her commitment and work in improved park programming and community engagement in Jackson Park and revitalization of Jackson Park Advisory Council. The luncheon, which will honor parks' friends in several categories, is open to the public with a cost which has been $45 to FOTP members, a bit more to non-members. Contact FOTP at 773 312 857-2757 or check on line at http://www.fotp.org.

JPAC is proud to announce that our stewards- Norman Bell, Jerry Levy, and Gail Parry were given the Stewardship Award, and Fran Vandervoort a Droughtbuster award by Friends of the Parks November 4 at Fuller Park Fieldhouse, a wonderful, historic place. A lovely time was held, and it was great to see how many volunteers and volunteer groups, organizations, and business partners there are.

November 26, 2012 the budget for 2013 was released. It has no tax increase, but does continue to take the $1.1 million in property taxes from expiring TIF and other special districts. The 25% surcharge on boat slips for persons living outside Chicago is rescinded (boat slips are going empty).
The budget of $410 million is up $3 from 2012. Fees to large festivals and events goes up 1.5%, but program fees stay the same. Fees to community and church groups planning programs in the park, especially in the evening, will find fees more frequently waived to increase positive presence in parks. The district will also look at increasing security for such events and for programs.
32 positions are cut- mainly unfilled summer landscape and instructors. The district continues to push sale of advertising rights on equipment.
Some sports programs grow- Junior Bears more than doubles from 830 to 2,000 spots; boxing increases, and lacrosse is new.
The budget was passed December 12 2912.

Osaka Garden was among the favorite places named by Park District Historian Julia Bachrach (and pictured in November 20 2012 Chicago Tribune) in the release for the latest edition of her book on Chicago's parks.

In memoriam: Gerda Schild

Memorial celebration of life for Gerda Schild was the following:

September 16, Sunday, 2 pm. Celebration of Life- Osaka Garden on Wooded Island.

Gerda Schild was a long time member of Jackson Park Advisory Council, active in Friends of the Parks and an avid bird watcher, naturalist, and gardener among many things. She escaped Germany in the 1930s, eventually came to Hyde Park where she practiced physical therapy and had a long residency. She was active in many organizations but was probably happiest gardening. She will be missed by many.
JPAC is seeking a naming on Wooded Island, but that can usually be effected only after the person has been deceased at least a year.

JPAC welcomes new Park District Commissioner Erika Allen. Erika is head of Growing Power, a national organization born of the work McArthur-winner Will Allen (Erika's father) in Milwaukee. Growing Power has a raised bed urban farm in Jackson Park, among many other places including a large headquarters in Bridgeport.

Registration for park programs

Substantial changes have been made to the system by ActiveNet, the Park District’s web vendor (more on these changes below). While we believe these changes will make a big impact on the performance of the system, the Park District is taking the extra step of dividing registration into two different zones, to help ensure a successful fall registration.

Parks located WEST of California Avenue (2800 W.) will begin online registration on Monday, August 20 at 9am.

Parks located EAST of California Avenue (2800 W.) will begin online registration on Tuesday, August 21 at 9am.

In-person registration begins either Saturday, August 25 or Monday, August 27, depending upon the park.

It is important that all patrons either create an account in the PD website or update their account information prior to fall registration.
Update your account information now. Once logged into the system, click on the "Answer/Edit Account Questions" link. Look for these questions under the "Account Creation Questions" section for each account holder. Remember to update this information for all individuals on your account. Questions? at the website or play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.

(Jackson Park/JPAC had four features in the August 8 Herald!, and more in following)

Viking Ship from Worlds' Columbian Exposition to get new care, possibly a display hall
(More in Columbian Exposition)

From Friends of the Parks Advocate, Fall 2012

A replica of an ancient Viking ship, one of the few remnants from the 1893 World's Columbian Ex[position], was transferred from the Chicago Park District to a non-profit, Friends of the Viking Ship, whose mission is to restore the 120 year-old ship.
Norway constructed the replica of a 1,000 year-old Viking Ship in 1892. Eleven men and a captain sailed the ship from Norway across the Atlantic in 1892 to Chicago for the 1893 Worlds' Columbian Ex[position}. The Viking Ship was a major attraction of the Fair.
The ship remained in Chicago [returned after a trip to New Orleans] after the Fair and was donated to the Chicago Park District in 1920. The Park District housed it at the Lincoln Park Zoo until the 1990's when it was donated to another non-profit group who told the District they planned to restore the historic ship. The group relocated the ship to Geneva, Illinois, but it later folded without raising the necessary restoration funds. Friends of the Viking Ship is a new non-profit, established in order to complete the goal of raising an estimated $415,000 required to restore the Viking ship.

What is pickleball? Might it lead to more things for seniors to do in the park?

This racquet sport has been around a number of years, especially in the West and Mountain states, especially for seniors- it's low-impact and can substitute for tennis. It is slower, with the ball going at a third the speed of tennis, and is easily learned. The tennis courts are lined at 1/3 the depth. It's played with a kind of paddle and wiffle ball, which can be ordered at low cost from one or more firms in Seattle. A little under 20 people tried out in the 59th tennis courts August 19 (possibly the first outdoors in Chicago parks), and Hal Cohen and wife will be there additional Sundays. JPAC has been thinking of additional activities for seniors in the park such as fitness stations or trails. Meanwhile, there are loads of trails, exercises in the fieldhouse, golf, and the bowling green games.

From the Friends of the Parks Advocate, Fall 2012

Pickleball Comes to Jackson Park.
Ever heard of pickleball? Ever wanted to play pickleball? Well, the game has come to Chicago's Jackson Park. Brought to us by Hal Cohen and the Jackson Park Advisory Council, pickleball had its first sessions with participants playing on two tennis courts at 59th Street in Jackson Park.
Hal Cohen adn Louise [Mc]Curry, the President of the Jackson Park Advisory Council, lined two tennis courts with chalk to the proper specifications for the game. hal Cohen taught the game to the group and then the players made history by playing the first Pickleball games in Chicago.
On hand in Jackson Park was Chrissie Carl, who came from Lincoln Park to help tech the group the rules of the racket game. Chrissie Carl is the official Ambassador of Pickleball in Chicago, and she brought several folks who were anxious to begin playing.
The equipment requirements for pickleball are modest compared to other sports and hal contributed funds to purchase 8 wooden paddles and a dozen pickleballs so the game could be taught and played. With the donated paddles and balls, the game of Pickleball opened in Jackson Park.
Hal is an enthusiastic promoter of the sport and believes that Pickleball wil one day be an Olympic sport. He estimates that there are more than 100,00 Pickleball players in the United States.
For more information, visit the Jackson Park Advisory Council at www.jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org.

We are hoping that at least some of our green ash trees will be selected for a new treatment, lasting up to 3 years, against the emerald ash borer.

Trail in Wooded Island

In late spring 2012, the Chicago Park District began planning and discussion of renewing an old mulch/wood chip trail in the spine of Wooded Island, to give visitors an additional means of exploring the island/Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary. Upon presentation by the WI site steward, JPAC approved to proceed. Plans did proceed and presentation by CPD was made at the July JPAC meeting. Several representatives of naturalist and bird-interested organizations objected that the Wooded Island Working Group had not had a chance to vet the plan or desirability of the plan and concern over possible disturbance to wildlife and delicate tree support systems and over possible over-encouragement of heavy foot traffic etc. in the heart of the Sanctuary. (Details will be in the August JPAC Newsletter.) JPAC urged that the plan be held back for further discussions, a request be made for a WIWG vetting or walk through, and that interpretive signage in Island be looked at for replacements or improvements. After examination and discussion on site, with approval from naturalists the old path was cleared at the end of July/early August 2012 and a reduced, 4 foot wide wooden chip mulch cover laid on the old path, similar to that in Bobolink Meadow but with no timber edges. JPAC leaders say it looks great and that the path is laid out so that it meanders through a great variety of trees and shrubs, some old and some new.

The trail is about 4' wide. The main one starts just after the road splits south of the lawn that is in front of Osaka garden and with the new cherry trees. It ambles southward with just enough opening that you seem to be deep in a forest but are not encouraged to wander off. there is a side trail going southeast to the east road just north of the prairie garden. There is also an east west trail (this with timber edging) through the middle of the prairie garden (that has been restored with native planting this year) between the east road and the main trail, with a fork to the west road. The trail meets up with the (west?) paved road just before you reach the south bridge to the mainland.
SIGNAGE ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO STAY ON THE ROADS AND TRAILS and not go into any fenced-off sections.

Partly to introduce it and our interactive virtual nature trail-related programming, a "dragonfly walk" was scheduled for Sunday, August 5 through the Island and Bobolink Meadow, led by Rochelle Lodder. This was absolutely delightful. The number and variety of dragon- and damselflies, as well as the large, varied expanse of vegetation, much of it native, confirms that this is a healthy wetlands and inter-wetland habitat despite the stress of this dry, hot 2012 summer. Kudos to park district, contractor, and volunteers who have kept up the care and watering, especially of new shrubs and trees. It has been difficult to balance need to pump water from the lagoons to water needing plants without draining the lagoons low.

You can find a goodly number of Illinois 99+ of Illinois's 307 species of dragonflies in Jackson Park, but need to go where there is also running water to find more variety. Ms. Lodder has been inventorying Jackson Park dragonflies and damselflies (most of the latter fold their wings back, dragonflies cannot) for five years-- ten years of data are required for data to go into official records. Dragonflies are best found near water, where they mate and lay eggs. Since most of their lives are spent as larvae in the water, there are always more around than are visible, and you will have better luck in the early morning or between about 4 and 7 pm. They molt many times in both stages. Some kinds prefer to hover close to the ground and others to soar. They come in many colors and there are pronounced differences between the genders. They are basically mosquito devouring machines.

In spring, 2012 surveys were conducted with Openlands and our site stewards and many volunteer groups, inventorying, measuring, and putting into GIS the trees in Bobolink Meadow and Wooded Island. This will greatly aid planning for trees naturally and unnaturally dying and for a healthy habitat for the long run.

Here is the link for the newly completed interactive webpage.

http://openlands.org/openlands_gis/html/Community_Greening/TreeInventories/Jackson_Park/WoodedIsland_
TreeInventory_Genus_.html.

Follow the instructions above the legend to utilize the map features.

Chicago Park District and the group seeking restoration and a permanent home for the Gokstad Viking Ship that was sailed to the Columbian Exposition was reached in August 2012. The restoration group will own the ship now in a park at Geneva, IL and be able to raise funds. To learn more about the ship and project, contact Perry J. Gulbrandsen (get email and phone from Gary Ossewaarde) and visit the Jackson Park History and Worlds Fair page and click the Viking Ship story.

Namings for our heroes.

Lindsay Welbers in the Hyde Park Herald outline submissions by Jackson Park Advisory Council to honor our heroes in the Park. In 2005, the Chicago Park District approved naming the balconies of the landmarked 63rd St. Bathing Pavilion for deceased JPAC president Eric Hatchett. Hatchett worked tirelessly to have the pavilion restored and for youth programs. JPAC introduced naming the north bridge to Wooded Island for deceased president Nancy Hays, prize-winning photographic recorder of the park, communities, and nature and was a defender of parks. The council is gathering material and signatures for naming the prairie garden in Wooded Island for Gerda Schild, long time member and bird-watcher and gardener, but this may not be possible until a year after her death.

Changes in swim water safety management- how much better?

Based on the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times stories of May 24 and 25 2012 and earlier information: By Gary Ossewaarde

Chicago Park District announced in late May 2012 that this year it will abandon e coli testing to determine when to issue swim bans and advisories if federal standards are exceeded-- although such advisories will still be issued (via a yellow flag by the whiteboard posting), but lifeguards will not halt swimming and wading unless actual conditions such as storm release of sewerage into waterways indicate that swimming should be banned. Buoys will measure the modeling parameters at 16 of the 24 beaches - grants are being sought to extend this to all beaches by next year. Some parameters in the model (developed by among others Richard Whitman of the Great Lakes USGA center and based partly on Lake County experience), are sources of contamination known to affect those beaches, such as gull colonies and sewer outflows, wave motion disturbing bacteria growing in sands, current speeds, water temperatures, and sunlight amounts and determinants. Not included is the fast-test method employed by Wilmette. Karen Hobbs of The National Resources Defense Council (which has sued some government units in California on testing and standards) says Chicago is moving in the right direction and is in the middle o the pack on what's being done in the Great Lakes-- her main concern is with leaving it entirely up to swimmers reading the posted info to decide whether to go into the water.

Some express concern that people will not know what to make of the numbers posted on the whiteboards at the beaches-- will they overreact if the previous day's count was high? What if the predictive models from computer software under or over predict? Announcement of the new policy was made by Cathy Brietenbach, CPD director of lakefront operations. In 2011 there were 36 closures and 134 additional advisories. Jackson Park Advisory Council, along with the PD, has long been concerned about the effectiveness of advisories and bans (JPAC especially after the standards were changed from the EPA recommendation) and also seeks effective actions to ensure clean water and beaches.

See the Safe Beaches page.

Beaches opened May 25 2012-Sept. 3.

Find out if your beach is open and safe: Text 312 715-swim text the word beaches and text in the name of your beach.
Or call 312 74-beach or visit http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or its Facebook and Twitter links.

JPAC leaders discussed issues and coordinated actions with leaders of Jackson Park Yacht Club. JPYC has invited JPAC, and the other clubs will be invited, to meet as part of the June 11 council meeting at the Yacht Club, 6400 S. Promontory Drive, to discuss common issues, activities and actions on behalf of the park and harbors.

c. 25 oak trees from St. Aubin Nursery were planted in the Bobolink Meadow near the shore on Monday, April 30 2012. The rains stopped just in time and held off the whole day.

Help to go to park camp and related CPD programs

Summer is around the corner, and the best way to keep the children of our communities safe,
is to keep them occupied. The Chicago Park District has many free-to-low cost programs for
youth and teens alike this summer. Thanks to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Summer Safety Surplus
grant, we are able to offer financial assistance to thousands of children for day camp.

Applicants must provide proof of participation in the Illinois Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

Applicants who do not participate in the school lunch program can prove eligibility by providing
income verification (i.e., 2012 recent pay stubs for last 30 days, AFDC / TANF case #, a copy
of a recent IRS 1040 form). All information submitted is confidential.

To apply for financial assistance, bring copies of the required documents to the desired park
through June 11 during normal park hours.

If you know of any families that may be able to take advantage of this opportunity, please feel free
to share this information.

Chicago Park District Day Camps run June 25th through August 3rd.

Contact your local park for details.

Sharing is caring, Nicole Berry ;)
Marketing Communications Professional
http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolesberry

JPAC had a very nice lecture and discussion with Ken Dunn of the The Resource Center at the Iowa Building May 5. The topic was composting, but also covered were the how to set up urban farms and why these matter, and the ethical and practical bases of being green. Ken has best practices demonstration farms that also provide living wage employment and feed the needy and make money, in conjunction with major restaurants such as Frontera- especially the one at Division and Clybourne and one starting up in the Washington Park neighborhood. To learn more visit resourcenterchicago.org look for Urban Farm and City Farm and U-Tube cityfarm. PS, if you want to "bin compost" in your back yard, expect it to take a year to cook enough without a grinding machine. Do mix to the extent possible wet-green stuff (incl. yard waste and kitchen scraps) and dry-brown (leaves)- chop, grind and mix as much as possible, as one is a nitrogen-taker and the other a calcium-taker. Mix in sawdust or wood chips (but not too much as that is also a nitrogen taker).
Thanks, Ken!

JPAC gives a hearty thanks to “Hug Chicago”/Unites and the Convention & Tourism Bureau & other orgs volunteers who mulched, planted, and cleaned(!!) in Jackson Park April 26. And to all other volunteer groups and volunteers for regular, Earth Day, tree inventory, and specials.

The Lakefront Bike Trail

In 2012, Friends of the Parks, Active Transportation Alliance, and Chicago Area Runners Association began a study of the Lakefront Bike Trail. A preliminary survey was done, series of public meetings which reported and sought input were hosted by the conveners, including in Jackson Park fieldhouse, and an online survey conducted. At the meetings, people not only submitted comments but paced dots and comments on large maps setting forth problem locations and types, opportunities for improvements, and principles for the trail, its use, and interactions with other modes. The survey had 1,569 responses according to a preliminary report in Friends of the Parks Advocate. The trail is used weekly by over 75,000, including cyclists, runners walkers, and skateboarders, rollerbladers, dog walkers, and bird watchers. Bikers were the largest users, followed by running, and walking.

User's issues/solutions:
1. Separate spaces for walking, biking, running incl. soft surfaces, boardwalks
2. Reduce congestion and conflicts
3. Educate on safety and etiquette
4. Maintain including surface materials
5 & 6. Make bathroom and fountains etc. accessible including year round
7. Improve lighting and personal safety
8. Fill the gaps
9. Improve safety along the feeder streets
10. Reduce street/trail crossings.

Focus was on eliminating congestion, safety-etiquette, especially along conflict/crunch points
Friends has launched a "Share the Shore" etiquette campaign with GolinHarris, according to the Advocate.

There was strong support for widening the path and separating different uses; completing the Last Four Miles; introducing "adopt a path;"move concessions away from the Trail; enforce rules and ordinance including with police and bike ambassadors;, more signage, lighting, and police presence.

People form come park councils and organizations walked the trail and reported specific points of deterioration, hazard, or conflicts. The final report should be out at the end of 2012. GMO.

[There is concern about difficulty of access at various points such as obsolete overpasses on south Lakeshore Drive and Metra-- scheduled to be replaced, in parks, and at the new 31st harbor.]

Jackson Park was pleased to host Friends of the Lakefront Trail Visioning Workshop in April. Many ideas for improvements were marked by attendees. The event was sponsored by Active Transportation Alliance, Chicago Area Runners Association, and Friends of the Parks.

Chicago Sculpture International will be placing 20-30 sculptures from artists around the world at Promontory Point and Harold Washington Park - fall 2012 and for a year. This is really big, and there is a guiding committee from the South Side. Tours, school excursions, documentation, $1,500 sponsorships are among the possibilities. Info about the program is at http://chicagosculpture.wordpress.com. You can look for art sculptures in various locations in the park this summer.

JPAC and the Park District were able to arrange for repairs and new procedures for the cross country bike races.

JPAC leaders attended a Friends of the Parks PAC networking meeting with Park District officials to learn about the new electronic work order system and class registration.

JPAC now has a survey- take it on line in the new website, or find and print it here and return as therein, or call us about getting paper versions.

JPAC congratulates Michael Kelly on his appointment by Mayor Emanuel as permanent General Superintendent and CEO, confirmed with CPD board election, of Chicago Park District.
JPAC thanks retiring board Vice President and Commissioner Robert J. Pickens. Thanks, Bob, for all you have done for the parks.

JPAC EXPRESSES ITS DEEP THANKS IN PARTICULAR TO SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL KELLY AND SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR ALONZO WILLIAMS FOR THEIR HELP WITH THE SITUATION OF OVERWHELMING EVENTS AND GROUPS OF ROGUE PARK USERS (esp. particular bike groups). Thanks to their immediate attention, traffic and related were well attended and the children and parents safe Saturday morning October 8. HOWEVER, IN SPRING OF 2012 MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE BY THE CROSS COUNTRY GROUP OF BIKERS. This is being attended to by the CPD and JPAC.
We also congratulate Mr. Kelly on his appointment as permanent General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District.

JPAC HAD A WONDERFUL BIKE CLINIC, WITH MUCH MORE, OCTOBER 15- OUR FIRST WORKSHOP Also that day we had a fine workday with some new activities such as seed collecting by the Lab School in Bobolink Meadow, and dedication by Mayor Emanuel of our new track and field on Stony Island.
This was followed three weeks later by a well attended WEATHERIZATION clinic and FEB. 18 by a SMALL TOOL SHARPENING. Next expected is on composting and gardening April 28 afternoon.

Nature/Nature Areas news.

In the 3rd week of June, 2012 c20,000 plugs of native flowers and grasses (wet, dry, and savannah species) were planted in the Wooded Island (Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary) portion formerly know as the Rose Garden, which is now being called the Prairie by the Park District, although its designation has been a Bird and Butterfly Garden Nature Area. Preliminary work included removal of dead wood and invasive species to make way for the understory plugs.

Both the Island and Bobolink Meadow are coming into prime condition thanks to the volunteer groups and the PD and its contractor Pizzo. There is a new sign in Bobolink, clearing done and planting underway after a prescribed burn in mid March 2012.
The tree inventory was completed and put into GIS in Bobolink and the larger one is underway in the Island- next dates are March 27, April 7 and 21, 9 am- meet at Darrow Bridge.
And workdays are underway- 2nd Saturdays 9-noon in Bobolink (meet in south meadow) and 4th Saturdays 9-noon in Wooded Island-meet at Bobolink.

Sadly, beaver damage has continued, with the worst in Osaka Garden (but not yet to the newly replaced cherry trees) and now in the west lagoon. Some more effective, larger metal tree wrapping was installed.

Jackson Park is abuzz with activities... to be updated

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MSI completes facade restorations (come to the Dec. 12 meeting to find out what's next.)

Herald, December 7, 2011

The Museum of Science and Industry recently completed a critical masonry restoration project on its historic 1893 building with the help of a $400,000 grant from the Department of Interior; the National Park Service, through the Save America's Treasures (AAT) grant program [and] from President Barack Obama's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. "We are very grateful for this generous SAT grant, which has helped the Museum to continue the good stewardship of its beautiful and historic building," said Ed McDonald, the museum's director of facilities.

The museum was the only organization in Illinois, and one of 41 across the country, to receive an SAT grant in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. With these grant funds, which totaled $9.5 million, organizations and agencies are able to preserve the structures, places, documents, artistic works and artifacts that are deemed of significance to the nation.

The Museum of Science and Industry's building is the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 Worlds' Columbian Exposition. It is the only building left standing from the fairs' "White City" and is included within the Jackson Park and Midway Plaisance Historic Landmark District.

Protecting it for the enrichment of future generations is a top priority for the Museum, and MSI matched the grant funds to make the necessary repairs to the building's exterior masonry, which had suffered from deterioration due to Chicago's extreme weather. The areas of the museum's highly decorative East and West Pavilions that were most exposed and had been the most affected include the carved limestone, cast stone and terra cotta elements at the East and West Pavilion dome drums and the marble panels replicated from the Parthenon in Athens.

Phoenixes from Columbian Exposition find safe, viewable nests at last

Phoenixes from Columbian Exposition on view again
by Gary Ossewaarde. Revised from a similar article by Mr. Ossewaarde was first published with the September JPAC Newsletter. A shorter version was published in the Fall Park Advocate of Friends of the Parks.

The Art Institute of Chicago’s Asian Galleries have become a fitting home for four carved and painted wooden panels that once were the highlight of Japan’s exhibit at the Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Hoh-o-den, in the north end of Jackson Park’s Wooded Island, just to the west of the modern Osaka Japanese Garden. After careful restoration, the panels are mounted on permanent view above display cases and the entry to a special contemplative room within the Japanese and Asian Galleries of the Weston Wing, Michigan Avenue first floor.

The panels (ramma), each of two planks, were deeply and elaborately carved and heavily painted and applied with gold leaf, as was commonly done to add brightness in Japanese temples etc. The two mythical birds on each panel, depicted as a cross between pheasant and peacock, are sharp-beaked. On one both phoenixes have open mouths, on two one’s mouth is open and the other closed (oppositely), and the final has both with closed mouth-- showing perhaps dichotomy and complement, yin and yang. Phoenixes are said to mate for life and live in pines and paulownia (a blue-flowered plant).

Phoenixes are said to appear in the realm when there is a great ruler. Since the Columbian Exposition followed Japan’s Meiji Restoration (opening up, modernization, and strong central government), the phoenix may have been considered an especially appropriate emblem to copy from old buildings and display. Japan was especially eager to show its culture, wares, modernization and strength to the world by donating pavilions and reproductions of temples and tea houses at international expositions. The Phoenix Hall was a highlight of Chicago’s Fair, set apart on the Island that was intended in part to serve as a respite and elaborate garden. (The Tea House was opposite, on the mainland.) The Phoenix Hall (Hoh-o-den) was the first Japanese-style building in the U.S. and is said to have been modeled on the 11th century Byodo-in temple of Uji near Osaka. Skilled craftsmen were sent from Japan and lived during construction in a small village in the south part of Wooded Island. The phoenix panels were made by master sculptor Takamura Kuon (1852-1934). The Phoenix Hall made a special impression on Frank Lloyd Wright, who called special attention to it as, among other things, an “unmasked” structure revealing what can be done with fine craftsmanship and everyday materials, with interconnecting corridors and a holistic flow, in contrast to what he considered the reversion and stilted froth of most of the White City. Others recognized its importance—Harper’s printed the plan and had a reporter chronicle construction.

The 1893 Ho-o-Den (Phoenix "Temple") consisted of three structures joined by covered walkway and suggests the shape of the phoenix bird, which it did resemble from ground level. The beams and joinery were part of the beauty and ornament. Inside were artifacts and treasures from three periods of Japanese history-scrolls, vases, decorative screens, writing materials, and musical instruments. A major feature was the lanterns-- both the elaborate stone ones and the paper lanterns at ceiling level. The elements and art were designed and crafted in Japan and brought over by steamer and train, along with carpenters, stone workers and gardeners. The construction itself was an activity that drew many visitors. A reporter wrote, "They move about serenely as if it were a pleasure to work."

After the Fair, the temple and its panels were given to Chicago by the Japanese government. They suffered gradual neglect, and in 1935 the remaining structure was made a tea house serving food and beverages. A succession of fires occurred in the mid 1940s and destroyed the structure and severely damaged the panels, which were placed in storage by Chicago Park District- under the bleachers of Soldier Field. About 1973, they were found- two were sent to the Art Institute of Chicago and two were displayed in a hallway at the new University of Illinois at Chicago (“Circle Campus”).

Eventually UIC realized money for restoration was unlikely. Now-emeritus UIC professor David Sokol started to look for a new home, first choice being the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2005 he got an enthusiastic “yes” by Janice Katz, Associate Curator of Japanese Art at the Art Institute. The vision was to reunite, restore, and permanently display the panels when the Asian galleries were renovated. The panels were donated in 2008, gallery renovation begun, and in 2010 the panels were sent to be restored by Litas Liparini Studio in Evanston. Restoration was very complex. Soot had to be removed without creating damage, beaks re-carved in linden, based on clay molds, lost areas built up with gesso, and pigment built up over gesso and micaceous replacement for gold applied so as to match present looks and make the panels look “gracefully aged” rather than new. The panels were installed August 1 and 2 of 2011 and are now on permanent view beside other arts and crafts of Japan, sacred and secular, as in the 1893 original installation. Today you can also visit, on Jackson Park’s Wooded Island, Osaka Japanese Garden and Toro gate, tea house, real and replica 1893 stone lanterns and other objects. All are carefully tended by members of Friends of the Japanese Garden and excellent contract firms.

How the Phoenix Hall fit into the big picture of historicism, modernism, and the emergence of modern times.

"Columbian Exposition relics now restored". Hyde Park Herald, August 17, 2011. By Sam Cholke

The only surviving relics of a landmark Hyde Park building, which was reportedly the inspiration for Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style of architecture, are on display for the first time since 1945.

Earlier this month, the Art Institute of Chicago unveiled four carved wooden panels from Phoenix Hall, part of the Japanese pavilion of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The temple was the first Japanese-style building ever constructed in the United States.

Built during a period when Japan was eager to assert its rising influence in the world, the nation's leading architects and craftsmen were recruited to design and build a version of 1th-century Byodo-in Temple of Uji, just outside Kyoto, on Wooded Island for the fair.

Of all the buildings built during the fair, the temple caused the biggest stir in the architectural community-- Harper's magazine printed floor plans of the temple and sent a reporter to witness construction. The temple was one of the few diversions from the then-popular Beaux-Arts style that dominated the fair.

"I had just opened my office in the Schiller Building, 1893, when came disaster, Chicago's first Worlds' Fair," Wright spoke of his experience at the exposition. "The fair soon appeared to me more than ever tragic travesty: florid countenance of theoretical Beaux-Arts formalisms; perversions of what modern building we then had achieved.. A senseless reversion."

Wright, who would go on to design the Robie House at 5757 S. Woodlawn Ave., split from mentor Louis Sullivan shortly before the fair and was searching for a new style to define his practice. The temple "demonstrated that a building could be unmasked and beautiful, human in scale and appealing, that good workmanship showed to better advantage on the actualized building than on the drawing board, and that architecture--real architecture--need make no apologies for its use of simple, everyday materials," Wright said of the building, according to "The Japanese Influence in America."

After the fair, Hyde Park laid claim to the catalyst for modern architecture until it was set on fire in 1945 and 1946 during the tense years of World War II.* The only relics to survive the fire were four panels by master sculptor Takamura Koun depicting the phoenix and other imagery.

Despite surviving the fire, the panels went missing for 27 years. According to Julia Bachrach, a Chicago Park District historian who is researching the history of the panels, a park district engineer supposedly rediscovered the panels in a storage space under the bleachers of Soldier Field in 1973.

The panels were then split between the Art Institute and the University of Illinois-Chicago until 2008, when the Art Institute acquired the remaining panels. The Art Institute spent the last year restoring the panels. Litas Liparini Studio of Evanston was hired to do structural stabilization, cleaning, pigment consolidation, toning and re-carving of many elements, such as the birds' heads.

The panels are now on permanent view in gallery 108 in the new Weston Wing at the Art Institute, together again for the first time since 1945.

*Experts have differing opinions on whether the fires had any connection to the War.

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The suggested dues levels have been raised to $25 individuals and $35 organizations -- see our 2011 letter as to why. However, both dues and the amounts are "suggested" and are not required for participation or voting. We are considering modifying the schedule to include seniors, students, businesses, and more.

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(discontinued announcements)

New artificial surface playing field built in Jackson in May 2011. More in artificial surface page.

2010 fall JPAC and the community were apprised of the possibility and donations for the "Take the Field" initiative of Allstate, the Sacks and Finnegan families, and Chicago Fire (one field each), Bears Care (2 fields each) with Chicago Park District and with a $5 million match from the Pritzker Foundation. Community meetings to determine desire and need and location were held for candidate parks at or near each park. The community and JPAC announced enthusiastic support, with location provisionally set for the track area along Stony Island between 61st and 62nd. CPD announced in the winner that Jackson was one of the selected parks, and a committee of stakeholders and residents was set up, chaired by Ram Nair. Work on a restoration and enhancement project that was undertaken earlier. Final plan was not available yet. The citywide project and its donors were announced in a release May 11, 2011 and reported in the Tribune May 12:

From the June 2011 JPAC Newsletter:

Chicago Park District announced a partnership with the Traubert-Pritzker Family Foundation, Bears Care, Chicago Fire, and others to build several ARTIFICIAL SURFACE FIELDS in parks including 1 in Jackson (this year). Use will be free during ample hours daytime and weekend; fees are expected for leagues. A big user will be park and school teams. Advertised, well attended public meetings were held, JPAC gave its support, a planning and oversight committee has been formed. Persons wishing to join this committee may contact Supervisor Tillis at 773 256-0903.

Tribune, May 12, 2011, Eric Mayer:

Donors pledge to build 10 artificial-turf fields. A Chicago Bears charity and the Chicago Fire are among those teaming up with the new president of the city's parks board to build 10 artificial-turf fields.

The "Take the Field" initiative promised to contribute up to $10 million for the design and construction of the sorts fields in some of the city's most underserved communities. Park Board President Bryan Traubert said Allstate, the Sacks and Finnegan families and the Chicago Fire agreed to sponsor one new field each. Bears Care will sponsor two.

Traubert, who with his wife, Penny Pritzker, runs the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation, went to work on a project he and his wife had envisioned for Chicago years earlier. the foundation will match up to $5 million to pay for the artificial-turf fields, and th e Chicago Park District expects to spend an additional $2 million in public funds.

La Follette, Humboldt, Garfield, Cornell Square, jackson and Pasteur parks will be home to the first six fields, set for completion before the end of the year. The new facilities will be free of charge and open to community groups between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday an Sunday. The Park district is considering fees for sports clubs and leagues in order to pay for maintenance of the facilities.

For full background and updates see artificial field page.

__________________________________

Who is President Louise McCurry and what is her agenda?

Besides being a health care provider in schools, Louise is/has been:

•Member JPAC for approx. 15 years
•Avid hiker, biker, dog walker, kite flyer, past docent for the Notebaert Nature Academy and Field Museum
•Raised her children in HP
•Picks up trash and fills holes in JP
•In park several times a day and loves it.
•For past 20 years, in charge of the American Youth Soccer Organization in Hyde Park.
•Our most precious natural resource, our children

PLANS FOR JPAC
•Our strength lies in our families and groups who use the Park
•Wants each group to choose a member to represent them in JPAC
•Must broaden base of volunteers
•Need committee to look at work of other PACs
•JPAC has many brilliant but inactive members expert in trees, birds, water conservation, child development, music in the parks, park history, etc. Let's get those people INVOLVED in working out volunteer programs and projects to improve the Park.
•The new web site for JPAC is important for communicating the work of JPAC, disseminating timely info about upcoming events. We want the website should be interactive, used by our friends.
•JPAC can be an important community resource where programs are carefully planned and speakers are invited to educate us.
•People should leave each meeting saying "I learned something I can really use. We should have coffee, tea, and healthy snacks at each meeting. People are more friendly when they break bread together.
•We are an amazing community resource, full of some of the brightest and most dedicated people on the South Side. I think together, we at JPAC can make a difference in how people enjoy and relate to Jackson Park.

This is adjusted from her position paper of November's (2010) JPAC meeting

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JPAC thinks parks are (generally) for the dogs.

(Note- the following Hyde Park Herald May 3, 2011 gives a wrong date for the Dog Park Committee and community meetings. The most recent meeting was on Monday, May 2, which was major. Come to the regular council meeting May 9 7:30 in the fieldhouse. Next will be announced. The article is therefore adjusted. The site is an abandoned court near 59h Marina.)t

The Jackson Park Advisory Council will hold a community meeting to discuss creating an off-leash dog park. "We are exploring the possibility of opening a dog park," said Louise McCurry, president of JPAC. "Dogs need 30 minutes to one hour of exercise each day."

For several years Hyde Park dog owner have advocated for off-leash dog parks. Most recently, the Hyde Park Bark Alliance, a group of about 20 resident dog owners, hosted a "Halloween Paws Parade" in 2009 and again in 2010 to raise awareness for the need for a dog park in the neighborhood. The group, which held a parade at 51st and hyde Park Boulevard in Harold Washington Park, could not get former Ald. Toni Preckwinkle's support in making that area of the park an off-leash area.

[Under discussion at the Jackson Park meetings:] community support of the park, the location of the park and fundraising efforts...

Dog Park (Jackson Bark) going full blast (see meetings in calendar)

Louise McCurry (JPAC President and lead of the Jackson Bark) writes May 28, 2011

There is enormous interest in creating a Dog Park in Jackson Park. Of those petitions that have been turned in already, more that 700 people have expressed their enthusiastic support. Many of those who signed the petition and attended the previous meetings, have pledged to join the Dog Park Committee and act as Dog Park Stewards, which are important steps in successfully creating and maintaining a dog park in accordance with the Chicago Park District Dog Friendly Areas Permit Plan (http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/resources/dog_friendly_areas/) as required by the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control Ordinance (http://www.cookcountygov.com/portal/server.pt/community/animal_rabies_control/247). Additional Committee members and Stewards are needed.

The Jackson Park Advisory Council (JPAC) is spearheading this effort, but it cannot do this alone. Your efforts and involvement with JPAC are vital to its success. Many dog park enthusiasts in the community have attended the monthly JPAC meeting to express their support, volunteer, offer suggestions and obtain information. JPAC encourages all interested to do so as well.
At the upcoming DOG PARK MEETING, Tuesday, May 31. 2011 from 6:30pm - 7:30pm, (at the proposed dog park site) participants will turn in additional petitions, elect the Dog Park Committee Officers, approve the Jackson Park Dog Park Operating Plan and discuss fundraising efforts. Please bring your ideas for planning, funding, designing and operating Jackson Park Dog Park to the meeting.

Sports corner

About the Jackson Park Urban Farm and Community Allotment Garden

From the site http://www.growingpower.org/Chicago_projects.htm. The Jackson Park Urban Farm and Community Allotment Garden
Established 2007

Located in Jackson Park at the intersection of S. Cornell Drive & E. Marquette Drive, Chicago, IL 60649.

In collaboration with the Chicago Park District, Growing Power manages the Jackson Park Urban Farm and Community Allotment Garden in Chicago. This half-acre site is used as a community garden for local gardeners and as a model-urban farm for Growing Power to supply fresh-produce to Chicago’s south side. At the farm, community members learn gardening basics from Growing Power’s staff and have the opportunity to farm their own plot.

The Jackson Park Urban Farm includes space for Growing Power to grow produce in raised beds, training and education of community residents who use allotment plots, youth development, community outreach through education programs and the availability of locally grown fresh, safe and healthy food that exceeds certified organic standards.

The growing beds use Growing Power’s Living Biological Worm System approach and is an active learning tool to teach youth and adults the importance of closed-loop systems and how to grow food in urban soil which is often depleted or contaminated. Learning how to compost using both aerobic and anaerobic digestion methods and the production of valuable vermicompost and compost tea is stressed and part of the hands-on training and demonstration both with gardeners and our youth.

Interested in gardening at Jackson Park? Please email Laurell Sims at laurell@growingpower.org or call 773.376.8882.

Youth Program:
Teens work after school and during the summer at all of our urban farm sites in Chicago. In 2010, through our partnership with After School Matters and the Chicago Housing Authority, Growing Power Chicago provided 140 teens the opportunity to get their hands dirty working at active, thriving neighborhood farms. For detailed information regarding our youth program, please click here.

Food Policy:
The Chicago team is actively engaged in policy related work when is comes to urban farming and food security. The Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council (CFPAC) facilitates the development of responsible policies that improve access for Chicago residents to culturally appropriate, nutritionally sound, and affordable food that is grown through environmentally sustainable practices. The CFPAC is a network of organizations and individuals sharing their experiences and concerns about food security in the Chicago region in order to influence policy makers to make informed decisions motivated by the goals of community food security. Erika Allen, our Chicago Projects Manager, is the president of the council and Growing Power staff provides technical support.

The Growing Food and Justice for All Initiative (GFJI) is an initiative aimed at dismantling racism and empowering low-income and communities of color through sustainable and local agriculture. This comprehensive network views dismantling racism as a core principal which brings together social change agents from diverse sectors working to bring about new, healthy and sustainable food systems and supporting and building multicultural leadership in impoverished communities throughout the world.

Market Basket Program:
In Chicago, we have 14 active market basket sites. At these sites, neighbors can pick-up fresh produce and share in our farmers bounty. Different from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program, our Market Basket offers a variety of produce, from local farmers and from small scale wholesalers to create a one-stop produce pick-up. Click here to learn more or sign-up for our Market Basket program.

Farmers Markets:
From May through December, you can get your fresh produce at one of our local markets in Chicagoland. Click here for exact street locations for our markets. The following is a list of markets when you can get your delicious greens and hardy vegetables:

61st Street Farmers' Market in Woodlawn on Saturdays;
Chicago Lights Urban Farm in River North on Saturdays;
Englewood Farmers' Market on Thursdays;
Green City Market in Lincoln Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays;
Iron Street Urban Farm in Bridgeport on Saturdays.
To find out restaurants and small grocery stores who sell our goods, please click here.

Note: As there is a waiting list, JPAC is in discussion with another organization about creating a different, additional garden with employment possibilities.

ENDANGERED AND THREATENED BIRDS THAT HAVE BEEN SPOTTED IN JACKSON PARK OR HYDE PARK

Appreciation to Jean Strable of Chicago Audubon. 2011

Black-crowned night heron: Endangered in Illinois. A regular visitor to the Wooded Island. They nest in Lincoln Park and in the Lake Calumet area and regularly come to roost and feed in the lagoons and habitat of the Wooded Island.
Yellow-crowned night heron: Endangered in Illinois. Not as common as the black-crowned night heron, but they do visit Jackson Park occasionally.
Peregrine Falcon: Threatened in Illinois. Hyde Park is home to at least one, possibly two pair of Peregrine Falcons. They primarily live on and around the University of Chicago campus but we have seen them at the Wooded Island.
Black-Billed Cuckoo: Threatened in Illinois. A regular visitor to the Wooded Island.
Piping Plover: Federally Endangered. A rare visitor to the beaches of Jackson Park, but there have been recent reports of piping plovers at Montrose beach.
Least Bittern: Threatened in Illinois. Rare in Jackson Park, but a least bittern spent several weeks in Lincoln Park this summer.

Next events, exhibits, Advisory Council meetings

Normally in the fieldhouse, 6401 S. Stony Island, 7:30 pm 2nd Monday except day after in October. Gary Ossewaarde (or hpkcc@aol.com) , 773 947-9541 with questions or to place your agenda item; Gary to receive the JPAC Newsletter. To Recent meeting minutes and resolutions.

Next council meeting June 10, Monday- 7:30 pm. At the fieldhouse, 6401 S. Stony Island Avenue.
Fieldhouse, 6401 S. Stony Island. Inter alia continue the conversation on CPkD-ACE on restoration, historic, and nature plans. Be thinking of vistas and beautiful or historic features in the park you especially love or think could be restored or improved.

Workdays- June 8, 9 am-12 pm. Bobolink (meet in the Meadow), May 25 10-1 Wooded Island (Meet at Darrow Bridge)

Workshops-

June 22, Saturday, details tba. Worm and other composting workshop led by Madiem Kawa.

COMMITTEES

Fundraising and Development- contact Louise.
Sports and Fields. Chair is Aaron Stephens
Dog Friendly/Exercise Park, Jackson Bark. Louise McCurry.
(visit http://www.jacksonparkadvisorycouncil.org/the-dog-park---jackson-bark.htm. See also in the Jackson and Dogs page in this site.)-
Safety Security. Next 6:45 ahead of the Sept. 10 council meeting
Nature. Stewards (see next), Trails and Nature Programs- Fran Vandervoort. and under Fundraising and program for now. Signage-memb. for now by appointment

VOLUNTEER WORKDAY SCHEDULE. Work is under Chicago Park District vol. coordinator Jason Steger.

BOBOLINK WORKDAY 2nd Saturdays 9-noon June 8. NEW WEBSITE: http://bluestem.info/bobolink/. Info and let-us-know: parrybell@ameritech.net.

WOODED ISLAND REGULARLY IS 4TH SATURDAY 10-1 or 2. Meet at Darrow bridge. May 25
Check with Jerry and give him your email for announcements. Jerry Levy- sjlevy@jeromelevylaw.com.
Join Jackson Park Advisory Council under Chicago Park District supervision in restoring and maintaining a healthy habitat. 4th Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., meeting at the Darrow Bridge south of Museum of Science and Industry pond. Activities will be specified about a week before each workday. Please contact Jerry Levy to be placed on the information list and confirm you are coming : sjlevy@jeromelevylaw.com. Parking at $1 per hour is available east of the Darrow Bridge- exit S. Lake Shore Drive at 5800 (Science Drive).
Jerry writes re: May 25: This Saturday, May, 25th will be a workday on Wooded Island. We will meet at the Darrow Memorial Bridge at 10:00 and proceed to a few areas on the Island where we will be removing invasive weeds, probably mostly Garlic Mustard plants. The weather report looks like we’ll have an ideal day. The Redbuds, Crab trees, Honeysuckle, Hawthorn trees wild cherry and plums are all blooming and the show is spectacular. The birders are coming over to Wooded Island in droves, every day because this is the best of the migratory season so we’ll be well serenaded. I’ll have plenty of gloves and we’ll just be hand removing the invasives. Hope to see you. Jerry Levy

LA RABIDA HOSPITAL/PROMONTORY CIRCLE: early afternoons Saturdays about or after 1 pm, and other days as long as the weather will allow. Mainly along the harbor shores on Promontory (LaRabida) peninsula, but others also. Check with Louise, 773 844-2225, commissioner751@comcast.net.

Youth and corporate groups frequently come to work in the park-- contact Louise as to how you can become a volunteer team leader or otherwise help: 773 844-2225, commissioner751@comcast.net

OTHER MEETINGS AND EVENTS AND APPEALS

WALKS to OVERNIGHTERS to SPORTS:

(done)

5th Ward Participatory budgeting - learn about how you can become a community representative in developing capital projects: http://www.participatorybudgetingchicago.org.

Birders. The birders , with experts from Chicago Audubon, Wednesdays at 7 am (7:15 in winter) to their Saturday 8 am rounds. Meet at Darrow Bridge south of the MSI pond. Other days including Sunday mornings you may find other groups touring Wooded Island and Osaka Garden. Jerry Levy also has done tours by special arrangement. BIRD WALKING NOW GOES YEAR-ROUND.

Sunrise Walks: Organized by Jane Masterson and Pass It On Chicago (http://www.passitonchicago.org). Day of the Full Moon monthly. 773 913-2030x4 for info. Time changes through the seasons- March 8 5:40 am. Meet by 58th Drive and Lake Shore Drive.

Sunset Walks: Organized by Jane Masterson and Pass It On Chicago (http://www.passitonchicago.org). Day of the New Moon monthly. 773 913-2030x4 for info. Time changes through the seasons. Visit the cited website for continuing walks and events.

Park District Board meetings- 2nd Wednesdays 4 pm (April 10) 541 N. Fairbanks 8th Fl. (Register online to speak at PD website from Friday-Tuesday 5 pm preceding or in person by 3:30 day of.) That May 9 is at Haas Prk , 2401 N. Washtenaw. http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

The golf course is open, Osaka Japanese Garden in bloom, soon boats will be coming back into the harbors, the sports fields will be full of teams, and in late May croquet and lawn bowling will be starting up. For contacts to outside-registration /participation in programs, call the fieldhouse, 773 256-0903. Contact for Croquet: tolaughlin@hotmail.com, Lawn Bowling bigguylor@comcast.net.

To April 2011 review of list of newly planted trees in Wooded Island. To pic of Aug. 27 2011 beach sweep.

STILL OTHER EVENTS

Lawn Bowling and Croquet are at the Bowling Green, which is southeast of the Museum east parking lot/ Lake Shore Drive entry at 5800. Go left past the 59th Harbor entrance to the Bowling Green driveway. Contact Tom Michael at 708-366-8228. Be sure to wear flat shoes. Starting late May/early June

Lawn bowling Sundays

There are many private lessons available in various sports in Jackson Park. One in golf for ladies is that of Robin Aikens, LPGA pro. http://www.chicagolandgolfacademy.uschedule.com keyword the trainer, such as Robin Aikens.

Youth track club to train in Jackson Park. The Chicago Track Club, part of World Sports Chicago Summer Program, again is training kids 5-14 through August at the Take the Field track at 62nd and Stony Island. (Some kids and adults outside that age group may also quality. The teams compete around the city and meet Olympic athletes. Free. Workouts are Mondays and Wednesdays 5-7 p.m. Info: chicagotrackclub.com or 312-243-3335.

Chicago Marathon training is also available in the park from Chicago Area Runners Association. Generally it will take place in/from the LaRabida parking lot starting June 9. For information visit http://www.cararuns.org.

Project Exploration. 950 E. 61st St. 773 834-7614, fax 663 8334-7625. Science based teaching under among others Paul Sereno, the dinosaur man, and his wife Gabriel Lyons. Not sure if structured during after school hours. http://www.projectexploration.org.
Be sure to pick up or access via http://www.projectexploration.org /dys.htm their large database of over 150 local and nationwide opportunities, Discover Your Summer. Includes how to prepare applications, interviews.
Project Exploration is a nonprofit science education organization that makes science accessible to the public--especially minority youth and girls--through personalized experiences with science and scientists. Co-founded in 1999 by paleontologist Paul Sereno and educator Gabrielle Lyon, PE specifically works to create opportunities for meaningful interactions between scientists and the public--especially populations least likely to have direct access to science. It works to equip minority youth and girls with the inspiration and tools to transform their lives...to interact with scientists and to have hands-on experiences...to support lifelong learning, equal access to opportunity, and scientific literacy.
It does: youth development programs, services for schools and teachers, and public programs such as exhibits and online initiatives. Every year nearly 200...ages 12-17, academically low and middle achievers, low income. Over 5 years 92% graduated from high school, 57% enrolled in a four-year college a third of whom are majoring in science.
Summer 2012- Environmental Adventurers- study differing groups of bees in Jackson Park with specialist scientists. Project Exploration, a nonprofit science education organization, will be providing a free summer science program to CPS minority students in grades 7-12 in Jackson Park at the end of this month. Attached is a description of the program, called Environmental Adventurers. The students will be conducting fieldwork on native bees alongside two bee ecologists from Northwestern University at Jackson Park during the week. Practice scientific field work. Selection was made May 31, but check anyway- Jameela Jafri, 773 834-3579. Runs July 30-August 3.

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Picture of the August 27 2011 Beach Sweep crew

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Installed in the Art Institute of Chicago are the remaining carved panels from the Wooded Island Phoenix Temple from the Columbian Exposition. The pieces were found in 1973 under the bleachers of Soldier field and subsequently dispersed to the Art Institute and University of Illinois Chicago. OPEN. Details in the September 2011 JPAC Newsletter. Or click here.

Recent meeting minutes are now up in the Minutes and Resolutions page.
Note- the October meeting is always on the following Tuesday (day after 2nd Monday) due to Columbus day-fieldhouse closed.

View current and proposed (annotated) revised bylaws.
New Advisory Council Standards Proposed.

Birding tours of Wooded Island and adjacent (although without) Doug Anderson. Wednesdays at 7, Saturdays at 8 am. Meet at Darrow Bridge south of the Museum Columbia Basin. 773 493-7058. Through New Years, then resume in late March.

Volunteer Workdays-

Rationale and purpose for Wooded Island habitat restoration - see in Wooded Island habitat and prospects page. Note- an all-parties meeting was held that looks forward to a good management plan for Wooded Island. See reports there. A plan was adopted at a broad meeting of stakeholders in September 2009.

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Bird tours

Bird walks (begun and led for c. 30 years by Doug Anderson) have taken place for over 30 years. Saturdays, 8 am mid March-New Years. And they continue thanks to the folks from Chicago Audubon etc. Weds. at 7 (bit later in winter), Sats. at 8. The meeting place has been the Darrow Bridge west of the Music Court lot and south of the Museum and Columbia Basin. (By car, enter from LSD at Science Drive 5800 and continue left parking area. The Darrow bridge is ahead.) The tour will make a circuit from Clarence Darrow Bridge through Wooded Island (Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary) or, if conditions and time permit, continues around the south end of the lagoons and through Bob-o-link Meadow and woods to point of origin. Bring a field guide and binoculars if you can.

Above is a small sample of what you will see on the tours, the fabulous, refurbished Osaka Japanese Garden.

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Brief reports from recent meetings

deleted for timeliness

Who, Where?

Visit Contact Information/Membership. Visit Who We Are.

Park staff and information

Jackson Park represents a portion of Frederick Law Olmsted's original South Park, designed in 18761. The park went on to become the site of the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. With over 600 acres of parkland, Jackson Park consists of six interrelated zones:

The Jackson Park lakefront zone
The Museum of Science and Industry zone (a leased footprint)
The Natural Area zone: Wooded Island (Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary) including Osaka Japanese Garden, the Jackson Park Lagoons, and Bob-o-link Meadow
The field house/recreation zone including various blocks of playing fields and courts
The Jackson Park Golf Course and Driving Range
and La Rabida Children's Hospital (also a leased footprint).

Jackson park provides a continuum of recreational and leisure experiences. From boating to fishing, golf to soccer, field house to beach house, the range of recreational choices found at Jackson Park is unparalleled in Chicago.

Jackson Park is located on Chicago's mid South Lakefront between 5600 and 6700 between Stony Island Avenue (1600 east) and Lake Michigan. Principal arterial is South Lake Shore Drive; the cross-road is Hayes Drive at 6300 although Marquette Drive goes through the park just north of 67th. Stony Island Avenue on the west edge of the park connects to the Chicago Skyway to the south; 55th Street to the Dan Ryan expressway. Marquette at 6600 S.) Cornell Drive goes north-south through the west sid of the park between 67th and 57th Drive (the latter intersecting with the Drive).

The park is served by bus routes 6 (express to/from downtown-79th/South Shore; near-park stops: 56th-Hyde Park, Stony Island 57th to 67th, 67th to South Shore), 10 (Museums-seasonal, terminus north entrance to Museum of Science and Industry) 14 (express to/from downtown at Jeffery/67th stop), 15 (along Stony Island and 67th to Jeffery), 26 express (67th South Shore to Jeffery rush hour peak direction), 28 (Lake Park, Stony Island), X28 (express from Union Station via Lake Shore Drive and Lake Park in Hyde Park, south on Stony to 103rd), 55/X55 (to Green Line, Red Line and Midway Airport, terminus Museum of Science and Industry), 59, 63, 67, 170, 171, 173 and by Metra Electric (to downtown and the south suburbs). There are many bike trails through the park, including along the lake, but not many straight-through except Hayes and Marquette Drives, although a roundabout route over Darrow Bridge runs to the 59th St. underpass.

The park is shared with two important institutions: the Museum of Science and Industry (a Museum in the Parks) and La Rabida Children's Hospital. Our neighbors include the University of Chicago. To our immediate north is famed Promontory Point, to our south the South Shore Cultural Center. Other key structural destinations in addition to the field house at 6401 S. Stony Island are the 63rd Street Beach House with Interactive Play Fountain, the Bowling Green and clubhouse south of Science Drive/5800, the 18-hole Golf Course centered at the Partee Golf Clubhouse southwest of Hayes and Richards, and the Golf Driving Range north of Hayes Drive.

Other major features: Statue of the Republic at Hayes and Richards Drive, Wooded Island (Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary and Osaka Japanese Garden), Bob-o-link Meadow, Perennial Garden at Stony/Cornell and Midway Plaisance (59th), Columbia Basin and Clarence Darrow Bridge south of Museum of Science and Industry, Landmarked 63rd St. Bathing Pavilion with Schiff interactive garden, emerging new dune habitat, drumming circle, and to the north the re-set old granite paver beach,, 57th Beach, 59th Marina, 'Iowa' building at 56th and South Shore, Jackson Park Harbor, the many soccer and other fields, the running track at Stony and 61st, and really neat bridges. .

Park Headquarters is the Field House at 6401 South Stony Island Avenue, 60637. 773 256-0903. Park Supervisor Bill Tillis.

This is in turn directed by the Chicago Park District South Region, Manager Liz Millan, represented by Area Manager Cordell Hopkins. The region offices are at Tarkington Park, with the Area Manager at Washington Park.

Parks Security 312 747-2193. Director Kevin Ryan

Park Management

Park supervisor: Bill Tillis, 773 256-0903. Director for the South Region is Liz Millan, area Cordell Hopkins

Help maintain our park : If you see something that needs fixing in the park, contact JPAC or this site. Gary Ossewaarde or Ross Petersen at 773 975-1101. Hint: always bring a camera along- but don't put yourself in danger just to get "evidence." Be specific about where you see a problem and problem details. For example, all light poles have numbers. Staff monitor the park regularly, especially with Monday walk throughs. Call to arrange to meet the assigned staff on walk through to show problems.

Park Police, including if someone is parking on the grass: 312 747-2193 (number changed?), For emergency call 911. (In general 311 for park issues will only get you shunted to the park district, but you can try to use to get a paper trail started--ask for the complaint number so you can keep calling back.)

Be sure to support CAPS community policing. The park's beat is 3rd District 331, which meets 3rd Mondays at South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive.

See someone fly-dumping? Call 312 744-7672 with license number, description of vehicle, what's being dumped.

Also contact Rosalind Moore at Alderman Leslie Hairston's (5th) office 773 324-5555.

JPAC can always use volunteers on committees and projects--particularly Nature. And we welcome you at our meetings, also your photos, letters, queries, etc. Contact Ross Petersen at 773 975-1101 or about the latter two items Gary Ossewaarde, (hpkcc@aol.com may be faster), 773 947-9541.

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Happenings at the field house/kids programs, 6401 South Stony Island Avenue, 60637, 773 256-0903. For more: go to our Recreation Directory and Parks Directory, Chicago Park District website, 312 742-PLAY, or get the quarterly program flyer at park field houses. Register on line (limited spaces) or in person.

Summer track program starting in park

Jackson has sports camps in August! Ages 8-12 August 8-17 M-F 10-4 (supply own equipment).

TriMasters Trimasters and kids walk/race Saturday, in Julys, 7 am from 63rd St. Beach. Details 5th Ward Office, 773 324-5555.

Specials: open to all, and adults encouraged to come and observe even kid's programs.

Essay contests each January, February

Park no. for info: 773 256-0903

General: What's on in various quarters?

After School Park Kids. Now $80
Spring Break Camp $40
Teen Club Tuesdays 6-9- Free
Fitness Center (free Jan. 2-10 + cinchbag if reg. for Winter in that time). Various ages and subsets, ranging from free (if in the Seasonal Sports) or $5 per session to whole season -highest $45
Gymnastics Tumbling-Tuesdays, free
Piano (perm. needed)-$40 and $45
Basketball- Inner City (must be in afterschool program)free; Men's $150
Cheerleading- free
Seasonal sports- free; Soccer 3 on 3 free must be in afterschool; Volleyball free must be in afterschool

Adult conditioning programs in the new weight room!

About the Mayor Daley's Summer Track Program-look for it again in 2010.

If you are between the ages of 9 and 14 and want to have a fun and active time this summer, join Mayor Daley's Summer Track Program. Boys and Girls across Chicago are invited to participate in this free Summer program. No experience in track and field is necessary and all are invited to join a team and have fun training and running track. Through August 16, culminating in an Olympic style Track Meet featuring runners, jumpers, throwers.
Visit http://www.worldsportchicago.org to see a list of participating wards and contact details about the team nearest you. Questions? track@worldsportchicago.org or (312) 8612-4937.

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Recreational facilities and opportunities at Jackson Park

Visit Jackson Park's newly renovated Fitness Center. Purchase a $50 fitness pass today and receive unlimited visits during the quarter, Monday-Friday 9:30 am-9:30 pm. Saturday and Sunday 9:30 am-4:30 pm. Detailed schedule and prices. Per-session also available. Jackson Park Field house, 6401 S. Stony Island Ave. 773 256-0903.

Large sets of soccer and ball fields (many having schedules as they are used by schools, Youth Soccer, et al.) Has Junior Bears, other programs out of the field house.
Almost olympic sized modern running track between Stony and Cornell 61st to 62nd, with school-used football field in middle.
Tennis: lit concrete surface court c. 5900 S./ west of the Drive accessible from Science Drive (5800) south across the Music Court bridge then east. Soft surface but unlit courts in 6300 block of Stony Island north of the field house. Jackson is a Tennis Welcome Center- browse this page, tennis, re lessons, mixers, tournaments.
Jackson Park field house, 6401 Stony. Gym with popular basketball programs, some open to teens and adults but many requiring seasonal registration. Weight room and fitness center. Activity rooms. Kid and teen programs of wide range fill up fast.
63rd St. Beach house. Ancillaries in summer sometimes include windsurfing/ski jets and bike-carts rentals, concessions, Junior Lifeguard. Major beach on the mid-south lakefront. Max Schiff Interactive Play Fountain is a real treat. And there are the drummers, at the circle east of the pavilion parking lot or closer to the pavilion.
57th Beach and beach house with summer concession (no auto access)
Major bike and running trails
Bowling Green, used by Lakeside Lawn Bowling Association-contact Tom Michael (708 366 8228) or (312 684-8799) and Chicago Croquet Club-contact Dan Whalen, (773 269-2745).
Jackson Park Golf Course (18) hole-(312 747-2763) access course and Partee Club House south from Hayes Drive (6300) , the Golf Driving Range (312 747-2762) north from Hayes Drive past the soccer fields. Run by Kemper (find golf courses in phone book under Chicago Park District). See also below under special facilities for more information.
Jackson Park Harbor, 59th Marina. Run by Westrec. Have Jackson Park, Southern Shore, and Museum Shores yacht clubs. (find harbors in phone book under Chicago Park District; contact this website for yacht clubs if really needed; numbers work only seasonally except individual officers).
Partnership programs: Junior Bears, Tri-Masters

Outside providers of recreation in Jackson Park

Chicago Croquet Club plays at Jackson Park lawn bowling facility, south of 58th Science Drive west of Lake Shore Drive. Contact Dan Whalen, 773 269-2745 or call 312 943-9289. .

Golf

Sno-Gophers Ski Club and Indoors/Outdoors Golf. Training and outings for high schoolers at Jackson Park. www.sno-gophers.org. Jacqueline Beard. jib7732@ameritech.net . 773 978-0493.

A new company runs the 18-hole Jackson Park Golf Course, one of the first public courses west of the Appalachians. (312 747-2763) access course and Partee Club House south from Hayes Drive (6300) , the Golf Driving Range (312 747-2762) north from Hayes Drive past the soccer fields. Run by Kemper (find golf courses in phone book under Chicago Park District).

Jackson Park Golf Course. 18-hole Course. Partee Golf Clubhouse, 63rd and S. Lake Shore Drive, 312 747-2763

Jackson Park Golf Driving Range, 63rd and S. Lake Shore Drive, 312 747-2762.

Contact also Jackson Park Golf Association, 1718-20 E. 75th St., 60649, 773 493-8820 Note- moved or closed?

Lawn Bowling

Lakeside Lawn Bowling Club. Starts in May and goes well into fall. Lessons available. Regular play weekends and some weekday afternoons/evenings. Shares schedule with Croquet. Bowling green and clubhouse are south of 58th/Science Drive west of Lake Shore Drive. Open House Sunday June 12 2005.
Contact Tom Michael, 708 366-8228.

For something completely different.... Lakeshore Lawn Bowling Club Open House. Jackson Park south of Museum of Science and Industry east lot. Exit Lake Shore Drive at 58th (Science Drive). Wear flat shoes. Tom Michael at 708 366-8228, bigguylor@comcast.net. General bowling Tuesday nights at 7, Saturdays and Sundays at 1. Part of the weekend day is bowling, part croquet.

Croquet also has its own schedule at the Bowling Green.

Soccer:

Youth Soccer and adult leagues play in the large suite of fields north of Hayes Drive up to the Golf Driving Range.751 Commissioner Louise McCurry sits on JPAC's board. Concerns include maintaining good and safe traffic, parking, and pedestrian flow, good security, well-kept fields, and good relations with other park users.

Youth: Visit the local website, www.AYSO751.org. Hotline 773 324-KICK. Bring to registration birth certificate or passport, health insurance card, parent photo ID, parent volunteer enthusiasm!
1100 boys and girls aged 4 1/2 to 19 in the fastest growing aerobic team sport in the country.
AYSO: Safe, Fun, Fair:

Open registration, positive coaching, balanced teams divided by age and sex, everyone plays, good sportsmanship
$145 first child, $90 2nd (covers fees, uniforms, trophy, pictures, equipment, field fees)
Practices on Midway Plaisance after school
Games Saturday mornings in Jackson Park (north of Hayes Dr.)

AYSO Adult Amateur League. Registers and plays at Jackson Park noon Saturdays. $30

Youth Explorers- contact the 3rd District Police. Contact the Field house also for info on TriMasters youth triathlon and Big Buddies track plus, Junior Bears.

Tennis

Jackson Park is a Tennis Welcome Center. Adult Competitive Tournament Tennis Program at Jackson Park. 59th at Inlet Harbor is now Friday and Saturday mixers! By Bally's and Hyde Park Tennis with US/Midwest Tennis Association.

US Tennis Association has Tennis Welcome Centers--one is at Jackson Park field house. On line browsing and locator with contacts now available. It includes guides to lessons. There is also a toll free number, 1-866 686-3036 and e-mail. Robert Velasco. 773 991-0231.
Jackson Park, 6401 S. Stony Island Ave. 773 430-3336, field house 773 256-0903. itt@tmail.com. Two sets of courts- south of 63rd at Stony Island north of field house, at 59th south of the 59th Marina Inlet west of Lake Shore Drive.

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A busy "underutilized" park

Increasing activity in our “underused” park

If Jackson Park is underutilized, as some say, why are JPAC meetings and officers so busy facilitating, evaluating and monitoring new and ongoing programs? And more requests (some competing) for dedicated or shared spaces, times or structures will be coming. Some of these we will encourage; for others we will seek changes or in our advisory role will oppose.

Among programs and activities discussed in the current and recent issues of the Newsletter are:
· A school-led education and activity program centered on the footprint of the Haiti Pavilion at the 1893 Columbian Exposition,
· Drumming concerts east of the 63rd Bathing Pavilion parking lot, going ahead despite lack of a convenient seating facility,
· Planning for a commemorative structure recalling the Korean Pavilion at the Columbian Exposition,
· Nature Oasis programs, a Stollerathon, bike rides and races that close the Drive, a tennis tournament, and a big party on the Museum of Science and Industry lawn for the new U-505 exhibit.

This is besides a very busy 63rd Bathing Pavilion with its highly popular Schiff legacy interactive play fountain, vast numbers of adult and youth soccer players, players of tennis, basketball, baseball and softball, users of the new track, large numbers of picnickers, golfers, lawn bowling and croquet players, fishers, birders and other strollers in the natural and other parts of the park, families at the playgrounds, swimmers and sunbathers, bicyclists especially on the lakefront, boaters in our 3 harbors, school teams readying for fall sports, visitors to the Museum and La Rabida Hospital, not to mention the kids in Park District and sponsorship programs both in our overcrowded field house and out in the playing fields.

While some parts of the park are lightly used, some of our problems come from crowding. The lots along Hayes/63rd cannot handle all the cars at times and there is already as much ground given over to the auto as these parts of the park can tolerate. After all, having places people want to visit and use (including open land and nature preserve) is the highest and best use of park lands—and that’s why the city has recently given parks their own zoning designation and use-change review procedure. So stay tuned—better, involved—and do enjoy the Park.

One last word. We will do our part to push for facilities upgrades and guard against things that hurt the park or its usefulness. We ask that you exercise responsibility when in the park, whether with coals and flammables, litter, with your pets, getting proper permits for your group, or parking only in designated lots.
Gary Ossewaarde

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