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JPAC/Jackson Park News and Notable

news and advisories (See page on Frederick Douglass Monument- page and Columbian Expo.)

News Items, Advisories, of interest from JPAC and the park

Written by Gary Ossewaarde. Olympics

For more late news, see also the latest minutes in the Minutes and Resolutions page.

Douglass marker dedication happens May 15.

Good News: a particularly vicious criminal with mental health difficulties involved on Wooded Island has been re-apprehended.

Latest council actions-- more on these below

November 2009, JPAC contributed $2,400 toward the Care of Trees Wooded Island project and $300 for fiscal services and membership in Friends of the Park. Here is a letter sent to the Hyde Park Herald on the Care of Trees project and need for help in funding park programs: As in Hyde Park Herald, December 2, 2009.

The Jackson Park Advisory Council (JPAC) is pleased to announce that we have received a very generous gift of a service contract worth $10,000 from the firm, The Care of Trees. The work they are donating involves three projects on the Wooded Island. They are: 1. removing some, but not all, storm felled trees, most just north of Tallgrass Prairie, formerly the Rose Garden; 2. removing the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima ) thicket at the south end of the island; and 3.removing invasive plants north and west of Tallgrass Prairie. At present, conditions in these areas prevent adequate light from reaching the ground to allow the oak saplings to survive. These areas contain a pre-settlement, old growth oak savannah ecosystem, a rarity within the city limits. The Care of Trees has been helping our Advisory Council for many years, and employs not only knowledgeable arborists but also biologists, forest ecologists, and other experts. They have never hesitated to lend a hand and expertise when asked. We are very grateful for their generosity.

Also, JPAC is very concerned that enrollment in after-school Chicago Park District programs has fallen due both to the current economy and an increase in registration fees. We are asking those who are able to send tax deductible contributions to the Camp Kids Fund, c/o The Parkways Foundation, 541 N. Fairbanks, Chicago, Il, 60611. There must be park programs and opportunities for as many kids as possible.

JPAC approved the MSI west lot project with proviso that a monitoring device be installed and as little go into the lagoons as possible. More below

JPAC praised ACE for its desire to created new sports facilities but asked that ACE join us in seeking a new or addition to the present field house with programs by or supervised by the Park District, and opposes new non park district structures in the park.

Alderman Hairston has made an arrangement to use some of her aldermanic menu money to compensate the Chicago Park District for blocking pay and display for 100 parking spots at the 63rd St. Beach this year between July 1 and Sept. 7 (when the beach closes). However, the remaining spots will have the $1 per hour? charge starting July 1.

Wooded Island Management Plan

Wooded Island Management Plan. From the editor, Gary Ossewaarde:
Several letters have recently appeared in media concerning Wooded Island natural area restoration activities. Phased selective removals and replacements are under way over several years in accord with a plan approved by the Chicago Park District, scientific experts and stakeholders in the Wooded Island Working Group. Proposed templates and work was vetted in walk throughs and at Jackson Park Advisory Council meetings. The park district and carefully instructed volunteers have carried out the work, intended to remove specific plants that discourage other plants and a diverse, hence resilient, habitat for a diverse fauna, or threaten historic oak savanna, and to selectively plant diverse, habitat-specific native plants. This natural area is gradually being restored and enhanced, as evidenced in areas improved in earlier phases including the “Rose Garden” in the center-south of the Island. The next walk through is Oct. 14 10-12 from Darrow Bridge. JPAC praises and thanks the many volunteers and organizations who lend time, hands and support.

A new dune and natural area has been proposed and started at 63rd beach, given OK by JPAC.

The rehabilitation and new features were from a federal grant matched by the park district. While it is true that the project appears to have been poorly situated in parts and somewhat poorly planned and executed in its start (a large hole collected water and was structurally unstable (sand) and had to be fenced off), and the Alderman and JPAC were not properly informed, upon examination JPAC believes the plan will leave the beach, peninsula, and shore including fish habitat better and with less sand-blowing over paths than at present and more natural, and only very slight los of beach and no loss of ability to walk along the beach continuously. Important will be good execution and whether the new grass and other plantings will be able to establish themselves fast enough to stabilize sand et al. Note that the council was informed of concerns and objections from the Alderman's office and remains concerned about location of a natural grass-dune area close to main foot traffic and requiring people to walk around it, and whether grass plugs with rhizomes planted in November will take fast enough not to be overwhelmed by moving sand. JPAC and the University of Chicago will participate in work and planting days, the largest of which will be on November 14.

Here is the Herald article of September 23, by Daschell M. Phillips. Be sure to see the schematic there.

The Jackson Park Advisory Council unanimously agreed last week to support the Chicago Park District's plan to build a dune at the 63rd Street Beach. Becky Schillo, volunteer stewardship coordinator for the department of natural resources at the CPD, presented the plans for teh 63rd Street dune and beach project at the council's September meeting.

The $1 million capital improvement project was funded in part by a United states Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes Fisheries and Eco System Restoration ACT grant. In order to qualify for the grant, the CPD had to match 35 percent of the Corps of Engineers' 65 percent contribution and have a plan that included fisheries and ecosystem components, Schillo said.

This project includes three underwater cobble fish habitat areas, the restoration of existing nature areas with new trees, shrubs and sod and a new dune area. "The north side of the beach has problems with sand movement and sand on the bike path," Schillo said. "The CPD will try to control that area by planting marram gras, or dune grass. We are hoping that planting marram grass will help keep sand of the bike path."

Dune grasses such as marram are found almost exclusively on the first line of coastal sand dunes; their extensive rhizomes allow them to thrive under conditions of shifting sands and high winds. The marram grass for the project will be purchased from Vans Pines Nursery in West Olive, Mich.

Schillo said only 3.5 percent of the beach area would be used for the project. "The lots would not go all the way up to the shore so people can still walk along the beach," Schillo said.

The project should take about one year to complete, said Schillo. CPD is also counting on the help of volunteers, she added. "The idea is to have the community be a part of the process so when they visit the beach they can say, 'Hey, I helped build this area,"', Schillo said.

the CPD is currently recruiting volunteers to help install approximately 10,000 native dune grass plants to create and enhance dune and wetland habitat at the beach. Training and supplies will be provided. the park district wants volunteers to RSVP so they will know how many plants to bring and notify participants of any changes in plans in the case of inclement weather. Dune planting day wil take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14 at 63rd street and Lake Shore Drive. Call 312 742-4072 to RSVP.

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From some recent meetings

Annual meeting and election was held January 12. Elected: President, Ross Petersen. Vice President, Frances S. Vandervoort. Secretary, Gary M. Ossewaarde. Treasurer, Dwight E. Powell. At-large spokespersons: Geneva Calloway, Vernita Jones, Louse McCurry.

January 12 we will also discussed revised bylaws, prepared for conformity with Chicago Park District Guidelines for Advisory Councils. Copies of these, and of the current JPAC and CPD suggested bylaws to extent possible will be in pdf on the website, were placed in the field house binder and distributed at the December meeting (or mailed)Current bylaws, proposed (coming, link to pdf) and link to CPD proposed.

At the December meeting we also had a presentation and discussion on MSI proposed reconfiguration of its drop off and delivery lot on the southwest side (See below). JPAC was considering this. ACE sports facility was discussed with Tyrone Mason, who was given written questions by JPAC officers. He will return at the January meeting.

Our new bank account at Hyde Park Bank is now operational as is our fiscal agency under Friends of the Parks. JPAC allocated $550 for kids Christmas gifts and prizes for the essay contests to be held January 15, February 15, and February 28-- see in Specials.

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Lifeguards hours were cut this year to save money. 11-7 instead of 8:30-9. Also, the city will test at 63rd St. beach the quicker SwimCast testing method, shown to be 80 percent accurate in Lake County.

Olympics JPAC learned mid December 2008 that the Olympic Committee has moved the hockey venue from near sensitive lagoons to near the track across from Hyde Park Career Academy. The previous location had evoked a request by JPAC for movement further from the lagoons. The bid was rejected by the OIC October 2, 2009.

To Olympic JPAC material, To Olympics homepage.

What was learned about latest plans at the April 13 2009 Jackson Park meeting

The Olympic Outreach Committee was greatly expanded by new 2016 president Lori Healey (January 2009) from a couple dozen to 80, divided into 5 subcommittees. A difference has been reported by the end of March. A series of Legacies and related regional meetings has begun: Washington Park April 18 Saturday 9 am at the Refectory 5531 S. Russell Dr. and April 21, Tuesday, 5:30 pm at Douglas Park. The 5 subcommittees are Affordable housing, Community Enhancements*, Contracting and Procurement, Construction, Workforce Development. (*includes the legacies). To support the legacies and Olympic-leveraged improvements, a local foundation is being considered.

Arnold Randall of Chicago 2016 presented and answered questions at the Jackson Park Advisory Council meeting April 13, 2009. About half the 19 venues are in the downtown area, the rest along two radii, an inner and an outer. Washington Park looks like it will be mostly taken up, but that is greatly misleading- new structures will not be south of 55th, though some there as well as a remade Armory and other structures along Cottage Grove and 51st will be used. And the residual stadium will not only be shrunken to c 3,000 seats but will not be in the Great Meadow and will be sited carefully. The Midway will be open and have lots of activities and viewing screens. Indeed, all legacy features are in flux and will require a great deal of negotiation with communities, Randall said.

There are inner and outer perimeters of the Jackson Park site between Stony and Cornell, 60th and 63rd/Hays. Most intensely affected will be the track and football field northeast of Hyde Park Academy, comfort station to the south, and softball field to the south of that. The timeline for the Jackson Park field hockey starts at the end of 2014 with work on the comfort station and removal of the fields and track. Streets will not be closed at that time and only Cornell will be closed during the games and the Drive restricted--but not its bike paths. Summer of 2015 will see completion then testing of the two artificial turf fields with their stands (the comfort station remains). July 2016 the Games open and with the Paralympics go several weeks. Then one of the fields as well as stands is removed and goes back to what was there or becomes something different as designated by the community (and park district). If so wanted, the track comes back around the perimeter of the artificial field if the north field is kept, or could go back to dirt if it's the south artificial that is kept. Family, athletes, staff will access from 63rd (ult. Lake Shore Drive), the public southward along Cornell Drive on foot. There will be no parking facilities or auto access.

Randall said there is as traffic plan, but it has to be filled in-- after the bid is awarded. He asserted HP and Woodlawn wil not be blocked in, but there will be times other routes will have to be found in all directions. More buses for the public will be in service. Permit parking will be used for nearby residents. Maximum number of persons expected in the two fields if both occupied at any one time- about 22,000. There will be a lot of gating and fencing.

Olympic Village- will have 30% affordable available to people with various levels of need, including a percentage going to those making less than 60% of median regional income adjusted for real local medians. Other housing on city-owned tracts within a mile of venues will have 20% affordable.

Much concern was expressed about effects in Washington Park.

 

Museum of Science and Industry proposes green remake of west lot drop off area. In January JPAC supports. Other projects

Approved at the Janauary meeting, with proviso that the monitoring devices proposed be installed and discharge into lagoons be minimalized:

MSI, architect, and the park district presented in December the proposal, to be funded largely under a federal SAFETEA transportation grant, to start in 2010. Drop off/pick up for school groups, deliveries and trash areas would be remade, and green slow-down and sand et al filtering of rainwater and a force main from the parking garage replace the current asphalt and mains. JPAC resolve approval of the project in January, reminding the planners it expects their promised monitoring devices and minimalization of discharge into the Columbia Basin and lagoon. The project is part of a multi-year master plan. This part is especially needed because the city sewers in the become overloaded during heavy rains and snowmelts.

Note, those noticing work in progress on the west roof- it is to support new exhibits and equipment for them.

From the January JPAC Newsletter (Dec. minutes):

The project involves a complete redesign of the area southwest of the museum to address—in a pioneering green, sustainable and attractive way—problems with drainage, the group entrance, bus staging (drop off and pick up), lot, deliveries and trash pickup. The site would also become a teaching venue. Devices to handle excessive rains and snow from that sector and also from the north side parking garage would include new piping, porous pavement, bio swales and rain gardens, gravel beds, separators, and cisterns. We were assured that great engineering care is taken, in consultation with the Park District, that last-resort discharge into the Columbia Basin will be clean and not enough to disturb shore plantings. The team was urged to do its best to eliminate past problems with trash handling and facilities. Project funding includes federal SAFETEA transportation grants and is slated to start in 2010. The team will return regularly with updates, and the council agreed to render its position on the project as soon as practicable.

From the January 21 Herald: Jackson Park projects slated for coming months. By Crystal Fencke

The Jackson Prk Advisory Council (JPAC) has approved a future "green" project the Museum of Science and Industry is planning that would rehabilitate the parking lot adjacent to the lagoon. In 2009, the park will be home to a boulder to mark statesman Frederick Douglass, and there will be an upcoming meeting regarding a controversial rule change at the Park District.

The MSI's "West Lot Project" will begin at an unspecified date in 2010 to reconfigure the parking area on the museum's southwest side, primarily used for school busses. The institution, which last year celebrated its 75th anniversary, is looking to make improvement to the lot, which is "relatively old," said Jennifer Christakes, director of facilities.

The plan will incorporate green aspects to ensure proper drainage of oil and sediment from reaching groundwater, including the Jackson Park Lagoon. Those will include bioswales, mini-marshes using woodland plants and native shrubs, which help to slow water velocity. Permeable pavers, porous stones already used around the museum's Smart Home, will be installed throughout the lot as well. These are methods "to naturally clean rainwater," said Christakes, adding that it may seem like a contradiction, but water that comes from the sky needs to be filtered of fine metals and sediment. JPAC approved the project at their most recent council meeting.

Also at the meeting, it was revealed that in May, the Frederick Douglass Memorial, a dream of retired English teacher Barry Rapoport, will finally be realized. Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) and JP?AC approved this project to commemorate Frederick, Douglass (1818-1895), an ex-slave adn worked-renowned abolitionist who spoke at the World Columbian Exposition of 1893. ...

To page with discussion of Proposal for a sports activity and training dome at Hayes and Cornell. Alderman Hairston and the Council hold a special meeting at South Shore Cultural Center Sept. 8, 7:30.

March 2008. New standard guidelines and by-laws are being proposed by COD for advisory councils. JPAC was among those asked to review an initial draft. Reviewers found the spirit as well as the provisions lacking in a spirit of partnership, discouraging of council membership and park volunteering and highly burdensome.

JPAC representatives and reps. from several other councils held a serious and cordial meeting with the Park District April 4. It appears that most issues can be resolved by a joint committee using the 2000 Guidelines as starter. Another meeting with Park District was held July 11, with a Jackson rep. on the new oversight committee. Most issues appear to have been resolved, but some matters remain to be cleared up.

See Jackson Park Council comments sent to Park District, and extensive coverage and commentary in the hydepark.org Park Issues page.

Wooded Island Work back on track as elements of Working Group agree on most. A large number of shrubs and plants are to be put in Wooded Island, the plant list has been approved, and signage has gone up. Visit the Birds- Wooded Island page for the plan. a major gift from Care of Trees will help the work progress.
An article in the New York Times of September 11 2007 calls attention to a study showing that walking dogs in natural areas, even on leash, causes substantial reduction in numbers and diversity. See Dogs and Wooded Island.

There was initial opposition to 2007 proposed placement and plans for Olympics field hockey south of the lagoons and a feeling that public input was not being held, there was consultation. The facility was moved to a more acceptable location. The city lost its bid in fall 2009.

The Army Corps returned to Bob-o-link Meadow to test bore at the Nike missile site, The Corps had good communication with JPAC. Details coming at the January JPAC meeting. JPAC has received a hard copy and CD of the Preliminary Final Assessment of the Nike C-41 Missile Base and, proposed return visit (done) and history. By the time of the August 2008 JPAC meeting, communication had ceased and more boring was to be and has been done. See the Nike C-41 page.

JPAC is pleased to announce that representatives are working with Adam Schwerner, director of Natural Resources for planning of improvements and improved habitat management at Wooded Island and the underpasses. Abetted by a generous gift from Care of Trees in late 2009

. JPAC by resolution at the July 2007 meeting holds that the Park District is not complying with the EPA/IDPH guidelines for notification of the public when benchmarks are exceeded short of the 1000 mandating a swim ban.

Good news: The drumming circle east of 63rd Bathing Pavilion is complete except for final revisions in conjunction with the preferences of the drummers' group. Bad news-- it was not possible to accommodate the wishes of every constituuency. This successful project is a result of cooperative planning (including hours open) between Conga Drummers Association and other support groups, JPAC, Alderman Hairston's office, and Chicago Park District. The District handled all work and costs internally. The circle will consist of cut limestone blocks and is located east of the 63rd Bathing Pavilion and its parking lot, near the bath to Casino Pier. It is expected to be a lively place and see use by several groups.

The Community Garden run by Mr. Robinson at the southwest corner of the golf course north of Marquette Road did well in 2006. At the August meeting, Yang Mi Kaneshiro of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Special Events-outdoor environmental education (and speaking also for partner Growing Power) presented ideas for working with Mr. Robinson to turn the garden into a teaching institution. Part of the site would have year-round work an training/teaching sheds. Further improvements related to sustainability were made later. Top

Commemorative marker for Frederick Douglass, Haitian Pavilion at Columbian Exposition- full funding has been achieved, thanks to Parkways Foundation, Polk Brothers Foundation, and many individual donors. Dedication was at noon May 15, 2009- a fabulous program. Read about in the Federick Douglass Memorial page.