JPAC/Jackson Park home. JPAC Minutes and Resolutions. hydepark.org Parks home.
Welcome to September 2007 J.P.A.C. Newsletter online
Volume 14, Issue 9
Produced by Jackson Park Advisory Council, Chicago, Illinois, a recognized advisory body to the Chicago Park District.
Editor Gary Ossewaarde
Sited
in www.hydepark.org, website of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference
Site administrator George Rumsey
We thank Onshore for hosting this website and the Museum of Science and Industry for production costs of the Newsletter.
In this issue:
Park and Program report, Alonzo Williams.
· Summer
camp filled its 200 openings and was highly successful.
· Junior Bears for fall overfilled also; they are psyched up to win!
Cheerleading was about to start.
· “No barbecue” signage on 67th was up.
· The 63rd Cornell lot and Golf Driving Range road repaving with curbs
were being done.
· A survey for signage and other needs was done with police; almost all
police requests have been met.
· A park walk through was held with Parks Commissioner Pickens, trades,
and JPAC monitoring committee. Work orders were put in. Members noted more damaged
benches and other concerns.
· At 63rd Bathing Pavilion, more benches are likely. Nonfunctioning water
fountains were of concern, and bathrooms are to be addressed
· The drumming circle is in use; some signs remained to be put up. Protocol
for when special events are held at the beach house and for fire lanes have
been or are being established. Lighting was queried.
· Underpasses and more were heavily tagged and marked along the south
lakefront; to be fixed. Petersen reported that the “no dogs” signs
at Wooded Island entrances were again painted out.
· A work order went in for ‘Iowa’ building lights.
· The city budget hearing August 23 7 pm at South Shore Cultural Center
would include park concerns; the 2nd round Park District south budget
hearing will be September 5, Wednesday, 6:30 pm, at Hamilton Park,
513 W. 72nd. [Erroneous and changed.]
· Mike Kelly is the new PD Chief Operating Officer under Tim Mitchell,
Patrick Levar the Chief Administrative Officer, and Becky Schillo has been hired
as Natural Areas Stewardship Manager (coming with high recommendation).
Nature Committee and facilities report. Ross Petersen.
· Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, U.S.EPA and the PD under a grant will conduct
a thorough study of 63rd St. Beach watershed infrastructure and outflow,
learned from EPA’s Holly Wirick. Possible role of dogs or birds as vectors
was discussed. The PD has hired a firm, Wild Goose Chase, to flush geese with
dogs, which Petersen said were rousting all birds. Dog regulations are unchanged.
· Rebecca Graff has received permission to proceed with a small
archeological survey near Osaka Garden and will report at a future
meeting.
· 2016 Olympic Committee representatives presents, answers questions
at the September 10 meeting; public invited! Members reviewed and had
no objection to JPAC Olympics resolution language passed at the previous meeting
and published in the minutes in the August JPAC Newsletter.
· A summit was held about Wooded Island natural management.
Attending were the District, Friends of the Parks, scientists, JPAC and stakeholders.
Petersen said the meeting was very forward-moving. The goal is to reduce damaging
invasive species and introduce wildlife-friendly plants. Petersen showed a Chicago
Tribune feature showing that bird sightings declined drastically in the state
but increased in a natural area where invasives were removed. Jackson Park bird
numbers have been recovering.
· Petersen regretted that there has been no replacement yet of trees
lost in storms of 2003 and 2006.
· Petersen noted that aldermanic and police help was being sought to
address increasing night time illegal activity such as on the
south end of Wooded Island and in parking lots.
New business.
Gary Ossewaarde reported steps necessary since the decease of treasurer Tibor
Heisler.
Nominations were taken for election in September. Esther Schechter nominated
Dwight Powell for treasurer.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.
Next meeting September 10, Monday, 7:30 pm, 6401 S. Stony, south room. Agenda:
Elections, Olympics
Respectfully submitted, Gary Ossewaarde, Secretary
2nd and 4th Saturday Volunteer Workdays. 10 -1. Sept 8, 22, Oct 13, 27. Ross Petersen, 773 486-0505. For the next couple months work will be in Bob-o-link Meadow while a Wooded Island plan is developed.
Memorial service for Tibor Heisler Sun. Sept. 9 1:30-3:30 So Sh Cult. Ctr. Please RSVP Gary 773 947-9541.