Promontory Point home. Promontory Point Latest.
This is a new (September, 28, 2004) series for e-mails and letters to the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and www.hydepark.org on the Promontory Point issue. You are welcome to send a contribution to hpkcc@aol.com, to rumsey@aol.com or mail to Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference, 1513 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, Illinois, 6o637.
Our first submission is from a visiting professor from Ireland at the Art Institute of Chicago.
From: jelkins@artic.edu
(James Elkins)
To: Rumsey@aol.com
Dear George Rumsey,
Here's the letter:
It is sad to see the lakeshore being slowly encased in concrete. I've run, bicycled, walked, and jogged from the Loop to Hyde Park for nearly fifteen years, all year round, at all times of day and night--I love the place and I know it very well. I am an art historian, so I know that what is being done is wrong from an historical and aesthetic point of view. It is also wrong from the point of view of wildlife: in the completed stretches there are no crickets or birds (no sounds), no smells from wildflowers, no rabbits--just grass and concrete.
But that's all aesthetics, history, and biology. I know that not everyone cares about those things, so I'm writing about a matter of fact. I have noticed that the "bulkheading" (the undulating metal wall that the Corps of Engineers is constructing) has ladders at intervals, so that people who fall in can get back out. Most of the completed portions of the lakeshore have these ladders at intervals of approximately 150 feet. That is much too far apart to be safe: if a person or a child falls in, and is struggling, they may have to swim 75 feet to reach a ladder. If they don't reach a ladder, they may well drown because there is no way to climb the bulkheading.
In the the newest stretch of completed shoreline, just south of 39th St., the ladders are at only 80 or so feet from one another, and the same is true of the section just north of the Point. The newest stretch also has raised yellow handles to make the positions of the ladders more visible. That's better, but it still isn't as safe as the old, original shoreline.
The old shoreline, including the Point and the unrenovated intervals north of it, is comprised of large blocks of stone. A person who falls in can grab any boulder and lift himself to safety.
I predict, therefore, that there will be more deaths by drowning with the new shoreline.
Everyone should care about aesthetics, history, and wildlife. But unfortunately many people don't. I am writing this letter to give a different kind of reason for preserving the Point.
Best,
Professor James Elkins
Art Institute of Chicago
Delighted to hear from
you. "Point Preservation" is most definitely a "still
current" (i.e., heated) topic of the neighborhood. The issue is currently
before the state Historical Preservation Council and no one knows what they're
thinking.
We would love to hear your comments--the more comments, the better. If no one
else sees them on our website, we know at least the alderman concerned reads
our posts.
I will also forward your email to the chair of the "Save the Point"
committee, Jack Spicer, who is leading the fight!
Best regards,
George Rumsey
Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference