A New Abbott Park Advisory Council

49 E 95th St

Got this in an e-mail from the West Chesterfield Community Association. The Abbott Park Advisory Council fired up this past spring and are certainly looking not for people to attend especially if you live nearby. They're especially looking for people to serve on the council and as officers.

• A New Abbott Park Advisory Council
  The Chicago Parks Consortium, West Chesterfield, Roseland Hts and Red Line Extension Coalition (RLEC) helped organize a New Abbott Park Advisory Council and invite your to attend its 6:30 p.m. meeting July, 18, 2018 in the Abbott Park Field House.
  
  These organizations thank the Chicago Park District (CPD) for addressing many Abbott Park operation service requests since the September 19, 2017 CPD Budget Hearing Meeting. The community would like Abbott Park and the 95th Street area to be a “Preferred Point of Destination” that has good business neighbors, level 1 schools, a great park… all of which will improve area walkability and the use of public transportation within the ¼ mile to ½ mile transit-oriented development area of the at the $280 million 95th CTA Terminal.
  
  Since 2017 the CPD planted 140 new trees at Abbott Park, installed Exterior Lights on the field house, trimmed Low tree branches, planted 1040 trees, install a new sink and water heater and drain pipe in the cultural center, repaired park benches and under ground pipes have been repaired in the center field of the.
  
  Michael LaFargue, Chicago Parks Consortium president, congratulates Ms. Lori Burns and Sharon Banks Pincham, Co-Chair’s of the Park Advisory Council for Abbott Park. The PAC is working on its by-laws and goals for the next year.

BTW, I wanted to explore this but will do so at a later time even if it's already a done deal. There is an old playlot on 98th & Michigan that has long since been dismantled and has often seen little activity. Perhaps someone might have a picnic there rarely and sometimes more frequently grown folks or Harlan student just loitering there.

All the same, there is finally a plan to turn this former playlot into a dog park that should've been debated at the last Roseland Heights Community Association meeting in June. I should ask for an update although unfortunately I didn't attend this meeting to observe the results. Though I hope to talk more about this soon and I'm sure this is a topic of conversation at the Abbott Park Advisory Council also.

I even took some more pics recently of the playlot close to 10 years after snapping some shots there as the future of this lot was still uncertain!

From Playlot on 98th/Michigan

Standing water at Abbott Park

After today's heavy rains this is how Abbott Park at 95th & Michigan had fared earlier this afternoon. After the heavy snow melts and with heavy precipitation it seems prone to standing water in the grassy areas of the park. And standing water on the sidewalks surrounding the park.

Abbott Park flooded #weather #rain #chicagogram #chicagoparks

A post shared by The Sixth Ward (@thesixthward) on Mar 30, 2017 at 12:20pm PDT

If you have any weather related pics send them to us or tag us on Instagram.

Movies in the Park "Home" at Abbott Park TONIGHT

One of the last "Movies in the Park" will be showing TONIGHT. Meet us at Abbott Park, 49 E. 95th Street (That's 95th & Michigan).

The movie begins around 8pm (i.e. Dusk). You are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, and food

We hope to see you

there TONIGHT!

Send an e-mail to bloh@thesixthward.us before 7pm today if you'd like to connect with one of the writers of this blog!

This event is sponsored by the Chicago Park District.

So Jahmal Cole runs into Jim Oberweis at Abbott Park the other day

[VIDEO] Jahmal Cole - the driving force behind My Block My Hood My City - has been touring the city's public parks for the last 11 weeks. Recently he arrived at Abbott Park near 95th/State. Mainly in his espiodes he plays basketball or engages in some sort of sport (such as soccer or bike polo) at various parks and at Abbott it was certainly basketball.

You never know who is truly walking around in the community. On this day Cole had a chance to speak with Republican US Senate nominee Jim Oberweis - also a current state Senator - who discusses his ideas on school reform. So a US Senate candidate comes to Abbott Park to talk education policy and probably to campaign.

If Cole continues his series who else could he run into. It's still election season up until November at least. Could he run into current US Sen. Dick Durbin or Gov. Pat Quinn or Bruce Rauner?

Unfortunately, Abbott Park was the 11th park in this series so where else will Cole venture to next. All the same you should buy yourself one of his T-shirts and other products available from his store. At least a t-shirt based on the one above.

CBS 2 Chicago: #chiberia 2014 case for the worst winter ever

Abbott Park - 49 E 95th St

The winter of 2014 has been very relentless. Consistent snow and consistently cold temperatures. And we have approached the end of "meterological winter". Still at this point the temps are still cold and snow is forecast over the weekend. Do you think the winter of 2014 is the worst winter ever? You should read this CBS 2 article before you come to your conclusions.

The pic above is of Abbott Park after the recent thaw last Saturday, but the ice formed again in the fields.

PHOTO: "#Chiberia" in Abbott Park

Click picture for a larger resolution

Before the warmer temps and rain came by on Friday, I took this panorama of Abbott Park on Wednesday just to show the snow that accumulated over the past weekend. Many of our parks could look like a version of "chiberia" I'll bet! Does anyone else have any winter weather pics to share?

Speed cameras coming to Abbott Park near end of September

According to the Chicago Tribune with an explanation of this program:

Just as most Chicagoans were heading into the holiday weekend and tuning out the news, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the full list of 50 locations where the city will put up ticket-issuing speed cameras near parks and schools by the end of the year.

The Emanuel administration previously had announced 12 of the locations where one or more of the cops in a box will be keeping an eye on motorists during school and park hours. A news release issued Friday afternoon includes the other 38 sites. Each camera, like those already up, will trigger warning tickets during the first 30 days. After that, drivers exceeding the speed limit by between 6 and 10 mph will get $35 tickets in the mail. Those exceeding the limit by more than 10 mph will get $100 tickets.

Near parks, the cameras will be active when the parks are open, generally from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. The speed limits near parks is 30 mph.

Near schools, the cameras will be active from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on school days. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the speed limit in those areas is 20 mph when children are present and 30 mph when they are not. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the limit is 30 mph.

Under state law, the city can install the cameras at up to 300 schools and parks in designated safety zones. A Tribune analysis showed they could cover nearly half the city.

The article contains the full listing of all locations where these cameras are expected to be installed.

Hat-tip Uptown Update.

A panorama

Click for a larger resolution

EDIT 6:56 PM Just uploaded this pic to Flickr to provide for a better resolution. Click the pic above or this link.

At random I just decided to get a panorama of Abbott Park (49 E. 95th St) on Friday afternoon. It was not long after dismissal at the nearby Harlan High School. If you see anyone in vests they're volunteers for CPS who work for an initiative called Safe Passages. You will see these individuals in yellow reflective vests not only before school starts on any given day but also at dismissal time. Also you will see the goal posts up and there is football practice going on at this time.

Photo of Abbott Park sexual assault suspect

We had a hard time getting this photo on the blog, but here is a photo of the sexual assault suspect.

And here is the news story from the Chicago Tribune:

Police issued a community alert this afternoon warning of a sexual assault in Abbott Park on the South Side in the city's Roseland neighborhood.



A woman was waiting for the bus on the 9500 block of South Michigan Ave between the hours of 2 to 6 a.m. on Aug. 18, A man approached her from behind and pulled her into Abbott Park where she was beaten and sexually assaulted.

Please be careful out there, but also watchful, so we can catch these crimnals!

Here's a description:

The man was described as black, between the ages of 24 to 33, between 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, police said.

He has a medium complexion with brown eyes and a low cut Mohawk, police said.

He was last seen wearing a black long sleeve shirt and dark blue jeans.

If you have any info please contact Area South Bureau detectives at 312-747-8271.

Lights out along 95th Street...

Perhaps this was the result of strong storms from Saturday afternoon. It was quite dark along this stretch this evening. Most of these shots were taken along 95th between Wabash and Michigan Avenue. The street lights were out between State and Indiana.

Looking East near 95th/Wabash

Looking south on 95th towards Abbott Park

Looking west to 95th/State near Michigan Ave

Looking towards Indiana Ave at 95th/Michigan

Roseland Heights Abbott Park watch list...

At the recent Roseland Heights meeting President Clevan Tucker mentioned that it took 23 people to keep an eye on Abbott Park @ 49 E. 95th St. and their activism helped to force the park district to up the closing time of the park from 11 PM to 10 PM. This sheet was handed out to members of the Roseland Heights Community Association to instruct residents on what to do with illegal activities or violations. I'm sure this sheet was published last year but as we wait for warmer weather to come back we should keep our eye on what's going on in all of our parks!
Abbott Park watch list

Chesterfield Community Council - 4th Annual Church in the Park

Chesterfield Community Council in conjunction with St. Mark Lutheran Church, Burnside Community Baptist Church, New Beginnings Church, St. Samuel COGIC, Gethsemane Church, New Bethlehem MB Church and more will host the "4th Annual Church in the Park" celebration.

Saturday, August 27, 2011
12-4
Tuley Park.

This free event will consist of motivational speakers, great music, fellowship, food, fire truck, jumping jack, health screenings and more. Bring A Friend, Bring A Neighbor and Pass the word...

Update on the Nov. 30th Abbott Park meeting

Just provided to the blog by Roseland Heights Parks and Recreation Committee Chairman C. Tucker:

The Chicago Park District has plans to renovate the track behind Harlan High School by replacing the center area grass with artificial turf.

There was an Abbott Park Artificial Turf Meeting on Nov. 30 at 6:00pm in Abbott Park.

Community residents, RHCA Parks Committee members, Abbott Park Advisory Council members, Harlan's Principle Evens, Alderman Lyle, 6th ward candidate Sawyer & campaign workers met with spoke person (Mr. Lang...I think) about The Chicago Park District plans to renovate the track behind Harlan High School.

NO CPD officials were there.

Here is what we found out:

1. According to the spoke person who headed the hearing on artificial grass, the Council and residents need to say Yes to what is being proposed – the speaker said if we say no the artificial grass will not be used.

2. There is NO public money being used for this project! It is all being done with private money, and we will NOT be told from where the money came!

3. There are 10 parks being considered for the project. We are the 4th presentation and one park has already said "Hell no".

4. Along with the plan for an artificial turf field bleachers and lights may also be requested. The field will be maintained with private money from these unknown companies also.

Well I must say community members did a great job of asking the right questioins.. They wanted to know will CPD make any other improvements to the park? They also talked about the need for a complete study (undertaken) by the City or CPD to evaluate the negative impact this will have on the neighborhood.

Residents felt, there were "negative impacts" to plans for track. Mainly, more organized sports events planned for area would influence how and who would be using the park.

The plans to have more sporting events permits at Abbott Park would disturb the neighborhood with
increased noise, traffic and parking issues.

The heightened use of the track would have a detrimental effect upon the Park and the neighborhood where the park is located in terms of extended hours, of noise, dedicated use, traffic, and more trespassing on private property.
*Most of all the Residents felt in a park that is not maintained and has many unresolved problems already the development of new activities for the track would only add to the problems the Chicago Park Distict has not addressed and would be the end of this community as we know it.

No vote was taken. Synthetic turf was not the issue it was what came with it and CPD's inability to maintain Abbott Park. Three Advisory Council members committed to plan, but not one community resident would commit!

Note: Candidate Sawyer discussed some negative environmental impacts and requirements of significant capital investment for maintenance costs of synthetic turf; it is being said now (by spoke person) that private funds will do this) He also had some very good questions about in-depth, independent analysis that would examine the financial and environmental costs of natural vs. synthetic turf, as well as the implications for usage, maintenance, health and safety.

We need to hear from representatives from the Parks District since no information was given to us on this.
Finally, the community needs more research on synthetic turf and plans for track to assess better and to aid the current community input processes.

C. Tucker, Chairman for RHCA Parks Committee

As for the 98th & Michigan which almost two decades ago used to be a playlot, C. Tucker also recently posted this comment in that two-year-old post about the former playlot:

The RHCA Parks Committee would also like to know what CPD plans are for this area. They met with Park Supervisor Johnson and South Area Manager Hopkins to disscus 2009 requests.

1.A Covenant: binding agreement that 98th Street Park will not be sold, *Note: The area West of playlot use to be park land. The land on which Harlan's parking lot is located was sold by CPD to CPS in 1961!

2.Swing gate for 98th Street park opening along with Bollards or iron fence positioned along areas of 96th Michigan & 98th & State to stop driving and parking on grass in park.

3. A Abbott Park sign with rules at Michigan & 98th Street.Records show this is Abbott Park not just a playlot.

4.10:00 pm closing signs posted.Residents can verify latenight "grown folk hanging and getting drunk" in the park.

These concerns are not just RHCA committee concerns But community concerns. Violations of rules and illegal activities should be reported. Disruptive non-permit groups on school grounds & park, soliciting on 95th Street and consuming of alcoholic beverages cannot be curbed or stopped by one or two people! The Community NEEDS your help. Send an email, write a letter, Call CPD for rule violations and Police for illegal activities.

At the very least the loitering in this neglected part of the Abbott Park lot is verifiable as people have been know to either sleep on the benchs or sit in that former playlot and drink.

New Grass for Abbott Park

Got this e-mail recently from Clevan Tucker of Roseland Heights about artificial turf for Abbott Park:

The sense of connection to nature is hugely important for almost anyone who goes to a park. The Chicago Park District has plans to renovate the track behind Harlan High School by replacing the center area of mud holes with artificial turf.

According to the design for Chicago's green movement aren't we suppose to be adding more real greenery to the hard-surface ? Now, especially in Daley's Chicago, every thing is suppose to be blooming.

On Nov. 30 at 6:00pm in Abbott Park, CPD officials will be meeting with the Park Advisory panel and the community talking up the need for fake grass..

Currently, the greenery largely consists of grass, trees and ugly mud holes where cars jump the crub and drive into the park. So now the big question is with who's money do we pay for the turf CPS or CPD or both? These are the same people who faced real constraints and had no budget for popular park programs and cut them. An even bigger question mark is who will this benifit? How will this fake greenery be integrated into an overall design.

Beyond the proposed artifical turf, how much of the existing park will be improved? There remains plenty of room for park re-configuration. At least Park officials seem serious about bringing the community to the table. But will proposal need community vote for approval or like the zone change be done whether the community likes it or not?? Get ready for "Artificial Turf" or "The Rezone Sequel."

A.J.

If only there was room to turn Abbott into a campus park for Harlan. Why not have a football stadium or a baseball stadium in addition to having fields for baseball and softball? Of course I also recognize that this isn't likely and the community should be able to use such facilities for their own purposes if they wish.

I wish the Park District could figure out what to do about that old playlot near 98th & Michigan. It's been years since they removed the playset. I wish it could find a new use in the future. Of course that in addition to getting that track in better shape.

RELATED

• Roseland Heights meeting Harlan Community Academy 
• Do you want to join a park advisory council?
• Walked thru Abbott Park today 
• Notice of Filing and Hearing of Amendment for Rezoning
• Playlot on 98th & Michigan

Gridiron

In Abbott Park where during the course of the football season the Harlan Falcons would play most of their football games. This isn't a particularly proper football field with markings and hashmarks but adequate if you don't feel like attending football games at any venue that requires some change to attend.

BTW, is there anyone out there who can tell me how Harlan did on the football field this year.

This pic was taken on Veteran's Day.

Scene outside at Abbott Park today

Well, it was unusual to see a long line outside of the field house there today. Not sure what was going on, perhaps I should place a call to figure it out. I couldn't tell if this line was full of high school students from Harlan, but most looked relatively young. The line largely stopped oustide of the doors and there didn't appear to be a table with anyone directed traffic or working with the line. The line largely didn't move as I made my way to the L station.

I wonder what this was about?

UPDATE 3:04 PM I found out just now that the line outside of the field house at Abbott Park this morning and this afternoon was for low-income light & gas assistance.

I think I should mention...

I was out on Michigan Avenue outside of Harlan Thursday afternoon about 3 PM. There were still a decent crowd of young people outside the school fanning out in different directions. First I saw police officers running to their cruiser. Next I saw students heading towards the adjacent Abbott Park directly north!

I was near 97th Street at this point and I decided let's see what I can see although I didn't get any closer to the action. A police car appeared to have stopped at 96th Street and I decided to walk back down Michigan. The crowd seemed to have calmed down and dispersed from near one of the baseball diamonds in Abbott Park adjacent to the school.

I keep checking back on the action at the school and I see that the police pulled up to a van. I can't say if anyone was pulled out of the van, however, I did see that the police were checking that van out and had the doors open.

BTW, I can't prove there was a fight near Harlan as I didn't see it. Perhaps I was going by what happened in my day (years ago) when if a fight was breaking out students would run to it. Who knows it was probably the most exciting thing to see, unfortunately.

Outside of Harlan, in the surrounding neighborhood, it's not something I would want to see. Especially if I want to think positively about our young people.

In any case if you saw what happened sometime after 3 PM on Thursday near Harlan Community Academy please leave a comment or send an e-mail. Let's see if we can create a more complete story than I have presented by my own eyewitness account.

Baseball shooting: Coach released from hospital & suspect found

This is certainly good news!

A community league baseball coach shot in an altercation with a player he had pulled from a game was released from the hospital Monday despite having two bullets still lodged in his body, a league official said.

Glynn Hall, 44, was "in good spirits," said J.C. McDowell, president of a Chicago chapter of the National Adult Baseball Association.

McDowell said Hall apologized to him for the confrontation that led to the shooting and even expressed concern for the suspect, who remained at large Monday evening.

"He asked how the shooter was doing," McDowell said. "He's got no ill-will toward him."

And the young man who took the shots well you see in this excerpt that he hasn't been caught. At this moment that's not so good! Interestingly enough the victim appears to be concerned for this young man. Let's hope this troubled young man is found!

UPDATE 10:54 AM Suspect was found!

CBS2:

A suspect was charged Tuesday morning in the weekend shooting of a coach by one of his own players.

Deangelo Williams, 21, of the 10400 block of South State Street, is charged with attempted first-degree murder in the Sunday shooting.
...
Witnesses say the pitcher went to his car, got a gun, then came back to the ball field. He chased Hall, firing into him again and again, witnesses said.
...
Williams is set to appear in Bond Court later Wednesday.

Someone still had to throw in Abbott Park's relationship with Harlan Community Academy:

At about 2:20 p.m. Sunday, witnesses said a man shot his baseball coach in the arm and back at a baseball diamond near 95th Street and Michigan Avenue, according to police. The baseball diamond is steps away from Harlan Community Academy.

It's great news that this young man was finally found!

Do you want to join a park advisory council?

Distributed thru the Roseland Heights Community Organization e-mail list:

I hope you had a great summer, with all kinds of fun! Community meetings will start back Sept. 23rd, at 7:00pm. I 'll give you an update before the next meeting. There will be a park advisory meeting at Abbott Park, 6:00pm Sept. 8, 2009. The park advisory Council still needs officers and members. For more information call Ms. Morgan [contact info redacted] or email me.There is also a Park region budget hearing September 10, 2009. We need to go to make public comments about our concerns for Abbott. I plan to be there. If we say nothing we get nothing! I will give more information on meetings later. Remember what Barack Obama said, "We are the change that we seek". Seek change and have a good day.

The issue of rezoning Harlan on the lot of Abbott Park has been an important issue to the Roseland Heights community. All one has to do is refer to this link on the Roseland Heights Neighborhood Link site!

BTW, another e-mail lists the requests of both 2008 and 2009 from Roseland Heights:

Last September South Area Manager Gloria Beard sent, then new, Abbott Park Supervisor Ms Morgan to the RHCA meeting with answers to questions and requests from our Parks Committee. Manager Beard, in writing, promised to fulfill committee's requests. There was also a June 2009 meeting with RHCA committee, park supervisor, and region manager. Region Manager Millan had park supervisor submit new requests to Ms Beard. Requests were submitted again to Ms. Beard at budget meeting July 17, 2009.Of the requests made summer 2008, June 3, 2009 and July 17, 2009 to date Ms Beard has not met one request!

2008 requests: promised but not fulfilled
*Post signs which reflect new closing time 10:00pm. Note: a NEW 11:00pm sign has been posted.
*Swing gates are not locked at night when park is closed.
*Bollards were not positioned along areas of 96th & 97th Michigan and 98th State to stop cars from driving/parking on grass.
*Required non-permit activities/groups to be stopped immediately- has not been done
*Still issues permits to disruptive groups and activities too large for this park

June 2009 meeting requests that have not been fulfilled:
*Repair all rotted benches, all broken water fountains and broken track bleachers.
*Replace plastic fence in front of field house with metal fence and replace faded signs.
*Put temporary fences at 96/97, & 98 Streets until bollards are in place and put car stops to keep cars from driving out of small parking onto grass.

Well I like to hear from people who serve on LSCs but now I would like to hear from anyone who served on Park Advisory Committees. Let's hear about the work that you do!

Baseball coach shot at Abbott Park in Roseland

Oh dear lord!!!

A baseball coach was shot, apparently by one of his players, at a park in the Far South Side's Roseland neighborhood this afternoon, officials said, citing preliminary information.

The incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. near 95th Street and Michigan Avenue, police said. That location is Abbott Park.

The coach was taken from the scene in serious-to-critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Police said he suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The player who shot the coach is a 19 year 0ld and the police are looking for him right now! Hey the comments are getting nasty here. If you got something to say please go there and let your voices be heard!

UPDATE 8:23 PM Video on this story from WGN

 

UPDATE 9/7/209 @ 11:07 AM: ABC7 has this story as well!

A family member says Coach Glynn Hall is in fair condition. She said the player became upset because Hall wouldn't let him play. The relative also told ABC7 Chicago that the player shot Hall four times, once in each arm and twice in the back.

Police have not made any arrests.