I've been looking for a reason to talk about parks in this ward. I'm not a frequent park goer but the issue of the Children's Museum in Grant Park got me thinking about local parks. The debate was over keeping the lakefront forever clear and free of buildings and development but what about local neighborhood parks.
Would our parks get the same protection? Of course parks should not only get protection from developers but also decay or even the criminal element. Yup I would be worried that the parks could be the stomping ground of those individuals with nothing better to do than to cause trouble.
On top of that it's great to know that parks are used not only for the purpose of sitting around, but for exercise. Say for instance you want to walk around a track or take a little jog. Indeed kids can go to a park to take advantage of an activity designed just for them. Hmm perhaps I should start thinking about using the park for exercise.
Anyway I found this article from Clout City interviewing Erma Tranter who is president of Friends of the Parks. An advocacy group for the city's parks. Anyway Tranter is talking about a number of subjects regarding city parks especially further developing greenspace along Chicago's lakefront from Evanston all the way to Indiana. In addition to that there is discussion about the Chicago Children's Museum in Grant Park and the Latin School soccer field in Lincoln Park.
BTW, what do you think about parks in the ward, if I may ask?
Dispatches from Chicago's south side.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
3 comments:
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No park besides Grant Park has any building restrictions. If the mayor had decided he wanted the CCM anywhere else, it might have been a controversy, but it would never have come to a legal fight.
ReplyDeleteI can't speak for the sixth ward, but we up here in the 4th and 5th wards have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to parks. Being near the lake, and near Jackson and Washington parks, is one of the things that I love about living here!
Eric's close, but not correct.
ReplyDeleteWhile Grant Park's prohibition against buildings is iron-clad, other parks throughout the city have tough restrictions, including Lincoln Park.
I'm glad you're writing about this issue, Levois. South Side and West Side parks are rare things, and where they do exist, the maintenance and facilities are under-resources.
Here's the official city map of the 6th Ward - The tiny sprinkling of green you see shows you just how little green space there is.
Now, compare that to the 47th Ward, similarly situated away from the lake front on Chicago's North Side. Big difference.
I frequently bike the lakefront from Hollywood all the way to the Cultural Center, and I can tell you firsthand that there's a big difference between the maintenance of pathways north of downtown and south of downtown. Night and day.
Its a critical issue for struggling neighborhoods because study after study has showed that the lack of park space increases obesity, lowers property values, increases juvenile crime, depresses job creation, and even impacts mental health and brain development in children.
And lets not forget that every tree reduces harmful air and water pollution, and stands of trees cool the neighborhood air without having to pay ComEd.
Hi, recently moved purchased a condo in this ward and I would say out of the 3 parks that I am aware of that service this ward the one located on 83rd and King Dr. seems to be the most family friendly. I'm not sure of Tuley park and Meyering park would be nice if the police could get rid of the trouble makers.
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