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RAVINIA
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Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit
CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services
Top Photo Shows Current Park in Limbo and Fencing Everyone Out. Below Shows a Picture with a Lot of Trees -- Many that Would Have
Been Destroyed if not for Dr. Les Golden and the State of Illinois.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago photos
Oak Park Park Board Under Pressure from State Authorities Agreed to Killing 6 Trees Instead of the 28 Originally Planned for Field Park.
report and commentary by Ed Vincent
Tuesday night's meeting (July 17th) at Horace Mann School appeared before its starting as a ritual, a fete au comple, given their earlier announcement that a new plan had been released with 6 trees being destroyed instead of the original 28.
The new plan now shows the symbols of both the Park District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on it. There was to be a vote this evening on approval of the new plan, with some commentary before the vote.
Dr. Les Golden Works endlessly to save even more trees.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago photos
Looks and sounds like a gas powered leaf blower......
© Suburban Journals of Chicago photos
Many residents spoke this evening, and the majority were
thankful for the compromise. The compromise efforts were
mistakenly given to the Park Board and their efforts. All of the
original trees would have been totally demolished if Les Golden had not played a thoughtful role as a leader to save many of
the trees in Field Park. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also was a hero, as they took the ball that Golden had given them and ran with it to get the current compromise.
The residents who came to the meeting all had genuine concerns and feelings about the changes in the park. Some spoke of
poetry ( read poems), practicality (showed ways to have the soccer without loosing a single tree), and different perspectives ( field size and location, balls kicked onto Division street, big kids
playing next to or on top off little kids...).
Below are some of the comments:
0
Barbara
Mullarkey thanks both sides for the compromise. Don Nenzil still objects to the size for an
elementary school. Harold Polen saddened by the loss of mature
trees accepts the compromise John Ponsano believes the Board fell down
in their duty to save the trees. Ashley Adler Appreciates the Compromise
action from both sides. President of Oak Park Youth Baseball and
Softball John Stapelton accepts the compromise.
Dr. Golden stills sees room for improvement
and a need for better communications from the Park Board.
Ms. Vandergreen wants more native prairie
plants in the park. Vicky Petersen thanks Oak Park Citizens for
their saving the trees in Field Park. AYSO Soccer's Regional Commissionar Kevin
Toy is pleased with outcome.
Past Oak Park Park's President Tim Kelley
thanks the Board for their hard work and notes that it was all done in open meetings and with due process. He
also notes that the current plan looks considerably better than the old street
which ran through the middle of the park.
Gordon Bromwell talks on some historical
ecology for the region and regrets the loss of any trees.
Mike Farley approves of the changes and
likes the compromise.
Commissioner Graves shows some mixed
feelings in her approval. 36
Diameter Locust Tree was Taken Down Early in the Morning,Before the Harry Potter Celebration and other Festivities Today.
Oak Park Park's Board Promise to Kill Old Growth
Canopy Trees Brings Opposition to their Plans from the Neighbors, Residents, and the State of Illinois.
0
Senator Don Harmon's Statement Concerning
Destruction of Old Growth Trees with DNR Funds, read by Mr. Robert Baren
Ashley Adler, a young person seeking a
compromise with some new perspectives.
0
Local Activists Create Web Petition To Save Old Growth Trees in
OAK PARK from Eminent Destruction (Click Here to Sign)
0
Oak Park Residents and Neighbors Gather With Only a Few Hours Notice to Protest the Destruction of 120 Year Old Trees to Make an Olympic Sized Soccer Field for Young Children.
0
Illinois Department of Natural Resource Money is Being Held Pending
a Review of the Plans for Field Park--work has been Stopped.
Letters to the Editor Concerning Field Park
© Suburban Journals of Chicago
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
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