Posted by Helen on: 07.19.2007 /
This is why I mentioned the destruction of the fig tree in Free Jesus.
About two and a half weeks ago (July 7) there was a flyer on my door about major renovations beginning in the park a quarter of a block away from us on July 9.
The next day I had a phone message from a local activist about a rally that afternoon – in the park – to save the 14 mature trees which were going to be cut down if the park district carries out the planned renovations.
I went over to the rally on what was probably the hottest day of the year, out of curiosity. Park district representatives were there as well as tree savers. I looked at their plans. They said they had had lots of public meetings in 2006 about their plans; also that they had been in the Wednesday Journal and Boy Scouts had put flyers on all the doors of houses near the park.
I am not against the Boy Scouts but I am not convinced I ever got that flyer. The part about the newspaper was embarrassing since I had been reading it fairly carefully since my dialog in there started. Some of the planning happened before then – I can see why I might have missed that. There were e-mails – but I am not on their mailing list – and they said it was on their website, which I never go to.
I couldn’t help thinking that the activist got my attention much more successfully than the Park District and they should consider hiring him to help them publicize what they are doing in future. But I suppose I could have made more effort to visit the Park District site and sign up for their e-mail newsletter (which I have since done).
The Park District representatives/landscaper designers pointed out they are planning 77 new trees. I like that but I do like the old trees which they want to remove. The reason for doing so is to put a full-size soccer pitch in the park. It won’t fit unless they take out some trees. The park is already used for baseball and by the adjacent primary school (K-5) during recreation times.
The tree saving group alerted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources about the trees around the time of the rally and the IDNR put the project on hold. The Park District arranged a special meeting last Thursday – July 12. It was at the adjacent school and it was packed.
People had the opportunity to sign up to comment publically (3 minute limit). They ran out of time to have everyone who wanted to, comment. I went to a lot of the meeting. There were about equal numbers of people into organized kid sports who wanted the soccer field and people into trees who wanted to save the trees. A couple of people asked for a compromise – could we have a slightly smaller pitch and save some/all the trees? Which seemed like a good idea to me. A couple of people said they didn’t think organized sports was good for children – I think that wasn’t really the right forum for sharing that opinion even though I understand where they’re coming from and do think we should be careful not to overschedule children.
There were some comments about, why didn’t people show up in the first place instead of at the 11th hour, to protest? As someone this plan passed by I have sympathy for others it also passed by. Plus it does seem like the tree cutting down part was not emphasized, although perhaps strictly speaking it was in there.
The Park District’s regular meeting was this Tuesday. I went again – it was not as well-attended as the other one. They presented a compromise plan with a slightly smaller soccer pitch which requires 6 not 14 trees removing. I like that better than the original plan. They took comments again. I stayed a while, then left because the comments were similar to Thursday’s – not much new there.
They had a display on the wall with newspaper articles about the plan. I looked and as I thought, it never was on the front page like someone had told me (if it had been I’m sure that would have been up on the wall). And I didn’t see any mention in the newspaper about cutting down trees.
According to the Wednesday Journal’s site the board voted unanimously to approve the plan at the end of the meeting. Now they are just waiting for the approval of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
It’s interesting to see that speaking up does make a difference, especially if you can suggest a reasonable compromise.
Comment by: julie marie
1so your community got to keep 50% more old growth trees, and the kids got a soccer pitch? (I guess I’ll be finding out what that is soon enough!) Sounds great.
People are so busy these days, that it sometimes does take that urgency a deadline brings to generate action. I got to see community action work when the owner of a plot of land in front of my neighborhood wanted to sell it to a used car dealership but needed a rezoning to do so. No one wanted people test driving the autos down Belle Hall Parkway, so we packed the zoning meeting. I didn’t speak but I wanted to help with the show of committment. Its several years later now, and the property has been developed into a really beautiful office park, with old growth trees preserved, professional landscaping, retention ponds with fountains and sidewalks. Much better! I do miss the undeveloped land though. My son and I used to go look for the big bad wolf in there. Cody loves the BBW. and hates him too. Loves his power, doesn’t like his meanness. I reckon I could morph that into a life lesson, but for now its just fun to play without a moral.
So yup, Helen…speaking up does make a difference! Good for you!
(from one of your earliest groupies :))
Comment by: Staci
2That is so wonderful that speaking up made a difference!
I can somewhat identify with the Parks District. I know that when I’m working on a project – living and breathing it constantly for months – I kind of feel like everyone must know everything I know already. It feels like old news.
At our department retreat this summer, we had a group of volunteers (who are also donors to the university) participate in a panel discussion. One of them said (I’m paraphrasing): you have to remember that I’m a part-time volunteer and I have lots of other things going on. When I’m not here, I’m not thinking about this place anywhere near as much as you all think about it. It’s up to you to do the work of educating, reminding, and suggesting to keep me in the loop. I don’t live in your brain.