Jackson Park Advisory Counicil (JPAC) Website and Jackson Park Chicago

Jackson Park Advisory Council Website

Managed for Jackson Park Advisory Council by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. JPAC webmaster: Gary Ossewaarde, 773 947-9541. HPKCC site administrator: George Rumsey. hpkcc@aol.com. Views, material welcome.
2008 JPAC Officers elected March 10.
President, Ross Petersen; Vice President, Fran Vandervoort; Secretary, Newsletter-website-mailing list-meetings, Gary Ossewaarde; Treasurer, Dwight Powell; Louise McCurry, Geneva Calloway, Vernita Jones Bd. at Large. Nature Comm. co-chairs: Ross Petersen and Frances Vandervoort.
Print 2007 dues letter and form. Spec. JPAC Council Mtg. Sep. 8 So Shore, Vol. Workdays- (2nd, 4th Sat. 10-1 Darrow Bridge)

JPAC website index. To index of this homepage. Council and other meetings.
Special notices. To page with latest minutes. Budget requests for Jackson for 2008.
Special page on the proposed sports dome.

Note: re: booking private events/permits: contact Jackson Park fieldhouse, 773 256-0903 or Ann Regan at CPD Special Events. Better: Go to http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com and search for permits (all types) or special event permits. This site and JPAC have no booking responsibility.

*Earlier minutes and Newsletters are archived by Gary Ossewaarde-- going back to the founding in 1983 (with gaps in the early years). These may be viewed by appointment. 773 947-9541 or garyossewaarde@yahoo.com.

Photo Galleries:

Animal Bridge
A round and in the park: Site of Mary Rose Shaughnessy
Paved Granite Beach and Iowa Bldg. old views. Granite Beach and reconstr.
'Iowa' Building today
Lake Sh Dr and underpass work,57th-59th #1, #2, #3, 63rd. So Lkft Access projs
Lagoons and lagoon restoration
Nike C-41 base
Osaka Garden
Submarine move route and exhibit construction
Wooded Island
63rd St. Beach House and Schiff Play Fountain

Other sites:

In hydepark.org

Lakefront Protection Ordinance
Osaka Japanese Garden home,
Parks outside links and resources index
Wooded Island prospects, work objectives

Park Issues
Birding home
Columbian Exposition
Green (and beyond) page, with links

Outside (find more in the Green page)

Chicago Park District e-mail staff-1stname.2ndname@chicagoparkdistrict.com
Museum of Science and Industry's website
Hyde Park Historical Society website
Friends of the Parks, e-mail John Paul Jones

In this homepage...

Short vitae, Navigator indexes (above)
Next events, council meetings Volunteer workdays resume!
Ald. Hairston holds meeting on Olympics July 24 6:30 at fieldhouse. Sept. 8 mtg. on sports dome at 63rd Cornell
news and advisories (See page on Frederick Douglass Monument- page and Columbian Expo.)
- Good News! the Frederick Douglass monument is funded.
- JPAC, Ald. to hold special community meeting Sept. 8 over proposed facility some find troubling. See Domed Sports Facility page.
- PD proposes new Advisory Council Standards
- Nancy Hays, Tibor Heisler
- Budget hearings
- JPAC election - elected to serve until January 2008 election
- Actions, recent months, April and March summary. New Orleans Center Park
- The Park District in July 2008 started a new predictive modeling approach to closings at 63rd St. beach, called Swim Cast, with a $80,000 grant from Illinois Dept. of Public health.
- Olympic field hockey proposed for Jackson Park soccer fields. The council
  July 9 2007 resolved opposition; Sept. 10 met, queried Olympic Committee, city reps. See more & latest in the hydepark.org Olympic page.
- Wooded Island Working Group in agreement on restoration-maintenance plan.
- New study: dogs, natural areas don't mix and letter to Herald on this: see the Dogs and Wooded Island page.
- Jackson Park budget requests at preliminary July budget meeting
- Columbian Expo arch. excavation--see in the Jackson Park History page.
- JPAC looking at city's new swim ban policy, see in page with March 2007 minutes. More in swim ban page.
- Drum Circle constructed, ready to open. More.
- Continuing requests by neighbors for improvements such as on Iowa building, sidewalk on 56th- and on over traffic.
- Community Garden expected to become year-round outdoor environmental and gardening education and production center. See March minutes re.
- South Shore High Frederick Douglass teaching project in park final report, recommendations. Recommendation for commemorative boulder submitted.
- JPAC hears on harbor concepts. Programs for teens revving up.
- JPAC joins new Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership
- New Army Corps report on C-41 released
- New playground underway at 67th/Chappel
- Budget hearing requests
- To 63rd Bathing Pavilion landmarking achieved, naming for Eric Hatchett approved
- Park proposals, projects. See Traffic Circle page
- Harbor proposals
Who, Where? (getting there, about the park and its attractions, park management, help keep up your park)
Field House happenings. Facilities and opportunities
Programs and specials. From the Supervisor.
Recreation by outside vendors
Jackson Park, sports, and schools- a natural combination
Feature on JPAC volunteers in the park
Biography of former JPAC President Eric Hatchett, whose advocacy largely restored the 63rd St. Bathing Pavilion.
Essay: Our busy "underutilized" park

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Next events, exhibits, Advisory Council meetings

New Advisory Council Standards Proposed.

Normally in the fieldhouse, 6401 S. Stony Island, 7:30 pm 2nd Monday except day after in October. Contact Ross Petersen, 773 486-0505 or Gary Ossewaarde (or hpkcc@aol.com) , 773 947-9541 with questions or to place your agenda item; Gary to receive the JPAC Newsletter. To Recent meeting minutes and resolutions. President Ross Petersen re: policy, natural areas, environmental issues, volunteering--773 486-0505.

Next council meeting Monday, September 8, 2008, is a special community meeting convened by JPAC and Alderman Leslie A. Hairston (5th) 7:30 pm at South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive. Subject: proposed domed mostly private use sports facility for the tennis courts southwest of Hayes and Cornell Drives. All are urged to attend.

Recent meeting minutes are now up in the Minutes and Resolutions page.

An Archeological Reconnaisance Camp featuring the Columbian Exposition in Jackson Park remains in progress at 58th/Cornell. A press conference followed by an open house was held May 17. Rebecca Graff:
Spring 2008 we conducted a phase of archaeological excavations with a class of University of Chicago undergraduates in Chicago’s Jackson Park southwest of the Museum to investigate the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The 2008 holes are now filled and allowed to go back to normal.

August 21, Thursday, 6 pm. Contrary to previous report, this is NOT the South Side park district budget hearing but the City of Chicago budget hearing, although points about parks are welcome.. South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive.

August 28. Thursday 5th Ward Olympic meeting- 6:30 pm. Will include a full presentation and discussion, including on successful minority and community participation.
April 24 in Jackson Park fieldhouse, over 40 savvy residents of Hyde Park, Woodlawn and South Shore, including stakeholder representatives, met in Jackson Park Fieldhouse to ask many questions and give ideas to Gyata Kimmons of Chicago 2016 and Alderman Hairston. It appeared to be just sinking in how complex the issues and enormous the impacts will be, especially on the parks.
May 22, focus was on transportation, roads and transit. CTA, IDOT came. There is lots to be done, where is the money?

Save the date: the normal September 8 meeting will convene as a public ward-wide hearing on the proposed sports dome for the 63rd/Cornell tennis courts. Held at South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive on Monday, September 8, 7:30 pm.

Advisory Council members: Save the date of September 6, Saturday, 11 am-2 pm for the annual PD Council Recognitions party at Northerly Island Charter One Pavilion. If you wish to go on the bus from South Shore Cultural Center at 10 am, reserve there at 773 256-0149.

September 9, Tuesday, 6 pm. Park District South Side budget hearing. Avalon Park, 1215 E. 83rd St.

Save the date September 20, Saturday, 9-noon. Beach Sweep and Clean at Jackson Park. Alliance for the Great Lakes. Volunteers and team leaders will be needed. Until registration and details site is up, contact Julia at jkelso@greatlakes.org.

________________________

Online Park Program Registration Utilizes PayPal
The Park District is now using the PayPal online payment
system. Before you register online for one of our fall classes, we encourage
you to review the new screens and review our Q&A about the new system. You can
do this by copying and pasting the web address below into your web browser:
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/programs.home.cfm

You can probably view winter program offerings online now or soon. To do this, copy and paste the
web address below into your web browser:
http://programs.chicagoparkdistrict.com/programBrowser/

Fall online registration opens August 11 (Mon), in person August 16 (Sat)- call 773 256-0903. Programs can be viewed on line from July 28.

Tumbling Camp Aug. 4-8 9 am-12 pm; Cheerleading Camp Aug. 11-15 9 am-12 pm. Both $42 per camp.

2nd and 4th Saturday Volunteer Workdays-. Call Ross Petersen at 773 486-0505.

10 am-1 pm, meet at the Darrow bridge south of MSI/ Columbia Basin.

Restarts March 22, 2008.

Hyde Park Herald, March 19, 2008. Jackson Park seeks volunteers

Hyde Parkers can welcome spring by volunteering for the first Jackson Park work day of he season form 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The tradition of volunteers work days first started in Jackson Park's Bobolink Meadow and the Wooded Island in 1988.

"These areas need a lot of attention," said Ross Petersen, who has been directing the work days for six years.

Volunteers can expect to do general garden work, removing invasive species such as buckthorn and mulberry bushes, and replanting native vegetation to restore historic nature areas. Petersen said he usually gets about a dozen volunteers to help, six of whom volunteer through the non-profit group Chicago Works [Chicago Cares?]

"We would like to reach out to school, church, community groups to help out on our work days," said Petersen. The volunteer work days are on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month and start at the Darrow Bridge. Tools and refreshments are provided. For more information, call Petersen at 486-0505.

In other news, the Wooded Island working group was given special recognition for their hard work by the Friends fo the Park during the organization's annual luncheon last month.

More recently, the Jackson Park Advisory Council elected new officers last week. Those officers are Ross Petersen as president, Fran Vandervoort as vice president, Gary Ossewaarde as secretary and Dwight Powell as treasurer. Top

Rationale and purpose- see in Wooded Island habitat and prospects page. Note- an all-parties meeting was held that looks forward to a good management plan for Wooded Island. See reports there. A plan was adopted at a broad meeting of stakeholders in September.

Join Jackson Park Advisory Council and the Chicago Park District/Aramark for natural areas work. Tools and refreshments will be provided. Please dress for the weather. The second and fourth Saturday of every month until October from 10 am to 1 p.m. Now meets at the Darrow Bridge south of MSI Columbia Basin. Parking is east of the bridge, access from Lake Shore Drive at 5800 S. or from 57th Drive and go around the east side of the Museum. Ross Petersen at 773 486-0505.

Vice President and Nature Chair Ross Petersen's letter on workdays and planting, January 2007. For more on why what is done is on Wooded Island, see new page.

To the Editor:

On Jan. 8, the Jackson Park Advisory Council agreed to appropriate $500 for the purchase of native species of plants, to be planted by park volunteers this spring. Also, beginning in April, an extra volunteer workday will be added on the fourth Saturday of each month in addition to ongoing workdays on second Saturdays. The second volunteer workday will be used for the planting of these new species.

JPAC volunteers can expect to spend three hours, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., on each workday. Volunteers will meet at the Darrow Bridge at 10 a.m., and will be encouraged to work until 1 p.m.

These actions will enable JPAC to continue its efforts to improve Wooded Island habitat.

For more information, call Ross Petersen, 486-0505.

Enjoy the birding year round and the great spring and fall migrations. Chicago and the Chicago Park district are signatories of the International Bird Migratory Treaty of March 2000, and are committed to maintaining and increasing the bird friendliness of parks. (Friends of the Parks and many other groups, including members of JPAC's nature committee, worked out the guidelines.) Visit Birding (and bird conservation, in Jackson Park).

Advisories, of interest from JPAC and the park

Written by Gary Ossewaarde. Olympics

For late news, see the latest minutes in the Minutes and Resolutions page.

State funding for parks in our area and on the greater south side may be at risk, including $150,000 for Jackson. Speaker Madigan held local hearings.

To page with discussion of Proposal for a sports activity and training dome at Hayes and Cornell. Alderman Hairston and the Council hold a special meeting at South Shore Cultural Center Sept. 8, 7:30.

An archeological dig under Rebecca Graff of University of Chicago phase I found evidence from and of the Columbian Exposition, including infrastructure and actual foundations of some buildings sw of the Museum. See in the Columbian Exposition page in Columbian Exposition page in hydepark.org.

The Frederick Douglass monument fundraising under Barry Rapoport has been successfully concluded. Barry and JPAC wish to thank the Parkways Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, and numerous groups and individuals for their donations. Final approvals and implementation of this now Park District project are under discussion. We thank Park District staff for their help and facilitation.

March 2008. New standard guidelines and by-laws are being proposed by COD for advisory councils. JPAC was among those asked to review an initial draft. Reviewers found the spirit as well as the provisions lacking in a spirit of partnership, discouraging of council membership and park volunteering and highly burdensome.

JPAC representatives and reps. from several other councils held a serious and cordial meeting with the Park District April 4. It appears that most issues can be resolved by a joint committee using the 2000 Guidelines as starter. Another meeting with Park District was held July 11, with a Jackson rep. on the new oversight committee. Most issues appear to have been resolved, but some matters remain to be cleared up.

See Jackson Park Council comments sent to Park District, and extensive coverage and commentary in the hydepark.org Park Issues page.

Budget. The first round of budget hearings for 2009 was held at Harris Park July 11 2008. Gary Ossewaarde spoke of the need for space as well as budget to serve a growing program constituency and need for natural areas and other maintenance budget as well as trees replacement (started at Promontory Point). Region Manager Liz Millan reported that parking lots will be repaved and there will be more work done in the fieldhouse to keep it servicable, and perhaps at basketball courts.

2nd round will be at South Shore Cultural Center August 21, Thursday, 6 pm.
JPAC is disturbed at loss or reduction of hours for key summer camp programs, which seem to be in a shambles. Also at flagging and lack of communication in the natural areas and lagoogn restoration and maintenance and lack of replanting.

On March 10, 2008 JPAC elected officers: President Ross Petersen, Vice President Fran Vandervoort, Secretary Gary Ossewaarde, Treasurer Dwight Powell, At-Large Geneva Calloway, Vernita Jones, Louise McCurry.

Wooded Island Work back on track as elements of Working Group agree on most. But the work is not being done except by some volunteers and occasional visits from Aramark crews, and communication seems weak.

Hyde Park Herald, May 28, 2008. By Crystal Fencke.

On Jackson Park's Wooded Island at 10 a.m. on last week's clear, crisp Wednesday morning , a group of individuals representing different--and, at times, competing--park interests all came together .

Starting behind the Museum of Science and Industry at the Clarence Darrow Memorial bridge, they strolled south down the path and pst the Osaka Japanese Garden. As they walked, they pointed at various marks of interest: up at 100-year-old trees, through clearings at vistas of the lagoon and up again spotting birds of note.

Jackson Park's Wooded Island Working Group, as it's known, has been collaborating for more than a year to find the best ways to restore and maintain the value of this South Side gem. Wednesday's meeting marked a historic burying of the hatchet in the park. considered one of the "150 greatest places in Illinois" by the American Institute of Architects, Wooded Island stands to benefit from this group of stewards looking out for the island's wide-ranging ecological and historical needs.

The groups represented last week in the working group were te Chicago Park District, Friends of the Parks (FOTP), the Jackson Park Advisory Council and the Chicago Audubon Society.

According to Rebecca Blazer, director of the Forest Preserve Initiative with FOTP, this joint effort is taking a three-pronged plan. from an ecological standpoint, they're looking at maintaining and restoring the island's bio-diversity.

From a historical perspective, the group is looking to preserve as closely as possible the integrity of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's vision of the island. And the object is for Wooded Island to be even more enjoyable for the people who use it every day. "That's why it takes such a detailed approach," she said.

A point of immediate attention for the group is supporting the diversity of bird species on the island, as "the lake is the primary flyway for migrating birds," said Blazer. In the spring, "they need to refuel ... they depend on it as a stopover point," she said. Doug Anderson, of the Audubon Society, leads birding tours at the park. He said that in his 34 years of birding on the island, he has counted upwards of 200 species.

Spring is when the birds are most vulnerable, said Blazer. The birds have just flown of hundreds of miles from their winter sanctuaries in the southern climes of Mexico, Cuba and even as far away as Argentina. So it's important that they have a strong supply of seeds in order to fuel up. This is one reason that the group has become so vigilant about plant material on the island. In order to best replenish the birds after their spring migration, the plant material must be abundant.

The plan is to gradually clear out invasive species of plants, generally those which are not native to the island. When Olmsted designed the spot for the world Columbian exposition, he used some native and some non-native plantings. The current blueprint of the Wooded Island Working Group is to try to thin out the non-native species in order too bring in more native plants which will provide more nourishment for the birds in the spring.

Some of the plants that will experience removal are a type of honeysuckle, the tree of heaven (some call it the 'stink tree') and, over time, mulberry trees. Plants that will be introduced by th Chicago Park District starting this fall over a three-year period are the hazel, nannyberry, which bears a fruit somewhat like a blueberry, and the hackberry.

Cleaning of the park is an ongoing process. Jackson Park Advisory Council president, Ross Petersen, leads volunteer stewardship groups every 2nd and 4th Saturdays now through October. To join, all are welcome to meet at the Darrow bridge at 10 a.m. weather permitting. Call 486-0505 for more information.

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The Wooded Island Working Group, planning the management and upkeep of this premier nature area and bird home, received special recognition from Friends of the Parks February 2008 at FOTP's Annual Luncheon. Planning for phased removals then plantings continues.

The group continues to plan, mark invasives for removal over the next three years, and plan other management activities under the Chicago Park District. The Group and JPAC especially want to express appreciation to Douglas Stotz, Field Museum of Natural History for his technical expertise and enthusiastic support. In May 2008 a walk through of the parties and park district (including Yemma Yermakov, Ross Petersen, Doug Anderson, Paul Clyne) has confirmed the restoration program for Wooded Island, which will now proceed.

JPAC was honored as one of the Advisory Councils of the Year at the Advisory Council Appreciation Day picnic on Northerly Island September 8. JPAC was recognized for most support and sponsorship of park programs, in appreciation of outstanding leadership and service.

JPAC at the October meeting elected officers to serve until March: Ross Petersen, President; Fran Vandervoort, Vice President; Gary Ossewaarde, secretary, Dwight Powell, Treasurer. Board Members At Large: Louise McCurry, Geneva Calloway, Vernita Jones. Petersen and Vandervoort will continue to share the chair of the Nature Committee. These officers were re slated for February 1008. Postponed again to March due to weather and low attendance of qualifying members. Additional nominations can be sent to Secretary Gary Ossewaarde.

In addition, some procedural bylaw changes were adopted relative to finances and confirmed at the November meeting. these read: Expenditures may be made only as directed by a resolution approved at a council meeting. there shall be no less than two signers of every check, normally the Treasurer and Secretary.

With great sadness we report the passing of Nancy Hays, May 26, 1923-May 31, 2007, Jackson Park Advisory Council President for the past 8 years. A memorial service was held Saturday, June 23 at St. Paul and the Redeemer Church. Those seeking biographical information about Nancy's life should visit the Nancy Campbell Hays Memorial page.

With sadness we also report the passing of our long time treasurer, Tibor Heisler. A service was held for Tibor on Sunday, September 9 Visit the Tibor Heisler page.

The council offers its condolences to vice president Ross Petersen on the passing of his mother. Also recently deceased are members William Erickson and Elizabeth Borst.

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Moving ahead per February 2008 council meeting:
1) Commemorative boulder and plaque honoring Frederick Douglass at the Haitian Pavilion of the World's Columbian Exposition. Barry Rapoport reports that $5,000 is needed (c/o Parkways Foundation) to execute the project. Contact drumjug@yahoo.com or clane@parkways.org.
2) Athletes Committed to Education sports facility. Tyrone Mason
3) Archeological Reconnaissance focused on Columbian Exposition. Rebecca Graff.
4) Community Garden under Growing Power. Laurell Sims.

At the July 9 meeting, JPAC resolved that it opposes as inappropriate and ill-conceived the proposal to site Olympic venues in Jackson Park. More and latest, including coverage of the Sept. 10 meeting with city in the hydepark.org Olympics page. Resolution is below. At the September 10 meeting (attended by about 60) there was a full, productive discussion with the Chicago 2016 meeting. JPAC will continue to gather information and make suggestions.

There was one and would be a second an official site walk through for problems with landscaping in the park including our visitation committee. In July this all-parties meeting was held, on template and management of Wooded Island and Bob-o-link Meadow in Jackson Park, by all accounts very forward-moving. The 1999 template will be revisited. (A subsequent open walk though before any work is done is being suggested also.) Coverage will be in the Wooded Island care summary page.

The region preliminary budget hearing is on Wednesday September 19 at Marquette park, 6734 S. Kedzie. .

We have learned in late July 2007 that 63rd Street Beach watershed has been chosen as one of two sites in Illinois to be thoroughly tested for sources and impact of pollution through an EPA beach sanitary survey grant applied for by Illinois Department of Public Health. See the Beach and Pollution page.

Good news: The bird counts in late summer 2007 are creeping back up on Wooded Island And a major summit of all the interested parties, including many scientists from leading institutions resulted in a road path to progress on Wooded Island forest management and new planting. However, there is a moratorium on work on Wooded Island this early fall while the Park District develops a management plan for the Island. So workdays Coverage will be in the Bob-o-link Meadow for now. See Wooded Island care summary page.

An article in the New York Times of September 11 2007 calls attention to a study showing that walking dogs in natural areas, even on leash, causes substantial reduction in numbers and diversity. See Dogs and Wooded Island.

At the April meeting we discussed a large variety of projects in or proposed for the park, expanding fieldhouse programs, and Chicago's connections with important Center Park in New Orleans, devastated by Hurricane Katrina- JPAC appropriated $200 towards its restoration. The council received a very nice thank you letter with an update on what has been restored and reopened.

Jackson Park Council wants the public to know that it commends and has appropriated $200 towards restoration of New Orleans' historic Center Park, devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Melissa Cook gave an impressive visual presentation of the history, amenities, and Chicago connections of one of America's most important parks, on a par with New York's Central Park, Chicago's Olmsted and Jensen-Caldwell parks, Prospect Park, and the Presidio. Connections include sculptures and reliefs by Mexican sculptor (___ A_____), who was inspired by and collaborated with Lorado Taft and in Chicago carved, inter alia, the Palmolive Building elevator doors before he moved to New Orleans.

The March meeting featured presentations and discussion on the learning and community sustainability garden to be built in the park, causes and solutions for swim bans and lake pollution and standards and protocols for public notification and swimming bans, Wooded Island and proper stewardship for Wooded Island including update on effects of action on birds long and short term, and expanding and maturing field and fieldhouse programs and outreach. Minutes will appear in the mailed and online April JPAC Newsletter.

See above Vice President Petersen's letter on the addition of a second monthly volunteer workday, for planting and on purchase of plant material.

2008 budget requests for Jackson at July 2007 preliminary hearing

For the Council (Gary Ossewaarde) . Thanked district for expansion of youth programming, budgeting of certain drives and parking lots, and the new playground on 67th--with encouragement to find ways people can feel safer using these facilities and the park. Asked for more budgeting for maintenance and physical upgrades, esp. to paths, nothing major or new, but control over permitted events.

Rosalind Moore of Alderman Hairston's office asked for improvements to the harbors--inner harbor, southern shores, west seawall railing, 59th/ Lake Shore Drive pillar repair, reduce permit fees for small parties.

Vernita Jones of the JPAC visitation committee asked for renewed landscape east of the Drive, especially at the 63rd overpass, with poor grades and design. Sand needs to be removed by guardrails especially on the boardwalk south of 57th more than once a week. Other paths brought up for renewal. The stairs by LaRabida on Promontory Circle. Missing signs, especially mileage on the Lakefront bike path (Lakefront Director Alonzo Williams said this and the Driving Range path and Cornell/Hayes lot are in progress). Wallach fountain base at Promontory Point.

Queen Sister focused on problems at 63rd Street beach. Needs benches an play equipment, and a pay phone for backup. The attendant is left to close washrooms and facilities by themselves, so close washrooms early. Asked for posting faces and names of registered area sexual predators at beachhouse. Open the craft room for community and group use, after fixing windows and air conditioning. Concessions (need more).

The Olympic 2016 Committee has moved the field hockey component from Washington Park to the soccer fields south of the Jackson Park lagoons. The council among others suggested at least one alternative within the park that would affect a specialty user but be in a fenced area minimizing public inconvenience and natural areas disturbance. This was not effected.

At its July 9 2007 meeting, JPC passed the following resolution: "The Jackson park Advisory Council opposes as ill-advised and inappropriate the siting of Olympic venues in Jackson Park."

September 10 2007 Olympic Committee (Mr. Gyata Kimmons, Valerie Jarrett, a hands-on expert, and Arnold Randall, Commissioner of Planning and Development) met with JPAC. Following an introduction, extensive discussion, suggestions, comments were offered in good spirit by the 50-60 attendees. The OC were acquainted with many specifics that need to be carefully considered. JPAC will continue gathering information and questions. Here is some media coverage.

Progress made between JPAC, Olympics Committee

Hyde Park Herald, September 19, 2007. By Georgia Geis

A line of communication between the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee and the Jackson Park Advisory Council (JPAC) was opened last week at a well-attended Sept. 10 council meeting. Gyata Kimmons, Chicago 2016 community liaison, addressed residents' questions about the plans to use Jackson Park as a field hockey venue in the proposed 2016.

"There seems to be an openness for further discussions with the Olympic Committee," said JPAC Vice President Ross Petersen. Kimmons said he was encouraged to see so many park users at the meeting asking questions. "These are people who actually use the park," said Kimmons. "The audience really wanted to know about our proposals."

Valerie Jarrett and Arnold Randall from the Olympic Committee joined with Kimmons to present the Olympic and Paralympic plan for Jackson Park. They provided color posters of what they expect the sites to look like. They outlined the specifics about two new astro-turf fields that would be added. [note: these would replace 2 of 3 current grass fields and would be an advanced artificial surface, not "Astroturf".]

Petersen said that the soccer players in attendance saw potential in the new fields that will cost more than half a million each to complete. Petersen, who said he was optimistic about the open communication with Chicago 2016, said there were still many concerns and an enormous amount of skepticism about using the park as a site. "This is all uncomfortably close to a nature area," said Petersen....

Hyde Park Herald January 31, 2007

Plans to the latest 2016 Olympic bid proposal have changed slightly and neighborhood civic leaders have mixed opinions about it. On Jan. 22, the /chicago Bid Committee submitted its bid book- and expansion of the 1200-page proposal- to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The latest plans have expanded to include the Jackson Park soccer field fo possible field hockey games.

Jackson Park Advisory Council Vice President Ross Petersen is not happy about the decision to use the field. He said lt hat JPAC's inclusion of any of its park space would have been greatly appreciated. "We don't think that that's going to be a good spot. The site is not particularly accessible. It's very close to sensitive natural areas and it's going to displace a lot of people who use the field for soccer," Petersen said.

Petersen said during the summer, high school students, college players and members of the American Youth Soccer Organization use the soccer field on a daily basis.

The Olympic Games will be a part of the February 13 [special day, 7:30, 6401 S. Stony Island] meeting, Petersen said. ...

Changes to the proposal come after having talks with the Chicago Park District, Friends of the Park, and Washington Park and Jackson Park advisory councils, Chicago Bid Committee officials said. It was determined that Jackson Park would be a better place to host the field hockey Games because of the soccer field. "Our goal is to not just use the park, but over the long term this will revitalize and leave the park much better than when we went into it," said Patrick Sandusky. "We thought about what would be the best long term solution for the community."

The Chicago 2016 Bid Committee -- comprised of business, civic, athletic, cultual land academic leaders -- is 501(c)(3) corporation. Chicago is competing against Los Angeles and he USOC decides whether or not to submit a U.S. city to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in April. The IOC is expected to make their final decision in October 2009. For moe information, visit chicago2016.org.

Some perspective ahead of JPAC's September 10 meeting with the Olympic Committee:

Hyde Park Herald, September 4, 2007. By Georgia Geis

Gyata Kimmons, community liaison for the organization trying to win the Olympic bid, Chicago 2016, will plead a case for the benefits of hosting the Olympic Games in Jackson Park at the Jackson Park Advisory Council (JPAC) meeting next Monday. Kimmons will be responding to JPAC's official stand against using the park for a field hockey venue.

"This will be a very difficult sell," said JPAC member Fran Vandervoort "We certainly do want to meet with people."

A couple months after winning the US bid, Chicago 2016 hired Kimmons to field concerns and gain input from residents. "We hired Gyata to outreach to our communities and make this a part of our bid process on the international level," said Patrick Sandusky . Sandusky, who worked to win the bid for 2014 [sic] Olympic Games in London, said that the London committee did not hire a community liaison until they were a year further into the process than Chicago 2016 is now.

Kimmons said he is prepared to hear all kinds of criticisms and concerns about Chicago hosting the Olympics. "I'm taking all the criticisms, all the issues, all the concerns--anything anyone has to say."

JPAC members feel that the Olympics will cause too much disruption to the 136-year-old park by being closed before, during and after the games. Another concern is replacing the existing grass field with astro-turf which they think could cause accidents. In response to the astro-turf complaints, Kimmons said the current technology for astro-turf eliminates the concerns about "rug burns" and other injuries.

Kimmons, however, acknowledged other impacts the Olympics could have on the park. "There are huge environmental concerns... We want to hear exactly what those concerns are," said Kimmons. "Because it is not always the situation that we are going to do what we are going to do and not really care what people think." Vandervoort said she is skeptical of how much change residents can have when it comes to the Olympic plans. "How effective can our small community group be? If the city wants it, the city gets its way," said Vandervoort. Kimmons said community discussions can make a difference in the planning of the event. He cited an example when the Olympic committee in Vancouver, Canada changed plans based on what the residents thought.

Chicago native Kimmons is no stranger to debating. He received his law degree from Howard University and most recently worked on legislative issues for the Chicago Public Schools.. Kimmons said that it was the young people who drew him to working with the Olympic committee. Kimmons said he knows the impact exposure to Olympic sports can have on children... "It's really about these kinds," said Kimmons. "The average age for an Olympian who would be competing in 2016 is 12 years. old. Education and the youth movement is a very strong piece for the Chicago 2016."

Regardless of what issues are brought up in regards to the 2016 Olympics Games, Kimmons said people must keep in mind that Chicago has not won the international bid yet and 2016 is far away. "We are still trying to get the bid, so nothing is in concrete," said Kimmons. "We have poured no concrete. We have dug no dirt."

The Jackson Park Advisory Council meets Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jackson Park Field HOuse. Kimmons will be attending the meting. For more information, call 947-9541. To contact Kimmons, email him gkimmons@chicago2016.org.

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The Army Corps returned to Bob-o-link Meadow to test bore at the Nike missile site, The Corps had good communication with JPAC. Details coming at the January JPAC meeting. JPAC has received a hard copy and CD of the Preliminary Final Assessment of the Nike C-41 Missile Base and, proposed return visit (done) and history. By the time of the August 2008 JPAC meeting, communication had ceased and more boring was to be done. See the Nike C-41 page.

Jackson Park suffered substantial tree downings and damage in the October 2 2006 storms. JPAC supports timely replacement of lost trees. This has not been done as of mid 2008.

Our park's budget went up 8 to 12 percent depending on category for 2007.

JPAC in December 2006 is involved in the following:

Growing native plants at a park district conservatory for the natural areas, in conjunction with Parkways Foundation and specialized nurseries (Kristen Akre is to be thanked).
Resolving in favor of an art mosaic project for schools and kids in the underpasses near Museum of Science and Industry. (JPAC expects to contribute some.) Involved are several local schools, Chicago Public art Group, and Hyde Park Art Center. We especially thank artist Mirtes Zwierzynski and Loren Moltz, who is active in so many groups and schools and Friends of he Parks Board.
Resolving in favor of a marker near the site of the Haitian pavilion at the Columbian Exposition, honoring the contributions of Frederick Douglass.

Previously we were pleased that the drummers circle at 63rd bathing pavilion and the 67th playground are nearing realization and that there will be a major expansion and teaching project at the community garden next summer in the south end of the park.

JPAC is pleased to announce that representatives are working with Adam Schwerner, director of Natural Resources for planning of improvements and improved habitat management at Wooded Island and the underpasses. However, communications and cooperation are a problem (in all the nature areas citywide).

The Junior Bears football league program in fall 2006 was a smashing success. There was a rousing awards ceremony, made possible by the huge participation all fall by the parents club. Staff included William Tillis (park supervisor), Terry Jones (head coach) , Eric Hammond, Eric Edwards, James Knighten, Daniel Moore, Foster Williams III, Andrea Frink (head cheerleader coach), Sharon Moore, and Milton Brown III, and Marcus Kurns. Participants in the ceremonials included Ken Chaney (Jazz artist), Alonzo Williams (Lakefront Director), Lexi Spurlock Head Coach at Morgan Park High School, S.T.Y.L.E. Dance Group, and others. Programs are growing fast. And budget increases for Jackson Park reflect it.

JPAC is interested in knowing details in the changed program for swimming bans when bacteria goes up in the water. We are actively researching the matter and are conversing with government experts. We should have special guests on the matter at the February JPAC meeting.

JPAC by resolution at the July 2007 meeting holds that the Park District is not complying with the EPA/IDPH guidelines for notification of the public when benchmarks are exceeded short of the 1000 mandating a swim ban.

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Good news: The drumming circle east of 63rd Bathing Pavilion is complete except for final revisions in conjunction with the preferences of the drummers' group. This successful project is a result of cooperative planning (including hours open) between Conga Drummers Association and other support groups, JPAC, Alderman Hairston's office, and Chicago Park District. The District handled all work and costs internally. The circle will consist of cut limestone blocks and is located east of the 63rd Bathing Pavilion and its parking lot, near the bath to Casino Pier. It is expected to be a lively place and see use by several groups.

Requests continue from residents for fix up on the Iowa Building and the sidewalk on the south side of 56th between Stony and the Drive.

The Community Garden run by Mr. Robinson at the southwest corner of the golf course north of Marquette Road did well in 2006. At the August meeting, Yang Mi Kaneshiro of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Special Events-outdoor environmental education (and speaking also for partner Growing Power) presented ideas for working with Mr. Robinson to turn the garden into a teaching institution. Part of the site would have year-round work an training/teaching sheds. Growing Power is expected to come to a future JPAC meeting, likely April. Top

Done: a replacement playground at 67th and Jeffery. See further on.

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Jackson Park Advisory Council Website

Next events, exhibits, Advisory Council meetings

Advisories, of interest from JPAC and the park

Commemorative marker planned for