RReports of the Kenwood Usage Committee

• First meeting June 4, 2008
• Second meeting, June 26, 2008
• Park repair needs report June 26 2008
• Hyde Park Kenwood Legends 2008 Schedule
  
  To get a copy of the Kenwood Park Usage Report to use when visiting and observing the park and its usage, contact George Rumsey.

Minutes, Kenwood Park* Usage Committee
1st meeting, June 4, 2008

The meeting was convened by George W. Rumsey under commission of Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (4th) on June 4, 2008, c. 7:10 pm in the Hyde Park Bank 4th Floor Conference Center. Minutes were taken by Gary Ossewaarde. (*The park, 1330 E. 50th, runs 49th-50th, Dorchester to approx. Kenwood.)

Present: the following invited and assembled participants, in order of introductions or first speaking):
George Rumsey, Chairman. President, Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference
Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (4th)
Ben Jacobson, coach and officer of the HPK Chicago Fire Soccer
Jonathan Silverman, Ancona School and neighbor, parent of users
Gary Ossewaarde, HPKCC Vice President, and Parks Chairman
Crystal Fencke, Hyde Park Herald
Heinrich Jaeger, neighbor, longtime active in the park advisory council on many issues
Madelain Gerbaulet Vanasse, neighbor, user, Kenwood Open House Committee
Vicki Suchovsky, HPKCC board
Mary Margaret Bell, neighbor, advisory council
Steve Molasky, neighbor, advisory council
Jean Snyder, neighbor, heavy user, advisory council
Leslie Pilot-Gatton, life neighbor, Kenwood Improvement Association, St. Paul, Lester Dugas
Roxanne Friedman, neighbor, Legends Baseball
Lynn Small, neighbor, asks for Lester Dugas Memorial Assn.
Sophia Dorsey King, lives near, family uses, sports interest, Kenwood Improvement Assn.
Janet Geovanis, neighbor, Kenwood Improvement Association, Ancona School

Rumsey defined the purpose of the committee as seeking strategies for solution. This will require much feedback and research and will not be a quick process. This is the first of several meetings.

Alderman Preckwinkle expressed appreciation to the chairman and participants. She reiterated that there will be several meetings as there needs to be clarity about the park’s usage.

Rumsey said he does not have a history and sense of this park and its usage, although he has gathered a large folder of materials. What are the issues, he asked, and how do we achieve solutions and consensus? He wants consensus and noted that the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference seeks open, honest conversations.

Introductions were held around the table, in which participants were asked to state their associations, interests, and uses in the park, and their concerns, which often became discussions. It was noted that the schools (Ancona, Canter, and Kenwood) and their teams were underrepresented despite specific requests. This will be followed up.

Motion was made by Lynn Small that the Committee recommends a new fence to protect and discourage trash at the Lester J. Dugas Memorial Garden. Upon discussion, this was approved 7-5 in principle and with no prejudice to the role of the advisory council in considering the matter.

Rumsey raised sample queries that need answers on the road to solutions.
• Lack of reference to schools and their teams in discussion
• Will there be a league of even older boys at Kenwood Park? No
• Any progress on dust and mud impacts? The district and Legends are making some progress. Systemic problems and that most of the fields are idle of usage at one time were discussed.
• Need for protective netting and fencing per referenced safety study. There were sharp differences of opinion on this and safety. Ald. Preckwinkle asked Legends to supply current playing schedule.
• Impacts, overlap of play and cay camps. A partial overlap was observed.
• Adequacy of facilities. There was general agreement these are inadequate onsite.
• Could some play be removed to other parks? Difficulties and reluctance by the district and third parties was discussed.
• Have alternatives been found for soccer, should it have to move? No.

Rumsey discussed information-gathering steps. He said people need to observe the uses and play (note: schedules needed). Some observers have been recruited, including people living at a distance. The experience of teams, players, neighbors will be explicitly sought. This needs to include related issues such as trash handling. In short, there will be “secret shoppers,” information from teams and neighbors, and discussion with the Park District.

Concluding comments:
Friedman said we need to know what he neighbors really want for/in the park—and expect the teams to be doing, not just that they don’t want the baseball.

Rumsey: How can we provide more for girls, who play disproportionately in displaced soccer? Friedman suggested more coaches.

Silverman: What principles can we use to evaluate issues and programs: He suggested 1) an end-goal for the park and 2) when there are competing uses, the more compatible are to be preferred.

Jaeger: No one use should drive out others.

Snyder said historical uses of the park and field changes and the long history with team uses should be factored in.

Molasky said he is concerned about the division. The park has lots of use. The change was imposed and that caused strain.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm. Date of the next meeting was subsequently set as June 26, 7:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary M. Ossewaarde

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Kenwood Usage Committee – 2nd meeting June 26, 2008

Agenda:

Call to order
Introductions
Review of Minutes of Last Meeting
Unfinished Business- Pending action on new fence for memorial garden
New Business
1) Review of current park problems
2) Discussion of "secret shopper" report form
Open to Floor
Schedule of Next Meeting

The meeting was convened at 7:30 pm by George Rumsey, Chairman. Present: Mary Margaret Bell, Denis Bowen, Lauranita Dugas, Crystal Fencke, Roxanne Friedman, Winston Kennedy, Sophia Dorsey King, Julie Marie Lemon, Stephen Molasky, Marc Monaghan, Robert Naftzger, Gary Ossewaarde, Toni Preckwinkle, George W. Rumsey, Jesse Sinaiko, Lynn Small, Jean Maclean Synder, Vicki Suchovsky, and Yvonne Taylor.

George Rumsey and Alderman Preckwinkle welcomed all. The chairman acknowledged those who could not attend and asked that when members cannot attend a future meeting they send a message.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted with correction of Lynn Small’s name.

Unfinished business
Lynn small showed a simulation of the proposed low fence at the Lester J. Dugas Memorial Garden. Expected cost will be $4,000, to be raised by the Memorial group. Consensus was that the fence be approved. Suggested: Work with the Hyde Park Garden Fair committee for plants for next year.
No other unfinished business was addressed.

New business included various discussion points.
A Summary List of park problems was distributed. This is intended, Rumsey said, to start a paper record of matters the committee should ask the Chicago Park District to address. Many shared pictures. Most of the problems were acknowledged as long-standing, and several allegedly create health problems. The major categories are: Water drainage, Blowing dust, Trash accumulations, Repairs, and Landscape. Drainage and dust were considered among the most serious, each attributable to several factors. Yvonne Taylor for Legends Baseball offered to determine and get correct water fittings and hoses for the infields, with help from Ald. Preckwinkle. Decision was to see if consistent watering of the infields makes a difference.

Trash pickup was in general felt to be better since acquisition of the blue carts with wheels and lids, but some noted that field pickup is not timely after some games and that there is a problem getting the carts to the perimeter where the trash vendor will empty them. Taylor offered to take the lead in getting one or more youths to bring the carts to the edges.

The most serious needed repairs were said to be to the washrooms (there are also problems with their availability) and to drinking fountains and other plumbing including buried breaks. At times much of the northeast part of the park and the playground have standing water for long periods. A hose and connectors for Common Threads garden are also needed.

Julie Lemon reported that there have been no itemized capital and repair items for this park in Chicago Park District capital budgets since the playground (at least four years ago.) Rumsey asked members to submit any other repairs and matters needing to be brought to Park District attention. Noted was that persistent committees having aldermanic support are more likely to have needs addressed.
Information-gathering on park usage and condition was the other item of new business.

Rumsey distributed a draft observation report form that would be available in pdf for printing and be distributed to park users and the community. Several offered additional queries and other improvements to the form. Suggestions were offered on how to involve as many interested parties as possible, including school children and other youth. Getting a good list of users from the park supervisor was suggested. Rumsey reiterated that the survey is not “scientific” and thought the committee is sophisticated enough to take distortions into account.

Open to the floor:
Steven Molasky said he has seen baseballs being hit out of the infield. Queries were made about use of netting and other safety equipment recommended by leagues. Replies were that this will take time and money.

Yvonne Taylor distributed this year’s Legends baseball schedule. This was also requested to be sent to the whole membership by email.

The next meeting was provisionally set for Wednesday, July 30, 7 pm in the Hyde Park Bank Building 4th floor conference room.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary M. Ossewaarde

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3rd meeting of the Usage Committee July 30, 2008

Major progress was reported on parks upkeep and improvements, such as to drainage, and clay may be replaced with proper soil and grass.

Kenwood Usage Committee, Meeting 3, July 30, 2008

The third meeting was convened by George Rumsey Wednesday, July 30, 2008. 7:05 pm. in the Hyde Park Bank 4th floor conference room. The agenda was approved without additions.

Welcome and introductions. Alderman Preckwinkle had been called out of town; Pam Cummings attended in her stead. Harold Bailey, Area Manager, represented the Chicago Park District.
The minutes of the June 26 meeting were approved as presented.

Unfinished Business:
Memorial garden fence: No action needed; the association would start fundraising.

State of current park problems.
• Drains have been installed and cleared and hydrants and buffalo connectors (4) activated. They appeared to be working. Walks have been leveled and leaks fixed at water fountains.
• Washing/blowing dust and sand. 50th St. problems remain. Problems include the grading, too low a profile, and that clay dries very fast. Members asked for replacement of clay with better and for grass on the fields (the Alderman is looking at costs). Arrangements are being sought for youth to have hoses and water the clay fields.
• Trash is being picked up well, but problems remain with bringing cans to 49th St. and back into the interior. Volunteers appeared the best solution for the present.
• Washrooms remained a highly serious priority. The key elements needing repair should be specified at the next budget hearing.
• Landscaping will be addressed in the fall. Mr. Bailey agreed to a walk through with council leaders for selection and placement.
Park use report forms. Some have been returned. The form is on the conference website. Noted: there were few Babe Ruth games this year. The fall games— August 15-October 5 — will have young kids. Also, no final schedule for fall has yet appeared—a park schedule is essential. Yvonne will facilitate.

New business:
Schools. Since schools were not sending representatives, a meeting was held July 21 including Canter, Kenwood, and Shoesmith representatives. Schools were asked to submit schedules. Kenwood was concerned about space and time spots and need space for day equipment storage—Bailey offered to facilitate on the latter. Bailey said his and the park supervisor’s biggest problems is lack of communication—teams and others showing up unscheduled and without permit. Schools and sports now understand that cannot continue. Another problem discussed July 21 is that at least 6 alternative places to play baseball have been identified but none for soccer. Julie Lemon asked that the schedule go through the park district. Rumsey asked all be mindful of what would make the park work best for all.

Council elections will be held September 24. The council was thanked for postponing its elections.

Announcements and final comments:
Lemon praised the park programs and said they should be better known and acknowledged. Supervisor Tony McCormick was highly praised for his work and recruitment. Bailey noted that staff is thin, making it difficult to maintain security. Jean Snyder said the park district does not give enough concrete information about what it is doing and asked a record of past programs and numbers of participants. Bailey thought too many adjustments have to be made to suit needs of private users. Snyder said the park district needs to control the calendar. It was said the council should help.

The next meeting of the Usage Committee will be September 10, 7 pm, same place. Adjournment.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary M. Ossewaarde

 

Here is the Herald report, August 6, focusing on scheduling issues. By Crystal Fencke.

Usage Committee develops calendar system

At the third meeting of the Kenwood Park Usage Committee on Wednesday, July 30, Chairman George Rumsey reported plans to help alleviate some of the struggles the many groups that use the parks have experienced in recent months. A new date for park advisory elections -- in September [24]-- was also announced.

The usage committee is a group Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) formed at the end of April 2008 in an effort to manage some of the controversy at Kenwood Park, located at 1330 E. 50th.

The need for such a group was spurred by the outrage of the Kenwood Park Advisory Council and some others at the widening of a baseball diamond by the Chicago Park District last fall for older boys of the Legends Baseball group. The diamond is located at the northwest corner of 50th Street and Dorchester Avenue [sic actually the diamond west and opposite of that at the corner] in the park. The work on the diamond happened without knowledge of Kenwood Park Advisory Council, or Preckwinkle, the alderman has said. The soccer field that already existed, and was used by Kenwood Academy, is now very close to that diamond and may be unusable.

Rumsey said he is planning to implement a secure online calendar so that none of the sports group who use the park wil experience overlap. In his and others' observations of park activities, he hasn't seen it occur yet, but said, "I haven't -- but I don't want to."

According to Rumsey, there could be challenges among the various groups as the school year brings "fall ball," baseball games of Legends Baseball and soccer activity of Kenwood Academy soccer.

Rumsey said that in research h e and the alderman's office have identified eight to 10 places to play baseball, but they haven't found any for soccer. He reported that some of the baseball teams have gone to other area parks to play games. However, a Kenwood Academy athletic director reported to him in a closed meeting that they can't go to other parks, as they carry their equipment to and from their practices, making the situation too cumbersome.

Rumsey said that he sees the calendar being taken over by Kenwood Park Advisory Council at a time after that group's officer elections in September.

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Kenwood Park Usage Committee- Repairs following items have been requested from the Park District over a period of time. In order to support the activities of the park, these repairs are important.

[This paper is a draft and additions are likely as per discussion at the June 26 meeting.]

Water drainage problems continue to be an issue for all involved.

There are drainage problems in several areas of the park. These are general concerns and involve the whole park and have been problems for years . Areas need to be fixed because they cause major problems with excess standing water, followed by mud, and in the winter ice.

• Northeast section--interior sidewalk between tennis courts and baseball diamond caked with clay (if not underwater when it rains).
• Southeast corner--baseball diamond clay drains onto the public sidewalk. Half the block is covered in caked clay dust for at least a third of the block on 50th.
• Drainage to files causes soggy and muddy areas for soccer and ball players.
• Two water fountains need to be replaced and the surrounding concrete replaced. One by the field house on the west (used by Shoesmith) and one east of the fieldhouse are constantly surrounded by deep puddles of water. Kids have to jump to reach the edge of the fountain.

Blowing dust from ball fields from all four ball diamonds.

Dust control needs to be addressed. This blowing dust off of ball diamonds affects all who use the park, including students at Shoesmith and the children in the Chicago Park District After School and Summer Camp Programs. This is not just a summer problem, but persists during every month that the clay is not frozen.

• Buffalo boxes have been requested for ball diamonds so they can be watered down daily.
• The dust has increased in 2008 because there is more clay (square footage) and because the park district is grading all four diamonds seven days a week.
• Content of dust has changed and is lighter in composition--this could be changed.

Trash accumulations

Because Kenwood Park is a heavily used park, trash has steadily increased

• We have requested and received trash cans with lids (and recycling bins). This will cut down on blowing trash.
• The system by which trash is collected needs to be examined. CPD has to get trash bins to the edge o the park to get picked up. Cans are scattered about in a haphazard fashion, not put in areas that really need them, but instead where it is easy for workers to pick them up.

Repairs

• Spray pool needs to be upgraded and a system in place that does not run water 24 hours a day.
• Bathrooms need renovating and to be made available during peak times.
• Park field house supports many children's activities; it needs to be evaluated for repairs.
• Hose for the garden leaks and is often left running, creating a large pool of water in the play lot.

Landscape

• The play lot has no grass around the play equipment. This results in muddy areas when there are heavy rains, and children are slipping in mud as they play.
• A number of large trees have been lost in the last three years. Tree replenishing needs to be ongoing.

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Hyde Park Kenwood Legends 2008 baseball schedule

Submitted by Yvonne Taylor

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