113-115th Calumet Block Club

FYI
Friends of Roseland Heights,.
Last Night's Abbott Park Artificial Turf Meeting
On Nov. 30 at 6:00pm in Abbott Park, CPD officials met with the Park Advisory panel and the community. The Chicago Park District has plans to renovate the track behind Harlan High School by replacing the center with artificial turf. Here is what we found out.
1. According to the spoke person (Mr. M. Lang I think) who headed the hearing on artificial grass, the Council  and residents need to say Yes to what is being proposed – the speaker said if we say no the artificial grass will not be used.
2. There is NO public money being used for this project! It is all being done with private money, and we will NOT be told from where the money came!
3.There are 10 parks being considered for the project. We are the 4th presentation and one park has already said "Hell no".
4.Along with the plan for an artificial turf field bleachers and lights may also be requested. The field will be maintained with private money from these unknown companies also.
 
 Well I must say RHCA members did a great job. They wanted to know will CPD make any other improvements to the park? They also talked about the need for a complete study (undertaken) by the City or CPD to evaluate the negative impact this will have on the neighborhood.
The "negative impacts" were more organized sports interests would influence how and who would be using the park. The plans to have more sporting events permits at Abbott Park would disturb the neighborhood with increased noise, traffic and parking issues.The heightened use of the park would have a detrimental effect upon the neighborhoods where park is located in terms of extended hours, of noise, dedicated use, traffic, and more trespassing on private property.
*Most of all the members felt in a park that is not maintained and has many unresolved problems and the development of new activities  for the track would be the end of this community as we know it. Some neighborhood parks (in other states) are being developed to support league activities only.
 No vote was taken. I said I didn't mind Synthetic turf, but residents were not ready to commit.