3/3/06
HAC met with Greg Harris (Chief of Staff), LaVonne
Sharp (Board President, Statesman), Sheli Lulkin (President, ASCO), Gary Davis (Treasurer/Engineer, Statesman) and Tom Samuels (Permits, Housing, Parks, Planning, & Transportation) to discuss the future of the current dog friendly area (DFA) location.
Representing Hollywoof was Aisha Noble (Chair-HAC), Tom Killoren (HAC), Larry Rosen (HAC), Scott VanDerWeele (Pup-Town) and Joe Doedtman (Former Co-Chair, HAC).
The meeting started with Alderman Smith inquiring as to who was involved in writing the News-Star article entitled “Dog Park Shot Down” – March 1, 2006. Joe Doedtman indicated that he had been in contact with the News-Star to bring attention to the fact that the site chosen by Alderman Smith was now being rejected by her office and ASCO.
Alderman Smith expressed anger at the tone of the
article and with Joe Doedtman for being at all involved with News-Star and began gathering her things. Joe Doedtman asked that the Alderman remain present for the meeting as she was to act as mediator. Alderman Smith promptly walked out of the meeting. Upon Alderman Smith’s exit, Joe Doedtman also left the meeting.
Greg Harris (Chief of Staff) and Scott VanDerWeele
(Pup-Town) filled the role of mediator to keep the meeting on track. The sole concern that HAC and its supporters have is that with a new site location, all of the work that was done to canvas the community by petitioning (currently 3,600 signatures) and surveying the current site would be irrelevant if a new site was chosen. This is the mandate of the Chicago Park District.
ASCO no longer supports the current location. The Statesman’s residents believe that a DFA would bring noise, odor, and traffic the residents are not currently seeing. The Statesman recommends that the park be moved EAST of Lake Shore Drive to Contemplation Point. The Chicago Park District does not support the location of a DFA in that area.
The current location is the best possible site for a
DFA. The Statesman’s concerns are valid; however, all of the issues they are concerned with can be controlled by a 10% bleach power washing solution, beautiful landscaping, and regular garbage removal by the Chicago Park District.
Unfortunately, it appears to be back to the drawing board for HAC. Greg Harris has asked HAC to provide a list of desirable locations for a DFA and in return Mr. Harris will try to work with the Chicago Park District to “cut through” the red tape of re-petitioning and surveying of a new site. In previous meetings it was suggested that the area referred to as “the Meadows” located just south of Bryn Mawr and the current DFA site could be an alternate location.
However, in Summer 2005 plans were being discussed
to locate a playground in that area. At that time there was also a question of ownership of the land referred to as “the Meadows” between the country club located at Foster & Marine Drive and the high rises on Sheridan Road.
We’ll open suggestions up to all of you. Where would
you like to see a DFA?
HAC is planning a “walk through” with Greg Harris of the Meadows to determine how a DFA could be incorporated into that area. The walk through is tentatively scheduled for 3/17. Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions are welcome!
|
