From Richard Ward --

At Monday's GPAC (Grant Park Advisory Council and Conservancy) meeting, a subtle alarm was sounded that the beautiful and serene Cancer Survivor's Garden could be threatened and moved to another area in Grant Park to "balance the amenities", and to avoid a conflict with the more active plans being considered to link Millennium Park with the lake front. A further red-flag was announced by Bob O'Neill, and again on Tuesday in a Chicago Park District press release announcing that 4 public hearings are scheduled, and none in the Daley Fieldhouse at the proposed location of the changes. This appears to be more political maneuvering surrounding the unresolved legal challenges to the 1839 dedication restrictions of constructing a Children's Museum "building" that is 14 times the volume of the present below ground unchallenged fieldhouse. Remember that in the entire history of Chicago, NO UNCHALLENGED above ground building or obstruction in Grant Park has survived an Illinois Supreme Court Decision. Neither the Art Institute nor the Harris/Pritzker buildings were challenged, and decided at the Illinois Supreme Court (based on the dedication covenant restrictions): DECISIONS

Please plan to attend at least the nearest public information meeting next Monday at 610 S. Michigan at 7pm.

The four scheduled meetings are:
Release Date: 05/18/10
The Chicago Park District is hosting citywide public meetings regarding the future of North Grant Park. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will be hosted at the following locations and dates:
· Monday, May 24 at Spertus Institute, 610 S. Michigan Ave.
· Wednesday, May 26 at South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr .
· Wednesday, June 9 at Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway Ave.
· Thursday, June 10 at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.

...The North Grant Park Project addresses a 25-acre area in the northeast corner of Grant Park, composed of three sections: Daley Bicentennial Plaza , the Cancer Survivor’s Garden, and Peanut Park . Underneath Daley Bicentennial Plaza lies the East Monroe Street Parking Garage which is scheduled to undergo renovation within the next five years.This will require the removal of the Daley Bicentennial Plaza in its entirety.

--
Richard F. Ward, President, NEAR
155 N. Harbor Dr. #5101
Chicago, IL 60601
FAX & PH (312) 938-0884
index
Unsubscribe, Add, or Change Address at:
MailLists