A Chicago City Council Committee met last Tuesday to consider the appointment of a new parks commissioner. Instead it gave him a honey-do list of concerns about the parks in their wards.
Donald J. Edwards, a graduate of University of Illinois and Harvard Business School, plans to put his financial expertise to use by helping to create an improved budget for the Chicago Park District to ensure all parks in the city are maintained.
The City Council last Wednesday approved Edwards’ nomination along with that of current parks commissioner Avis Lavelle.
Ald. Joe Moore (49th ) Chair of the City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Events and Recreation, questioned Edwards’ reasoning for wanting this uncompensated position. “Parks make Chicago special,” Edwards said. “They enhance the quality of life.”
The aldermen agreed that many of the parks in the Loop are all well kept and maintained routinely.
Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) told Edwards that there are parks on the South Side that are in need of attention. Hairston insisted that Edwards take a walk in her ward to see for himself. “There are parks past 57th Street,” Hairston said.
Hairston told Edwards that she has raised these concerns to previous commissioners but nothing was done.
Hairston said that at some parks in her ward, the equipment is failing or even vandalized. But when the city makes budget cuts, the South Side is the first to go, she said.
Hairston spoke about how the park districts are struggling with park patrol during summer hours and it’s pulling Chicago Police off the streets and into the parks. But if park patrols were calculated into the budget, the parks would be secure without the help of Chicago Police.
Hairston spoke to how beaches north of Lakeshore Drive are accessible and routinely maintained, but the majority of 63rd Street Beach, is now covered with natural grass and is barely accessible.
Meg Gustafson, project coordinator of the City of Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development, presented a list of proposals to provide more parks with additional green space.
Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd ), who also voiced concern about the needs of South Side parks, questioned Gustafson on how these new school gardens or parks would be maintained if parks on the South Side haven’t been maintained in years.
Gustafson said that when the school agrees for the new establishment, they would also have to agree to maintain the parks on their own budget.
