[BCNnet] Park District taking over North Park Nature Center
Rbdoeker@aol.com
Rbdoeker@aol.com
Tue, 25 Nov 2003 09:11:04 EST
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FYI - from today's Sun Times
Randi Doeker
Park District taking over popular nature center
November 25, 2003
Ending months of speculation on the Northwest Side, the Chicago Park District
said Monday it will take over management of the North Park Village Nature
Center, a popular 46-acre preserve and educational center.
Volunteers at the facility at 5801 N. Pulaski, operated by the city's
Department of Environment since 1992, have worried that the district would dilute the
educational aspect of the center in favor of creating recreational space.
Parks Supt. David Doig tried to address those concerns, saying Monday that
the district "looks forward to supporting the nature center's current staff and
volunteers as they continue to offer a wide range of high-quality nature
programs.''
For the last five years, the Park District has partnered with North Park on a
number of nature programs, Doig added.
The city will cover the salaries of the four employees and the operating
budget for next year, he said.
Some 90,000 people annually visit the center, which offers nature classes and
ecology-focused festivals. It has more than 100 volunteers and is considered
one of the city's natural gems with ponds, a variety of trees and prairies
carpeted with wildflowers.
Officials say it makes more sense for the Park District to run the center
rather than the environment department, an agency assigned to help monitor the
city's air quality. Among the department's duties are inspecting industrial
facilities and gas stations.
City Environment commissioner N. Marcia Jimenez said in a statement she is
happy with the management change. "I am confident that the nature center will
continue to offer exceptional programs under the management of the Chicago Park
District,'' she said.
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<H2><FONT size=3D2>FYI - from today's Sun Times</FONT></H2>
<DIV>Randi Doeker</DIV>
<H2><FONT size=3D3>Park District taking over popular nature center</FONT> </=
H2><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica,sans-serif size=3D2>
<P>
<P><I>November 25, 2003</I>=20
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<P><!--publication CST --><!--pub_section NWS last modified 11/24/03 10:10=20=
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<P>Ending months of speculation on the Northwest Side, the Chicago Park Dist=
rict said Monday it will take over management of the North Park Village Natu=
re Center, a popular 46-acre preserve and educational center.=20
<P>Volunteers at the facility at 5801 N. Pulaski, operated by the city's Dep=
artment of Environment since 1992, have worried that the district would dilu=
te the educational aspect of the center in favor of creating recreational sp=
ace.=20
<P>Parks Supt. David Doig tried to address those concerns, saying Monday tha=
t the district "looks forward to supporting the nature center's current staf=
f and volunteers as they continue to offer a wide range of high-quality natu=
re programs.''=20
<P>For the last five years, the Park District has partnered with North Park=20=
on a number of nature programs, Doig added.=20
<P>The city will cover the salaries of the four employees and the operating=20=
budget for next year, he said.=20
<P>Some 90,000 people annually visit the center, which offers nature classes=
and ecology-focused festivals. It has more than 100 volunteers and is consi=
dered one of the city's natural gems with ponds, a variety of trees and prai=
ries carpeted with wildflowers.=20
<P>Officials say it makes more sense for the Park District to run the center=
rather than the environment department, an agency assigned to help monitor=20=
the city's air quality. Among the department's duties are inspecting industr=
ial facilities and gas stations.=20
<P>City Environment commissioner N. Marcia Jimenez said in a statement she i=
s happy with the management change. "I am confident that the nature center w=
ill continue to offer exceptional programs under the management of the Chica=
go Park District,'' she said.</P></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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