[BCNnet] Cook County Forest Preserve - urgent action needed
Rbdoeker@aol.com
Rbdoeker@aol.com
Tue, 25 May 2004 08:23:49 EDT
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The message below went out to local Sierra Club members.
Parking has apparently become THE issue that will determine whether the FPs
are preserved or used as political handouts by the commissioners. The result
of this will have a direct impact on whether there are more dog parks and
whether we get a meaningful land use policy.
Please send Bylina a letter of support. Address, etc. below.
Randi Doeker
Chicago
>
>
> Please support Cook County Forest Preserve District Superintendent
> Steve Bylina in his new ban on non-pavement parking in the Forest
> Preserves.
>
> Superintendent Bylina is taking a lot of heat from banning cars, boats
> and trailers from parking all over the Forest Preserve grasslands.
> As you'll read below, Ravinia used to routinely park up to 800 cars
> on Forest Preserve Grasslands -- and the old system even issued them
> a permit to do it.
>
> Bylina is taking a new conservationist approach -- and in addition to this
> new
> parking controversy, is also seeking to stop the common practice of
> illegal township encroachments on Forest Preserve District land
> (like the ten acres of soccer fields in the town of Westchester that were
> illegally set-up on Forest Preserve land and are regularly used and mowed.)
>
> The particular issue at hand -- and the subject of the article below is
> a strict no-parking rule for non-paved and non-designated parking
> areas -- is a tremendous step forward for conservation, in that it is so
> politically significant about the new attitude and approach
> the District is taking about use of the Preserves.
>
> Please let Superintendent Bylina know you support his conservation efforts,
> and CALL his office and leave a message, SEND a fax, or better yet, WRITE
> a hand-written note to demonstrate your support of his efforts. The Sierra
> Club
> is completely behind him on this initiative!
>
> CALL
> 708-771-1511 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)
> Leave a message with Tracy McIntyre, Steve Bylina's Executive Assistant
>
> FAX
> 708-771-1811
> Goes to the desk of Tracy McIntyre, the Superintendent's Assistant
>
> WRITE
> Steve Bylina
> General Superintendent
> Forest Preserve District of Cook County
> 546 N. Harlem Avenue
> River Forest, IL 60305
>
> Any questions -- feel free to give me (Cory Jones) a call at 773/463-4072
> (M-F 9-5)
> Thanks much.
>
> Cory
> ===========================================================
> SUNDAY'S CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE
>
> Fests to feel forest ban on parking
> Ravinia, Irish fetes among affected By Brett McNeil and Mickey Ciokajlo
> Tribune staff reporters
> May 23, 2004
>
> A newfound respect for grass is leaving organizers of outdoor concerts,
> festivals and sporting events in Cook County forest preserves scrambling
> to figure out just where the heck all their patrons are supposed to park.
>
> Thousands of Ravinia visitors will be shuttled to the concert grounds from
> remote parking lots this summer because a new rule prohibiting parking on
> forest preserve grass means neighboring groves may not be rented for
> overflow parking--something that has been done for 28 years.
>
> This Sunday, the 1,400 canoeists and kayakers in a Des Plaines River
> marathon will face delays loading their boats at the finish line. And a
> June fishing derby for kids has been moved from forest preserve land
> to a private lake. As organizers hustle to make alternate parking
> arrangements, they say they're frustrated that decades-old arrangements
> were changed ! with little or no notice.
>
> "I have seen the district property abused over and over, but that's not what
> we're
> doing," said Ralph Frese, 77, founder of the 47-year-old Des Plaines River
>
> Canoe Marathon. "The vast number of our paddlers love the outdoors--that's
> why we're not out here with a 100-horsepower outboard motor."
>
> In previous years, race participants could pull their vehicles into a grove
> near the finish line and load their boats. This year, forest preserve police
>
> officers will direct them a few at a time onto paved parking areas.
>
> Forest preserve officials acknowledge the inconvenience, but defend the
> new policy, rolled out quietly last year and strictly enforced since Jan. 1,
>
> as an important step toward a commitment to protecting natural areas.
>
> "If you're preaching a great number of environmental practices and concerns,
>
> then parking vehicles on grass seems to me counter to that philosophy,"
> said Forest Preserve District of Cook County Gener! al Supt. Steven Bylina.
>
> For more than a year, forest preserve o fficials have been engaged in a
> spirited public debate about land use and management, with elected
> commissioners limiting all sorts of once-routine exceptions to district
> rules
> and easements onto preserve property. Starting in January, anyone
> applying for a forest preserve permit was notified of the zero-tolerance
> policy for parking on unpaved surfaces.
>
> Benjamin Cox, executive director of Friends of the Forest Preserves,
> supports the policy, even though the group has been critical of some
> of the preserve's past land management policies.
>
> "Parking on non-paved areas of the preserves can be very damaging,
> even if it's a one-time use," Cox said.
> But many longtime users, including Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest,
> point out they've always paid to use grass fields for parking and have
> carried insurance in case of damage.
>
> "Nobody ever complained to us," said Frank Bradley, chairman of
> Irish Fest, which rented fields in nearby Rubio Woods to accommodate
> some of the 20,000 people who attend the Memorial Day weekend event.
> "We have been getting a permit for 17 years. We have never damaged it."
>
> Ravinia officials said they didn't learn of the new policy until an annual
> permit application to use several groves in Turnbull Woods was rejected
> without warning this spring.
>
> "We're disappointed, because it's been a long-standing policy we've
> had with them. We've paid for the spaces, we've paid for improvements --and
> to be given such short notice was not ideal," said spokesman Nick Pullia.
>
> Without access to that space for as many as 800 cars, Ravinia officials
> are making arrangements for parking in Highland Park and shuttle buses,
> Pullia said.
>
> Ravinia officials still want to use the groves during the summer's 10 argest
>
> concerts, including Don Henley in July and Tony Bennett in August, Pullia
> said.
>
> But unless the district board changes its mind, there will be no exceptions,
>
> Bylina said. So far, electe! d officials have voiced support for stricter
> land-use rules.
>
> "Perhaps the most important message is we have limits for what we can
> handle,"
> said Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat.
> We need to do what we have to [in order to] protect our land."
>
> And Evanston Democrat Larry Suffredin said granting exceptions is a bad
> idea.
> "Once we get into making the first exception, we'll be making them
> everywhere,"
> Suffredin said. "What we need in the forest preserves is consistency in
> policy."
>
> The change has cost the forest preserves at least one south suburban
> institution--the annual Free For Kids Only Fishing Derby at Tampier Lake
> near Palos Park. Organized 17 years ago, the one-day event regularly draws
> up to 1,000 children in early June.
>
> Forest preserve staffers offered two parking plans that included shuttle
> buses,
> but founder Duke O'Malley said the hassle outweighed the perceived benefits
> of protecting grass. The event has been moved to a municipal lake in Orland
> Park.
>
> "Their grass is not the grass on the 15th or 18th hole of any golf course.
> It's as rough a grass as you could plant," O'Malley said of the forest
> preserves.
> "Just because some new blood comes in and wants to sweep [things] clean,
> don't sweep out the good things that happen."
>
> A few commissioners have expressed concern the parking policy may do
> just that. "We're not talking about the last sequoia on Earth when we park
> n those lots," said Carl Hansen, a Republican from Mt. Prospect.
>
> Michael Lorge, founder of the Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival,
> said his group was denied an exemption for next month when as many
> as 30,000 people are expected at St. Paul Woods. After hours of
> negotiations with forest preserve officials and business and village
> leaders in Morton Grove, Lorge said parking has been arranged on
> nearby commercial properties.
>
> "It's worked out, but it's taken tremendous effort. It should have been
> incumbent on the part of Cook County to think it through to the point
> of saying, `Our mission is to bring people in to enjoy the f orest
> preserves.
> Having large-scale events introduces many people to our land,'" Lorge said.
>
> Bylina remains steadfastly determined to enforce the parking policy.
> "Someone has to take a stand that ultimately this is better for
> all concerned," he said. "We're not trying to disenfranchise some of our
> users.
> We're trying to make it more open and inviting."
>
>
>
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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=3D2 PTSIZE=3D10 FAMILY=
=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0">The message below went out to local=
Sierra Club members. <BR>
<BR>
Parking has apparently become THE issue that will determine whether the FPs=20=
are preserved or used as political handouts by the commissioners.  =
; The result of this will have a direct impact on whether there are more dog=
parks and whether we get a meaningful land use policy.<BR>
<BR>
Please send Bylina a letter of support. Address, etc. below.<BR>
<BR>
Randi Doeker<BR>
Chicago<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" BACK=3D"#ffffff" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR:=20=
#ffffff" SIZE=3D3 PTSIZE=3D12 FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=
=3D"0"><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=3DCITE style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARG=
IN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"><BR>
<BR>
Please support Cook County Forest Preserve District Superintendent <BR>
Steve Bylina in his new ban on non-pavement parking in the Forest<BR>
Preserves. <BR>
<BR>
Superintendent Bylina is taking a lot of heat from banning cars, boats <BR>
and trailers from parking all over the Forest Preserve grasslands. <BR=
>
As you'll read below, Ravinia used to routinely park up to 800 cars<BR>
on Forest Preserve Grasslands -- and the old system even issued them<BR>
a permit to do it. <BR>
<BR>
Bylina is taking a new conservationist approach -- and in addition to this n=
ew<BR>
parking controversy, is also seeking to stop the common practice of <BR>
illegal township encroachments on Forest Preserve District land<BR>
(like the ten acres of soccer fields in the town of Westchester that were <B=
R>
illegally set-up on Forest Preserve land and are regularly used and mowed.)&=
nbsp; <BR>
The particular issue at hand -- and the subject of the article below is <BR>
a strict no-parking rule for non-paved and non-designated parking <BR>
areas -- is a tremendous step forward for conservation, in that it is so <BR=
>
politically significant about the new attitude and approach<BR>
the District is taking about use of the Preserves. <BR>
<BR>
Please let Superintendent Bylina know you support his conservation efforts,=20=
<BR>
and CALL his office and leave a message, SEND a fax, or better yet, WRITE<BR=
>
a hand-written note to demonstrate your support of his efforts. The Si=
erra Club<BR>
is completely behind him on this initiative!<BR>
<BR>
CALL<BR>
708-771-1511 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)<BR>
Leave a message with Tracy McIntyre, Steve Bylina's Executive Assistant<BR>
<BR>
FAX<BR>
708-771-1811<BR>
Goes to the desk of Tracy McIntyre, the Superintendent's Assistant<BR>
<BR>
WRITE<BR>
Steve Bylina<BR>
General Superintendent<BR>
Forest Preserve District of Cook County<BR>
546 N. Harlem Avenue<BR>
River Forest, IL 60305<BR>
<BR>
Any questions -- feel free to give me (Cory Jones) a call at 773/463-4072 (M=
-F 9-5)<BR>
Thanks much. <BR>
<BR>
Cory<BR>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>
SUNDAY'S CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE<BR>
<BR>
Fests to feel forest ban on parking<BR>
Ravinia, Irish fetes among affected</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#ffffff" BACK=3D"#=
ffffff" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D1 PTSIZE=3D8 FAMILY=3D"SA=
NSSERIF" FACE=3D"Verdana" LANG=3D"0"><B> </FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" BAC=
K=3D"#ffffff" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D2 PTSIZE=3D10 FAMIL=
Y=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0"></B>By Brett McNeil and Mick=
ey Ciokajlo<BR>
Tribune staff reporters<BR>
May 23, 2004<BR>
<BR>
A newfound respect for grass is leaving organizers of outdoor concerts, <BR>
festivals and sporting events in Cook County forest preserves scrambling <BR=
>
to figure out just where the heck all their patrons are supposed to park.<BR=
>
<BR>
Thousands of Ravinia visitors will be shuttled to the concert grounds from <=
BR>
remote parking lots this summer because a new rule prohibiting parking on <B=
R>
forest preserve grass means neighboring groves may not be rented for <BR>
overflow parking--something that has been done for 28 years.<BR>
<BR>
This Sunday, the 1,400 canoeists and kayakers in a Des Plaines River <BR>
marathon will face delays loading their boats at the finish line. And a <BR>
June fishing derby for kids has been moved from forest preserve land <BR>
to a private lake. As organizers hustle to make alternate parking <BR>
arrangements, they say they're frustrated that decades-old arrangements<BR>
were changed ! with little or no notice.<BR>
<BR>
"I have seen the district property abused over and over, but that's not what=
we're <BR>
doing," said Ralph Frese, 77, founder of the 47-year-old Des Pla=
ines River <BR>
Canoe Marathon. "The vast number of our paddlers love the outdoors--that's <=
BR>
why we're not out here with a 100-horsepower outboard motor."<BR>
<BR>
In previous years, race participants could pull their vehicles into a grove=20=
<BR>
near the finish line and load their boats. This year, forest preserve police=
<BR>
officers will direct them a few at a time onto paved parking areas.<BR>
<BR>
Forest preserve officials acknowledge the inconvenience, but defend the <BR>
new policy, rolled out quietly last year and strictly enforced since Jan. 1,=
<BR>
as an important step toward a commitment to protecting natural areas.<BR>
<BR>
"If you're preaching a great number of environmental practices and concerns,=
<BR>
then parking vehicles on grass seems to me counter to that philosophy," <BR>
said Forest Preserve District of Cook County Gener! al Supt. Steven Bylina.<=
BR>
<BR>
For more than a year, forest preserve o fficials have been engaged in a <BR>
spirited public debate about land use and management, with elected <BR>
commissioners limiting all sorts of once-routine exceptions to district rule=
s <BR>
and easements onto preserve property. Starting in January, anyone <BR>
applying for a forest preserve permit was notified of the zero-tolerance <BR=
>
policy for parking on unpaved surfaces.<BR>
<BR>
Benjamin Cox, executive director of Friends of the Forest Preserves, <BR>
supports the policy, even though the group has been critical of some <BR>
of the preserve's past land management policies.<BR>
<BR>
"Parking on non-paved areas of the preserves can be very damaging, <BR>
even if it's a one-time use," Cox said.<BR>
But many longtime users, including Chicago Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, <BR>
point out they've always paid to use grass fields for parking and have <BR>
carried insurance in case of damage.<BR>
<BR>
"Nobody ever complained to us," said Frank Bradley, chairman of <BR>
Irish Fest, which rented fields in nearby Rubio Woods to accommodate <BR>
some of the 20,000 people who attend the Memorial Day weekend event. <BR>
"We have been getting a permit for 17 years. We have never damaged it."<BR>
<BR>
Ravinia officials said they didn't learn of the new policy until an annual <=
BR>
permit application to use several groves in Turnbull Woods was rejected <BR>
without warning this spring.<BR>
<BR>
"We're disappointed, because it's been a long-standing policy we've <BR>
had with them. We've paid for the spaces, we've paid for improvements --and=20=
<BR>
to be given such short notice was not ideal," said spokesman Nick Pullia.<BR=
>
<BR>
Without access to that space for as many as 800 cars, Ravinia officials <BR>
are making arrangements for parking in Highland Park and shuttle buses, <BR>
Pullia said.<BR>
<BR>
Ravinia officials still want to use the groves during the summer's 10 argest=
<BR>
concerts, including Don Henley in July and Tony Bennett in August, Pullia sa=
id.<BR>
<BR>
But unless the district board changes its mind, there will be no exceptions,=
<BR>
Bylina said. So far, electe! d officials have voiced support for stricter la=
nd-use rules.<BR>
<BR>
"Perhaps the most important message is we have limits for what we can handle=
," <BR>
said Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat. <BR>
We need to do what we have to [in order to] protect our land."<BR>
<BR>
And Evanston Democrat Larry Suffredin said granting exceptions is a bad idea=
. <BR>
"Once we get into making the first exception, we'll be making them everywher=
e," <BR>
Suffredin said. "What we need in the forest preserves is consistency in poli=
cy."<BR>
<BR>
The change has cost the forest preserves at least one south suburban <BR>
institution--the annual Free For Kids Only Fishing Derby at Tampier Lake <BR=
>
near Palos Park. Organized 17 years ago, the one-day event regularly draws <=
BR>
up to 1,000 children in early June.<BR>
<BR>
Forest preserve staffers offered two parking plans that included shuttle bus=
es, <BR>
but founder Duke O'Malley said the hassle outweighed the perceived benefits=20=
<BR>
of protecting grass. The event has been moved to a municipal lake in Orland=20=
Park.<BR>
<BR>
"Their grass is not the grass on the 15th or 18th hole of any golf course. <=
BR>
It's as rough a grass as you could plant," O'Malley said of the forest prese=
rves. <BR>
"Just because some new blood comes in and wants to sweep [things] clean, <BR=
>
don't sweep out the good things that happen."<BR>
<BR>
A few commissioners have expressed concern the parking policy may do <BR>
just that. "We're not talking about the last sequoia on Earth when we park <=
BR>
n those lots," said Carl Hansen, a Republican from Mt. Prospect.<BR>
<BR>
Michael Lorge, founder of the Greater Chicago Jewish Folk Arts Festival, <BR=
>
said his group was denied an exemption for next month when as many <BR>
as 30,000 people are expected at St. Paul Woods. After hours of <BR>
negotiations with forest preserve officials and business and village <BR>
leaders in Morton Grove, Lorge said parking has been arranged on <BR>
nearby commercial properties.<BR>
<BR>
"It's worked out, but it's taken tremendous effort. It should have been <BR>
incumbent on the part of Cook County to think it through to the point=20=
<BR>
of saying, `Our mission is to bring people in to enjoy the f orest preserves=
. <BR>
Having large-scale events introduces many people to our land,'" Lorge said.<=
BR>
<BR>
Bylina remains steadfastly determined to enforce the parking policy.<BR>
"Someone has to take a stand that ultimately this is better for <BR>
all concerned," he said. "We're not trying to disenfranchise some of our use=
rs. <BR>
We're trying to make it more open and inviting."<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" BACK=3D"#ffffff" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR:=20=
#ffffff" SIZE=3D3 PTSIZE=3D12 FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=
=3D"0"><BR>
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><BR>
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