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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 10, 2007

OAK PARK PARK DEVASTATION "HALTED PENDING REVIEW" BY STATE

Public, 7:30 Thursday night, Horace Mann School, 938 N. Kenilworth, Oak Park (1200 north, 7000 west, adjacent to the Field Playground Park).

A projected plan by the Park District of Oak Park to cut down 28 old growth trees in a grove in the middle of Field Playground Park to be replaced by a major league regulation soccer field has been "halted pending review" by the Department of Natural Resources.

Citing devastation to "a signficant old growth" and "discrepancy" between what the DNR approved and what the Oak Park Park District had in its final "Master Plan," the DNR is reversing its grant of $399,000 to Oak Park pending review.

The DNR is sending a very high level official to the Thursday emergency meeting in Oak Park. State Sen. Don Harmon is sending his two top staffers to the meeting. Harmon grew up in the area and was upset that he shepherded the grant proposal through without being told of the tree loss. DNR was told that the soccer field was to be 40 x 60 yards, but the final Master Plan calls for a regulation 110 x 60 yard field. The cost overrun, even before construction began, was 33%. The original cost of $798,000, half of which was to be paid by the DNR, has ballooned to $1.2 million. The state refused to pick up the rest, meaning that Oak Park taxpayers were saddled with an increase from $400,000 to $800,000, a doubling.

Instrumental in the developments was local environmental activist Dr. Leslie M. Golden, a former astronomy professor at UIC. Golden had been requesting details of the site plan but only on Friday, July 6, when he went to Field Park to confer with the contractors meeting there (under a grove of trees that was slated to be cut down) did he notice that every single tree in the middle of the park had a large red "x" on it.

A rally held in the park on Sunday was attended by more than 100, including many children of the adjacent Horace Mann school who spoke eloquently of their love of the park. Julie Samuels from Oak Park, the Green Party candidate for Lt. Governor spoke of the folly of the plan and the Park District having paid lip service at best to the neighborhood.

Posters drawn by children were found taped to the tree yesterday saying "I will miss you, trees," with sad trees speaking back, "I will miss you, too."

"I was shocked at many things in these proceedings," said Golden. "But among them was the planned cutting down of a 120-year old locust tree, known for decades as the 'Field Playground tree.' For this to occur, I felt I was having a bad dream," he continued.

"It's been a very trying few days since Les discovered the true plans of the Park District," said Kathryn Jonas, a certified arborist and member of the steering group. "Their plan to transplant 9 trees was unreasonable. The large size of the trees and the fact that trees can only be transplanted when they are dormant meant that these trees would not survive," she continued. "Two years from now, nobody would notice."

Barbara Mullarkey, a long-time environmental activist in Oak Park and author of a book on safety in nutrition stated, "We who value the earth and all its living beings exult in the decision of the DNR. We hope this brings a new awareness to those who govern in Oak Park of their need to be aware of their environment."

In April, an entire stand of trees on the Marion Street Mall was cut down to make room for a street to benefit condominium developers. That $6 million project could not be halted despite organized opposition. The difference this time was the involvement of the State of Illinois.

"It's their money that made the difference," said Golden. "We've long been accustomed to chicanery, deception, and manipulation by Oak Park officials. But the DNR and Sen. Harmon did not take kindly to being deceived. They were our only hope, and they delivered, for the trees, the squirrels, the birds, and the owl of Field Playground."

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For further information:

Leslie M. Golden
708-848-6677

Barbara Mullarkey
708-848-0116