Dear Park Board of Commissioners:
Yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from a few neighbors in the Field Park neighborhood who had just learned from a sign posted on the park fence that 28 trees marked with red X's were to be destroyed as part of the park renovation work scheduled to start Monday. I viewed the trees and was very concerned that all of the trees were healthy and, that included in the group, were many mature oaks, maples and a historic honeylocust that may be the largest of its species in Oak Park. Some neighbors said they were aware that a renovation was taking place but had no idea that the central forested part of the park, with a pedestrian path cutting through, would be clear- cut for a soccer field. One man said he was aware of only 2 trees being removed.
I have talked to Mark Gartland twice and he said he believes that
adequate public notice was furnished of the exact nature of the
renovation. I believe otherwise after talking to many people and urge
you to delay any removal of these trees until the public has an
opportunity to understand the full extent of the work and provide their
input. This project is not a simple renovation or upgrading of a park.
This is a beautiful park, likely the best maintained park in the
system. The proposed plan entails the total destruction of the central
part of the park, with existing trees and new trees located exclusively
along the north, south and west perimeters. The "park" will be
essentially athletic fields with the addition of a new soccer field.
This is one of the smaller parks in the system and if the plan is
implemented as proposed, Field Park will have more of its area
dedicated to athletic fields than any other park. The new pedestrian
path will be limited to the western part of the park along the alley
and users will no longer feel part of the park.
A second concern is that the Park District is receiving $399,000 in
Open Space grant money from the Il Dept of Natural Resources to destroy 28 healthy trees while the open space will actually be decreased somewhat with the new vehicle drop-off.
If you recall, approximately 50 mature trees were removed at Lindberg Park about 10 years ago to make way for a "prairie" garden and play
fields there. If the Park District policy is changing, favoring athletic fields over more traditional park uses, I think there needs to be a discussion with the community. The current practice of getting
input from 30 or so residents is not adequate.
Field Park has always been a favorite park of mine as it so beautifully
combines such a diversity of uses and was designed to reflect a very
natural setting, with rolling topography. In addition to removing the
trees, the majority of the park will be excavated and leveled with turf
only - no trees, no benches.
Finally, as I stood out at the park last night, I was outraged as a
citizen that the Board is spending $1 million of our hard-earned tax
dollars to demolish such a well-designed and well-maintained park.
Field Park would be considered a jewel of a park in any enlightened
community. This is another example of Oak Park's inability to make
any meaningful commitment to sustainability and the environment. What is out there now is irreplaceable and I've heard no concern
about the loss of so many trees. We are behaving as though climate change isn't real and we have no responsibility to conserve our very limited natural resources. What kind of message is this sending to our children who are the first generation to face the real likelihood of life on this planet changing? We should be asking ourselves if one more soccer field is a good decision. Or do we keep our heads in the sand?
fyi, I am on the Citizens Forestry Commission, am a certified arborist
and have been active in promoting better tree maintenance practices
in Oak Park for many years.
Kathryn Jonas
Oak Park, IL 60302
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