Help us move forward: Ping Tom Memorial Park public meeting, 4/14
March 31, 2016
, By Sarah Cardona
Public meeting: Wednesday, April 14, 2016 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Ping Tom Memorial Park Leonard M. Louie Fieldhouse, 1700 S. Wentworth Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60616
(enter fieldhouse just north of 18th and Wentworth Ave. NO fieldhouse entrance from the river, or the “pagoda area”).
Please register for the public meeting >>
During 2015, Great Rivers Chicago heard from more than 5,000+ residents about their visions for the future of the city’s three rivers, the Calumet, Chicago and Des Plaines. Many residents shared their rivers aspirations at one of the public meetings organized last fall on different sections of our rivers: the Calumet, the South Branch and North Branch/North Shore Channel of the Chicago, and the Des Plaines.
During the public meeting at Ping Tom Memorial Park, we heard that better riverfront access, more recreational opportunities and seeing the river supporting and attracting more business and tourism were residents’ biggest issues, concerns and ideas.
Residents asked for improved public access to the river and riverfront along the South Branch of the Chicago River so that it is “accessible to people for various activities,” as one resident put it. Many residents believed that the South Branch could be a valuable transportation route by land and water. More water taxi service and a continuous riverfront trail were suggestions to enable better connectivity.
An overwhelming amount of residents wanted more recreational opportunities in and around the river, including space for events, performances and picnics; boat launches, kayak rentals and put-ins; and fishing docks as well as naturalized open space around the river to enjoy.
Additionally, residents wanted to see investment along the river to support and attract more business and tourism, while promoting the river as a natural asset. Residents believed that there could be “nature alongside industry” calling for a balance between more jobs, development and natural areas that attract people to the river.
We recorded all of your feedback in a database of suggestions, comments and possible solutions to consider in reimagining Chicago’s rivers. These insights guided a robust research process to look further into the current conditions and concerns and what key recommendations could be made to realize a better future for our rivers. Together, this information has helped us draft the overall vision of the future of our rivers, and key recommendations.
We are now planning to check back in with your community on a substantive draft of the Great Rivers Chicago vision, so that you can offer input before the final vision is released later this year, as well as identify ways to be part of—or even lead—implementation.
Here is a little bit about what our research told us, in advance of the meeting:
According to our research on river access, there are four parks adjacent to the South Branch of the Chicago River or the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Only one of them has a formalized Park Advisory Council, which can help promote recreational and programming opportunities between the community and the river. There are another five parks within a ¼ mile of the South Branch or the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
As for economic development along the rivers, our research shows that between 2007 and 2016, the number of retail and food businesses applying for licenses to operate within a ¼ mile of the South Branch of the Chicago River as well as the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal has increased approximately 50 percent.
We want to make sure as many people as possible come out to vet our draft vision and action agenda. Please bring your friends, family and neighbors to the meeting on Wednesday, April 14, 2016 at Ping Tom Memorial Park Leonard M. Louie Fieldhouse, at 1700 S. Wentworth Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60616. Enter the fieldhouse just north of 18th and Wentworth Ave. There is no fieldhouse entrance from the river, or the “pagoda area.”
We look forward to hearing from you!