May 15, 2008
Park District, Latin School Deal Officially Done
A judge today dissolved the contract between the Latin School and the Chicago Park District, which means the city owes the Latin School $2 million, but at least public space remains public space.
The Park board voted unanimously yesterday to cancel its contract with the cushy private school, but it's not clear yet what's going to happen to the would-be soccer field, which is 70 percent completed. The Park District wants to finish construction, but those plans have to be approved by the Plan Commission first, and reps for Protect our Parks say they want the area to remain "an open meadow." [Crain's, Trib, skyline view from the LPZ by chicagodom]
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yay! score one for the citizens!
Thank god there is still a bit of accountability.
Finally, a victory for the little guys. It wasnt the soccer field that bothered me...it was the precedent that it set (as well as the way it was handled, with 0 public input)
Do not consider this to be over. As a matter of fact, the Park District will continue this obliteration of green space.
In place of the meadow will be an astroturf field with bleachers and benches. This is a loss of park land, pure and simple. And guess what? The Latin School, in the end, will be the main users of this stadium.
Alderman Vi Daley and Mayor Daley are to blame for this gift to the clouted, wealthy Latin School and its parents.
To the Park District, what part of "park" don't you understand?
Yeah, they're gonna build the damn thing anyway, only this time, we get to pay for it. And the Latin School will still have near-exclusive use of it.
At least they won't "own" it though, which is a minor victory.
ward up - i thought you were a republican. shouldn't the free market provide open green spaces?
I h8 toyota:
Being a Republican doesn't mean NO government at all. In the case of green space, it is exactly the time for government, acting on behalf of citizens, creates and protects parks.
Im not against the soccer field (Douglas park has a similar one) being built but the way the city and the latin school tried to circumvent public imput is typical of this city. Im not even against the latin school using the park for its soccer field many parks throught the city are used by schools public and private for sporting events but the city and park district need to control the park land not an elite private school.
It's not "70 percent done" -- where did you get that figure? It's closer to half.