[remote or in person] Board of Commissioners

Chicago Park District
Parks

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025
10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. CST

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4830 South Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60609 (Directions)

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Kerry Snider

Kerry Snider
good morning! I'm covering today's @ChicagoParks Board of Commissioners meeting. Watch the livestream here:

09:23 AM Jan 22, 2025 CST

Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 2/40
Agenda items can be found here: chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 3/40
The meeting commenced at 10:01.
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Opening with a presentation on cultural and musical programming the parks put on over the holidays.
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Sharing data from last year.
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29 viewers on the live stream as of 10:07.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 7/40
One of the commissioners asked if programming has any cross generational programming. Plans for even more, including swimming relays with 2 seniors and 2 youth.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 8/40
Zoom classes have lowered since COVID, but they still continue virtual programming for those who can't attend parks in person.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 9/40
Commissioner Coya Paz Brownrigg shared Chicago is the third largest arts economy in the country, and the parks district is the place where the most Chicagoans go to access the arts
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 10/40
Agenda of general business stated at 10:14. First item on the agenda is honoring retirees of the park district.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 11/40
At least 9 retirees from the crowd stand as the room cheers. Speaker asks if anyone sereved over 30 years in the park district to keep standing, 8 stood standing. At 50 years, one woman remains standing. She served warren park for 51 years.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 12/40
Motion carried to approve resolution honoring retirees, unanimous vote from commissioners.
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A picture of all the parks department retirees present is taken with the board of commissioners. ~12 retirees are pictured. (earlier estimate based on what was visible through livestream perspective)
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 14/40
Approval of all consent agenda items. consent agenda is intended to have non-controversial issues that don't need a separate discussion.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 15/40
Motion to adopt on all consent agendas at once carried. Items listed on consent agenda are adopted. Items include contracts for landscape mowers, appointing Robert Castaneda as commissioner to the public building commission of chicago
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 16/40
Two settlements for Workers’ Compensation claims were approved.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 17/40
Next item on the agenda: the healthy heart campaign, as part of the health and wellness initiative.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 18/40
Colleen Mamelhuermon, working in health and wellness for the parks district for 23 years, presents to the board.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 19/40
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Every Thursday in February, targeted parks (based on areas in Chicago with the highest racial life expectancy gap.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 22/40
More info on the racial life expectancy gap in the US can be found here: healthdata.org/news-events/ne…
healthdata.org/news-events/ne…
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 23/40
Public comment opens with Lisa Stringer from Restore Gompers Park Coalition.
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Denise Ferguson, Lawndale, is the second public commenter, asking for documents regarding the suspension of the quiet zone law
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Fourth public commenter, Susan Mullen, asked how the park district will protect park users from ICE detention
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Susan asked for an update on repair for douglas park locker rooms. third question was regarding the 10% of riot fest fees was supposed to go to douglas park, how was that used?
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Commissioner stated these are recurring questions, and park employees do have guidance in process regarding ICE agents
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Ana Solano, Little Village, asks why does riot fest get a large discount for their permit fees? "Why is it hardly get to see those improvements. the state of the locker room is embarrassing. the pool is hardly ever open. the north lawndale and south lawndale communities are (1/2)
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 29/40
deserving of green space. we are deserving of being treated with dignity. there is nothing dignifying about that locker room...we boast about our 77 neighborhoods we boast about our parks...there is nothing dignifying about Douglas Park. "(2/2)
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 30/40
One commissioner said he believers Ana "might be a little misguided" about the discount riot fest receives.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 31/40
more on the riot fest debate here: blockclubchicago.org/2024/09/20/as-…
blockclubchicago.org/2024/09/20/as-…
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 32/40
Cecelia Butler, Washington Park Advisory Council Person. On March 29th 1PM, there will be a book signing about Washington Park and the Park District. More about the book here: haymarketbooks.org/books/2219-to-…
haymarketbooks.org/books/2219-to-…
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 33/40
Janita Nicholas, president of Foster Park Advisory Council, is the next commenter. Speaking for Claudia Hurley, hourly arts and craft instructor. Janita shares pictures of the bulletin boards Claudia made. There's a concern she needs to work full time for insurance.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 34/40
Janita also states the female locker rooms are concerning, the water doesn't go through the drain, the tiles need to be replaced and participants deserve a clean place to shower after water aerobics.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 35/40
Philip McGrath proposes several places where chicago parks districts can collect funds to pay pensions for employees
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Flora Digby, commodore of southern shore yacht club, asking for assistance with parking, wheelchair accessibility and lighting on the dock at night.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 37/40
Guests cannot park on Richards Drive due to Obamacenter construction. Those working on the golf course are permitted to park on richards drive.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 38/40
Pastor Doyle is the next public commenter. "What are we going to do about black male violence in Chicago?...We have to ask who pulls the trigger and why."
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 39/40
The final public commenter is Kenneth Newman, asking for renovations on soccer fields at Humboldt, Garfield Douglas, Jackson and other parks. Also stated the park district should lease walls and fences for advertising.
Kerry Snider @ksniderCHI 40/40
Motion to adjourn carried at 11:33. Thanks for playing everybody!

Agency Information

Chicago Park District

To govern the Chicago Park District, setting policies, governing operations, and charting the direction of current and future programs.

Remote meetings are live-streamed at https://chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

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