PROTECT OUR PUBLIC PARKS MEETING ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 AT THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, A HUGE SUCCESS!
Almost 200 people packed the meeting room to hear speakers on the Latin School land grab. Over 40 people volunteered
to help and $500 raised on the spot. Call them at 312-276-5165 to help. Watch the coverage from Fox Chicago News.
Greater Lincoln Park Democracy For America (DFA) is a grassroots organization dedicated to progressive, transparent, and responsible government.
We are appalled by the private deal made between the Chicago Park District and the Latin School that creates a soccer field in Lincoln Park for which the Latin School will have the rights to over 850 hours of prime time annually. In addition, it allows The Latin School to sell sponsorships and erect sponsorship signage at the park site.
Greater Lincoln Park DFA strongly opposes this land grab for several reasons:
- This deal was concluded in private and away from public scrutiny.It was only after the deal was made that word leaked out to the community and organizations with a vested interest in the use of community assets.
- This deal effectively privatizes 4 acres of Lincoln Park, a treasure that is supposed to belong to all Chicago.It sets a precedent that encourages other private institutions to take over public space.
- This deal changes the nature of public space.It cedes large amounts of prime time to a private and elite institution and shuts out the citizens who have a civic right to use Lincoln Park.
- The Latin School has a right to sell advertising signage, which has never been allowed in Lincoln Park and which substantially changes the nature of park space.
- Financially, the Park District and the people of Chicago are getting little out of this deal.The Latin School simply prepays usage fees it would pay were the Park District to build such as facility.
Greater Lincoln Park DFA is not opposed to soccer fields or to helping children enjoy the benefits of sport.It is opposed to turning over public spaces to elite institutions.
The Chicago Park District has a capital budget for park improvements. If there is a need for a soccer field in Lincoln Park to be used by all of Chicago children’s soccer teams, it should be included in the capital plan and use of the field should be governed by Park District procedures for all such spaces.
In short, the Greater Lincoln Park DFA believes this deal epitomizes bad politics, bad process and bad pricing.
We urge local residents, friends of the parks, advocates for public space, and all citizens concerned with open government to protest this land grab and encourage the City of Chicago to void this contract.
Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government—from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics. There are currently 54,620 members active in 808 independent chapters nationwide.
More information: glpdfa@gmail.com
Committee to Keep Lincoln Park Public web site: www.cklpp.org
Online petition:
Download this statement as a PDF document
Download the flyer “STOP The Privatization of Lincoln Park”
New story from Feb. 13 edition of The Chicago Journal - “Can Latin’s Soccer Deal Still Be Bounced?”
Read Ben Joravsky’s article from 2008 in “The Chicago Reader”
