Clark Park Boathouse Discussion
Clark Park is a pristine river front park which contains acres of green space and a half mile river front trail, soccer fields, native gardens and a state-of-the-art BMX trail. Also, it has a public canoe/kayak launch and is a recognized butterfly sanctuary and bird watching habitat.
We oppose constructing a 2 acre sized boat warehouse/crewing facility which will negatively impact the park - it will be too large for Clark Park and introduce a 3 story building, surrounded by concrete, increased vehicle traffic, and will interrupt existing activities at the park. The public demands a period of public review to investigate moving the facility to a larger park or a different location.
A much smaller boathouse facility could be constructed at Clark Park, containing canoes/kayak, badly needed washrooms and a public water source, concessios and possible bike rental. Green Space is the most valuable resource in the parks, especially in this one-of-a-kind riverfront park - it must be protected for future generations.
http://www.change.org/petitions/chicago-park-district-and-the-city-...
Views: 12074
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bill donahue on
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Carter and others, in response to the inquiries about the over river bridge. It will not be happening because the size and footprint of the boat warehouse/rowing facility will block the bridge from being built, it simply would be in the way. I had assurances that if it were built, right of way on the west side of the river would not be a problem, but that the construction on the east side of the River within Clark Park would prevent it from being built, a real tragedy, since this has been a dream of the advisory board from some time, in fact we originated the idea of an over river bridge at Roscoe. It was a very exciting idea, and we felt that it was close to fruition. Please ask this to be re - instated, if you are indeed helping out by contacting park district and public officials. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on
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Wait a second. So we have a thread which started out with outrage over an incorrect assumption that the BMX hill/jump area was going to be removed, but when we find out that in fact what is on the chopping block is a BIKE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER that would serve the hundreds or thousands of us who deal with the crap that is trying to ride a bike on these constantly jam-packed stretches of Addison, Belmont & Diversey people zone out?
Yes Bill, please post any and all information related to which public officials need this on their radar, I'm reposting this afterwards with an accurate thread title so people WAKE UP and understand what is on the table here. The BMX park is fine for what it is, but this multiple magnitudes of order more important.
Bill donahue said:Carter and others, in response to the inquiries about the over river bridge. It will not be happening because the size and footprint of the boat warehouse/rowing facility will block the bridge from being built, it simply would be in the way. I had assurances that if it were built, right of way on the west side of the river would not be a problem, but that the construction on the east side of the River within Clark Park would prevent it from being built, a real tragedy, since this has been a dream of the advisory board from some time, in fact we originated the idea of an over river bridge at Roscoe. It was a very exciting idea, and we felt that it was close to fruition. Please ask this to be re - instated, if you are indeed helping out by contacting park district and public officials. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on
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I"d say!
+1
Carter O'Brien said:Wait a second. So we have a thread which started out with outrage over an incorrect assumption that the BMX hill/jump area was going to be removed, but when we find out that in fact what is on the chopping block is a BIKE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER that would serve the hundreds or thousands of us who deal with the crap that is trying to ride a bike on these constantly jam-packed stretches of Addison, Belmont & Diversey people zone out?
Yes Bill, please post any and all information related to which public officials need this on their radar, I'm reposting this afterwards with an accurate thread title so people WAKE UP and understand what is on the table here. The BMX park is fine for what it is, but this multiple magnitudes of order more important.
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Cameron, having a bridge at Roscoe allows a peaceful way to avoid the worst stretch of Belmont, which is the area from Western to Kedzie.
Kedzie has existing bike lanes. With the bridge scenario, you could take Roscoe west to Kedzie, then go south on Kedzie in a bike lane to Belmont (perhaps stopping at the new Rev Brew brewery, but that's a different conversation), and you'd then be able to make a right turn on Belmont to head west, which also means that as a cyclist you have a full traffic signal cycle jump on the Belmont traffic.
Regarding improving Addison, the bridge is part of the Addison Corridor TIF, that money cannot easily be repurposed for a different project, and I'd argue we need BOTH the bridge AND to improve Addison a hell of a lot more than we need a freaking boat house for the mythical long boat owners of Avondale and Roscoe Village, none of whom were asked if they wanted it in the first place. By definition this boat house is going to attract more traffic in an otherwise natural setting, and since you've already got traffic for Lane, DeVry, the courthouse, the shopping plaza and Cubs overflow parking.
Enough is enough. I've been riding my bike around Clark Park since I was in high school in the 80s, I have made numerous kayaking trips from the Roscoe launch and the situation as far as river access can be summed up in one sentence: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I don't have a problem with rowers on the river, I think that's a great concept - but not at the expense of infrastructure that would serve the vast majority of non-boat owning residents in the larger area who would benefit from both the pedestrian and the cycling aspects of a bridge.
Cameron Puetz said:To be honest that I don't see a ton of value in a bridge at Roscoe because it ends so soon west of the river. Even with a bridge at Roscoe, you'd still have to deal with Addison or Belmont to cross the Kennedy. I'd rather see those resources spent on improving Addison between Western and the Kennedy, creating a continuous path between the lake and the far west side.
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Permalink Reply by Tim S on
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How much traction did the bridge ever get? It seemed to me it was only a "wouldn't it be great if we had this type of thing" idea but never got any farther.
Curious
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The bridge is in the Addison Corridor TIF, which is a monster project geared at making this industrial corridor an outpost of green/sustainability business (and jobs). I also heard the City's bicycle planning was assuming this was going through. If you click on the links I posted you can see that a LOT of work has gone into the planning for this area. Over the weekend they announced that a company is opening a factory to build batteries for electric vehicles on the north side of Addison.
I called both Alderman Pawar and Congressman Quigley's offices and would ask others do the same, I just can't believe a piece of infrastructure which would benefit the public would be trumped for something nobody in the area wants. Not to mention, just wait until the Belmont & Western overpass is torn down and traffic gets much, much worse. The bridge should be fast-tracked to be done before that starts!
North Side cyclists especially might want to know about this & give Alderman Pawar and Congressman Quigley a call ASAP:
Alderman Ameya Pawar, Office: 4243 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613. Phone: 733.868.4747.
Congressman Quigley, District Office: 3742 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60618. Phone: 773-267.5926.
Tim S said:How much traction did the bridge ever get? It seemed to me it was only a "wouldn't it be great if we had this type of thing" idea but never got any farther.
Curious
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Thanks for the info Carter I was curious as to weather it was a "nice to have", in a plan, or have money actually earmarked for it. Looks like it didn't get past the "in a plan" stage.
Would the Park rather not get any money or take the improvements offered to them? It seems that they have a ton of ideas which are nice to have however if the CPD takes the money and builds elsewhere will they get anything...
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It's in a plan, but that plan is a TIF project which is listed on the City's own webpage, so I think that does qualify as having funding earmarked for it, even if no actual construction has begun.
In the big picture (check out the dollar amount of that TIF, whew!) it's the boathouse funding that is really peanuts.
If you go to the petition and read the comments:
http://www.change.org/petitions/chicago-park-district-and-the-city-...
It seems pretty clear that current users want the open space preserved as much as possible, and that the only real demand is for some very modest "comfort station" that might have restrooms/showers and drinking fountains.
Having taken the bus to/from Clark Park to rent kayaks, I think I could safely vouch for the fact that my fellow bus riders might very well have appreciated me being able to shower after getting river water splashed all over me -it's not dangerous so much as a bit pungent!
Tim S said:Thanks for the info Carter I was curious as to weather it was a "nice to have", in a plan, or have money actually earmarked for it. Looks like it didn't get past the "in a plan" stage.
Would the Park rather not get any money or take the improvements offered to them? It seems that they have a ton of ideas which are nice to have however if the CPD takes the money and builds elsewhere will they get anything...
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Construction of a rowing complex/boat warehouse will block the long awaited bridge ped/bike way at Roscoe in Clark Park
In the early 2000’s the Clark Park Advisory Council proposed that a pedway/bikeway bridge be made a part of Clark Park. It would serve several ends and enjoyed up an enthusiastic response from the Alderman of the 47th Ward, amongst other elected officials. The plan was endorsed by Friends of the Chicago River and the Friends of the Parks. It would be an integral part of the river trail;,our vision is that it would bring many people from the residences west of the river to Clark Park , especially for the enhanced playground we hope to install.; and it should serve as a safe alternative for miles along Roscoe Street for bikes and pedestrians. The bridge would bring the many employees from west of the River to the park during the day. The bridge was included in all of the City of Chicago planning documents for the underbridge connections being funded now by the City of Chicago. The drawings were in the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission report and detailed plans for the river trail. I have attached the TIF plan LINK for the area as funded by the TIF commission ($65M available within this TIF), seen below:
Please contact Alderman Pawar, your alderman and the other officials, especially Mayor Emmanuel and tell them that you would like to see the Ped/bike bridge at Roscoe retained as part of the plan for Clark Park and the north river front development. Also tell them, that besides its practical benefits, it will add a tremendous aesthetic appeal and classic design to the riverfront!
Also, please tell them that you would like them to pursue an alternative site for the 2 acre boathouse/rowing complex, which in its current configuration, would block the bridge from being built. Its too big, too much, for such a small slice of urban green space. The river has a very sharp bend just south of Clark Park, making it what rowers call – a blind corner – a very unwise location for a rowing center.
http://www.ginkgoplanning.com/project%20pages/Addison%20Master%20Pl...
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Permalink Reply by Kevin T. on
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Thanks for the additional info Bill, I appreciate your efforts and hope we can see these plans prevail for the sake of the vast majority of the neighborhood users.
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Huge thanks Bill. Is there a preferred contact method for the Mayor?
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