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FRIENDS OF THE PARKS VIOLATES THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES
Their principals are listed on their web site and you can also view them by clicking here.
The guiding principles of this organization are, on the surface, quite commendable. However, upon inspection, one finds that some of these principles are not adhered to, and more accurately, flaunted by FOTP in furtherance of their very personal objectives. A few of the key examples of FOTP actions that are at variance with their lofty goals.
VIOLATION OF PRINCIPLE I (A): PRESERVE EXISTING PARKLANDS
The FOTP landfill plans at some level would destroy the existing parkland beaches in Edgewater and Rogers Park. FOTP has consistently violated this principle by continually advocating lakefront expansion. They know that implementation of ANY of the plans put forth would require the reallocation of millions of dollars of funds that presently go to operating and maintaining the existing park system. As a result of this reallocation, it is obvious that the existing system as we know it would be degraded by lakefront expansion. VIOLATION OF PRINCIPLE I (C): ADD PARKLAND WHEREVER PRACTICABLE, ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE GREATEST NEED AND AT THE LAKEFRONT
FOTP, by advocating lakefront expansion consistently violates this principle because they know expansion would eliminate or greatly reduce any chance that the inventory of neighborhood parks would be increased. Simply, no money would be available for such acquisition. They violate the principle because they know that lakefront expansion would not be practicable in light of the cost, economic, environmental and engineering issues that would arise if such a plan were attempted.
VIOLATION OF PRINCIPLE III (C): ADHERE TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OPEN MEETINGS
FOTP consistently violates this principle by engaging in a series of meetings that are “targeted” only at those who would likely be in favor of their plans, to the exclusion of those who not be. Notices are not distributed to the impact zone in general. Rather, notices are posted in cafes, with groups representing areas outside the impact zone. FOTP has been involved with presentations for years on expansion, but not with any neighborhood parties that oppose such an idea.
VIOLATION OF PRINCIPLE III (D): PROMOTE THE EFFICIENT AND EQUITABLE SPENDING OF TAX DOLLARS IN ALL CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS
FOTP is in complete violation of this principle by proposing a massive boondoggle costing in the $100’s of millions of dollars, which will necessarily require the massive reallocation of scarce monetary resources from other contemplated park district projects for many, many years to come. These resources, concentrated in a very narrow stretch of shoreline will result in an inefficient and inequitable distribution of spending, thereby jeopardizing the viability of parks throughout the city.
VIOLATION IV (B): SUPPORT ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING PROJECTS
FOTP, by advocating lakefront expansion, violates this extremely important principle. Any expansion would require years of construction and dredging resulting in water pollution, noise pollution and air pollution—all to accomplish a goal that is not needed, nor would be wanted if FOTP told the truth about the impacts. FOTP would foist this environmentally damaging project on a neighborhood, and city that would pay the price in more ways than one for years and years to come.
VIOLATION V (A): PROMOTE COMMUNITY DETERMINATION OF LOCAL PARK NEEDS IN PARK PLANNING
FOTP blatantly violates this principle because they are not promoting any community determination of needs, they are promoting their own vision of needs, even though not one of their membership resides in this area! They have done no study to accurately quantify the supply and location of parks; nor the use of those parks. They have simply asserted that lakefront expansion is needed, period. They have not attempted the query a true cross section of the community to establish needs; they have simply asserted them. They did not come into the community to HEAR from the community; they came in with a plan that they asked a small unrepresentative subset of the community to FINE TUNE.
Friends of the Parks is not our friend. And in all likelihood, unless you have very narrow interests, they are probably not your friend either if you want an enhanced park system in the City of Chicago.
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