Quote from: NBPD on January 17, 2012, 04:04:39 PM
Berwyn, IL —
North Berwyn Park District Commissioner Ann Mackin has been pushing for renovations to Maple Pool since she helped found the park district in 1976.
"I think that this is a great tribute to one of the founders of the North Berwyn Park District.
Okay old-timers, what's the story behind why we have all these different park districts and rec centers ? This is long before I moved in.
So...the park district gave up parkland to turn into a parking lot...
Thank you commissioners, Mayor Lovero and Joe Vallez.
Glad you were looking out for North Berwyn residents.
Quote from: buzz on January 17, 2012, 08:45:29 PM
Okay old-timers, what's the story behind why we have all these different park districts and rec centers ? This is long before I moved in.
My understanding from someone who lived in north Berwyn at the time (and who supported the formation of the North Berwyn Park District) was that residents were frustrated that there were no parks in north Berwyn so the district was formed.
Quote from: OakParkSpartan on January 18, 2012, 01:02:59 AM
So...the park district gave up parkland to turn into a parking lot...
Thank you commissioners, Mayor Lovero and Joe Vallez.
That part - the sale of Berwyn Gardens green space - was done by previous Mayor O'Connor.
The present build out was approved by
every present south Berwyn alderman (I would not expect a south Berwyn alderman to understand nor care about what happens up here).
Quote from: Bonster on January 18, 2012, 06:33:51 AM
Quote from: OakParkSpartan on January 18, 2012, 01:02:59 AM
So...the park district gave up parkland to turn into a parking lot...
Thank you commissioners, Mayor Lovero and Joe Vallez.
That part - the sale of Berwyn Gardens green space - was done by previous Mayor O'Connor.
The present build out was approved by every present south Berwyn alderman (I would not expect a south Berwyn alderman to understand nor care about what happens up here).
Nice try, but incorrect according to this article from Aug 4, 2011. http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/newsnow/x1800187388/From-park-to-parking-lot-Construction-begins-at-Berwyn-Gardens (http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/newsnow/x1800187388/From-park-to-parking-lot-Construction-begins-at-Berwyn-Gardens)
QuoteThe North Berwyn Park District swapped the two eastern-most blocks of the park between Maple and Wenonah avenues with the city in May. In return, the park district gained control of Cuyler and Maple Pools and the park space those parks sit on. Both organizations passed ordinances on the issue in May.
So it actually was done by Lovero and this current bunch of aldercritters and commissioners.
Quote from: OakParkSpartan on January 18, 2012, 08:24:14 AM
Quote from: Bonster on January 18, 2012, 06:33:51 AM
Quote from: OakParkSpartan on January 18, 2012, 01:02:59 AM
So...the park district gave up parkland to turn into a parking lot...
Thank you commissioners, Mayor Lovero and Joe Vallez.
That part - the sale of Berwyn Gardens green space - was done by previous Mayor O'Connor.
The present build out was approved by every present south Berwyn alderman (I would not expect a south Berwyn alderman to understand nor care about what happens up here).
Nice try, but incorrect according to this article from Aug 4, 2011. http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/newsnow/x1800187388/From-park-to-parking-lot-Construction-begins-at-Berwyn-Gardens (http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/newsnow/x1800187388/From-park-to-parking-lot-Construction-begins-at-Berwyn-Gardens)
QuoteThe North Berwyn Park District swapped the two eastern-most blocks of the park between Maple and Wenonah avenues with the city in May. In return, the park district gained control of Cuyler and Maple Pools and the park space those parks sit on. Both organizations passed ordinances on the issue in May.
So it actually was done by Lovero and this current bunch of aldercritters and commissioners.
Nope. It was done by O'Connor in 2008.
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/news/x1295941404 (http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/news/x1295941404)
District plans to take on city pools (http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/news/x1295941404)
By Cari Brokamp, cbrokamp@mysuburbanlife.com
Berwyn Life
Tue Jan 22, 2008, 06:28 PM CST Two Berwyn pools managed by the city may be taken over by the North Berwyn Park District as early as this summer, as part of a long-discussed land swap [<- read: LAND LOSS] that may come to fruition in the coming months.
The plan would provide that
in exchange for the pools, the city would receive land the Park District owns in the Berwyn Gardens area, just north of Cermak Road.
That land would be used for
still to be determined commercial developments. Joe Vallez, executive director of the Park District, and Berwyn
Mayor Michael O'Connor said the arrangement has been in discussions
since the beginning of this administration, nearly three years ago.
Vallez said he plans to seek grant money to improve and eventually replace the decades-old pools, Cuyler Pool in the 1900 block of Cuyler Avenue and the pool at Kriz Park in the 1500 block of Maple Avenue, with more modern facilities. These renovations would allow for outdoor features like a lazy river or water slides,
or for the development of a neighboring fitness center, possibly with an indoor pool.
"What the pools are doing now is providing opportunities for residents, but there are new state-of-the-art things out there that these pools could never offer," Vallez said. "What's most important in pools today is that there's areas for each age group to go and recreate in. ... This is something that should happen in Berwyn because this is something that is happening in communities all around the Chicago area, and Berwyn residents should have the same opportunities."
The pools are managed by the Berwyn Recreation Department, and O'Connor said the Park District has greater capabilities to take on the challenges of managing high-maintenance recreational facilities such as pools.
"Most importantly, the Park District is experienced in recreation," O'Connor said. "Our recreation department is pretty much centered at 31st Street and East Avenue so ... it's a location thing. It's also a lot easier for them to manage the pools and it's something they've really aspired to."
O'Connor said
the land the city would receive in the swap would likely be used to expand retail space and offer more parking for businesses, developments to be accomplished at an
undetermined time in the future.
[KEY!]
The land swap would still be subject to the City Council's approval and the outcome of a public hearing before it could be finalized, O'Connor said.Vallez said he expects the Park District to assume management of the pool at Kriz Park this summer, and Cuyler Pool in the summer of 2009.
The North Berwyn Park District already manages the majority of the recreational space at Kriz Park, including a skate park and a passive area used for outdoor concerts and movies.
The Park District oversees a spray pool at Pyrce Park at 16th Street and Wesley Avenue, but no swimming pools.
Vallez said acquiring the pools will allow for increased programming within the Park District for residents, including a junior lifeguard program and swim teams and lessons.
###
There was a 4-page thead on this:
http://www.berwyntalk.com/smf/index.php?topic=4792.0 (http://www.berwyntalk.com/smf/index.php?topic=4792.0)
Quote from: OakParkSpartan on January 19, 2008, 10:27:31 AM
So North Berwyn gets a net reduction in recreation space. Nice.
I don't think there was ANY public discussion of this swap. Maybe at the Park District meetings. I certainly don't recall the discussion at city council.
Quote from: Bonster on January 22, 2008, 10:08:33 PMAgain, can a legal eagle or someone in the know explain why responsibility cannot be assumed without a land swap fleecing by the city?
It sounds to me like he's dangling this over the NBPD's head to get some land for undetermined projects at an undertermined time!!!
If it's simply not possible, TFB!
Until council votes and approves the agreement, nothing is binding.
The agreement was passed last year. Anything can be proposed, but the actual transfer does not happen until council approves it. This council approved the swap of land.