Horner Park Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
Jerry Giese, as president, called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Larry Brown acted as secretary for this meeting.
Previous Minutes: Jerry Giese accepted the January minutes by acclamation.
Treasurer’s Report: Elaine Taylor delivered the Treasurer’s report. The balances are as follows:
- Checking Account: 3,680.48
- Savings Account: 4,133.40
- CD’s 0
- Totals $ 7,813.88
Announcements: The Horner Park Valentines Day dance was featured in the Lerner newspaper. The Summer Program at Horner Park is being finalized and will include eight different camps this year. There will be 1 Day Camp, 3 Art Camps, 1 Nature Camp, 1 Music Camp, 1 Tiny Tot Camp and 1 Deaf and Hearing Impaired Camp. Registration for these camps will be on April 5, 2003. HPAC will hold its annual Volunteer Cleanup Day at the Henry Horner Monument Garden on March 22, 2003 at 10:30 AM. Volunteers are needed to clean this garden in front of the field house. The Manor Garden Club(MGC) will be holding a pruning seminar on March 29, 2003 at 10:30 AM in Manor Park. The Annual MGC Plant Sale will held on May 17, 2003. An article from the Lerner newspaper was presented on the up coming fourth annual Chocolate Fest at the Garfield Park Conservatory on February 8th and 9th.
Council Business: Karen Mansfield, a park supporter and bird watcher, expressed her concern over the new development going up across Irving Park Ave. from Horner Park. Her concern is how it may adversely effect the ecosystem along the river. Karen brought to the council’s attention that other Rezmar river developments have, in her opinion, contributed to habitat loss. Members of the council brought her up to speed on the current actions being taken by HPAC. The council agreed that she should work with Friends of the Chicago River (FOCR) who are also working with the developer to insure that this issue is addressed. The council reviewed a letter drafted by Jerry Giese which will be sent to the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. This letter states the councils position on this development based on the presentation by Mark May of Rezmar. The council agreed on changes that Jerry Giese would make to this letter. Anne Rozmin presented a letter that she had sent Mark May of Rezmar containing information on native plants.
Concert Committee: Terry Sweeney requested that this years Manor Bash be held either on August 3rd or 10th. The concert committee will be meeting later in February to set the dates.
Garden Committee: No report
Horner Park Riverbank Initiative: No report
Park Briefs: Terry Sweeney, Park Supervisor and Dale Marie Grandys, North Region Supervisor, were representing the Horner Park Staff and CPD. Dale asked the council to recommend any immediate gardening projects in our parks as she has to put together a budget. Jerry was going to follow up with her at a later date on all parks.
Ravenswood Manor Park: The retaining wall on the east side of the play lot is starting to collapse. An email from Barbara Wood, Landscape Architect, CPD, was forwarded to the council by Dale Marie Grandys. It stated that Barb has not been able to determine what actions the CPD can take pertaining to the drainage on the southeast corner of the park that she was shown last year. She is hoping to visit the park again after the spring thaw with Kevin Doyle, also from the CPD, to further evaluate how to fix this persistent problem.
Mulching was asked for along the alley adjacent to the play lot. Also discussed was how to improve the parkway along Manor ave. near the EL tracks. Some of the suggestions were to berm the area and plant the embankment with hardy plants that can handle the proximity of the road or create a bike rack in that area which could be used by park, train and business patrons. Further discussion will have to be made.
Horner Park: Once again this summer the CPD will have movies in Horner Park. Movies at Horner will be on July11th, The Wizard of Oz. On July 18th, Master of Disguise and on July 25th Spy Kids 2. There will be a published announcement later this spring. The lights for the tennis courts are fully operational and have already been the source of complaints by park neighbors on Montrose Ave. The lights have been realigned to compensate for their concerns.
Buffalo Park: A budget for the council ring prepared by Mike Emerson of VOA was presented by Anne Rozmin. As there were very large differences between each item in the CPD budget and in this budget this discussion was tabled for another date.
Jacob Park: No report
Sunken Garden Park: Jerry requested mulching and will get back with Dale as he is hoping to have a plan for the park soon.
Adjournment: Jerry Giese thanked all those in attendance and the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Larry Brown
Roster of those in attendance: Jerry Giese, President; Alan Mueller; Anne Rozmin, Vice President; Susie Novak; Larry Brown, Secretary; Jacob Peters; Elaine Taylor, Treasurer; Karen Marsfield; Dale Marie Grandys, North Region Supervisor, CPD; Terry Sweeney, Park Supervisor, CPD.
