Roseland Heights Community Association

New Grass for Abbott Park
The sense of connection to nature is hugely important for almost anyone who goes to a park.  The Chicago Park District has plans to renovate the track behind Harlan High School by replacing the center area of mud holes with artificial turf.  According to the design for Chicago's green movement aren't we suppose to be adding more real greenery to the hard-surface ?  Now, especially in Daley's Chicago, every thing is suppose to be blooming.
On Nov. 30 at 6:00pm in Abbott Park, CPD officials will be meeting with the Park Advisory panel and the community talking up the need for fake grass..
Currently, the greenery largely consists of grass, trees and ugly mud holes where cars jump the crub and drive into the park. So now the big question is with who's money do we pay for the turf CPS or CPD or both? These are the same people who  faced real constraints and had no budget for popular park programs and cut them. An even bigger question mark is who will this benifit? How will this fake greenery  be integrated into an overall design.
  Beyond the proposed artifical turf, how much of the existing park will be improved? There remains plenty of room for park re-configuration. At least Park officials seem serious about bringing the community to the table. But will proposal need community vote for approval or like the zone change be done whether the community likes it or not??  Get ready for "Artificial Turf" or "The Rezone Sequel."  
A.J.