Influential 2nd Ward Alderman Now Supports North Branch Park

On Monday night residents, local politicians and advocates from around the community gathered to see first hand the renderings of the North Branch Park and Preserve and what would be one of the largest and most lasting public parks in the City of Chicago since the Millennium Park project. In attendance were Aldermen Scott Waguespack, 32nd, and Michele Smith, 43rd and Brian Hopkins, 2nd as well as many other community organizations, businesses, residents and neighborhood groups. The meeting began with introductions by Margaret Frisbee (Friends of the Chicago River) who welcomed the attendees and all of the supporters of the park vision. She introduced Richard Wilson, an architect and city planner with the firm Smith + Gill Architects who outlined the scope and magnitude of the 24 acre park located within the boundaries of the North Branch Corridor, one of 26 industrial corridors being rezoned throughout the city.

Mr. Wilson outlined the design principles and program while making it clear that without a park of this magnitude in this location the current nearby population of over 100,000 Chicago residents from the near north and west sides combined with a potential 50,000 additional occupants coming from Sterling Bays' nearby Lincoln Yards development would put unbearable density into the North Branch Corridor. The North Branch Park & Preserve would provide a much needed destination for all Chicagoans and to allow the public to engage with the Chicago river. As their website states, "if a large scale public park is not integrated to complement the current [Lincoln Yards] vision, access to the Chicago River will be constricted by dense urban walls of high-rise buildings for people that live and work in them. The Chicago River belongs to all Chicagoans and access to it should be publicly guaranteed."

The moderators then opened the mic up for comments from various neighborhood groups and business allies who all support the North Branch Park with each representative giving their various reasons why this park should be supported by all citizens and civic leaders in the City of Chicago. The supporters included the various neighborhood organizations such as the RANCH Triangle, the Sheffield Neighborhood Association, Bucktown and Wicker Park Neighborhood Organizations as well as sports businesses and recreational leagues, Friends of the Parks, the Lincoln Park High School athletic director and two students and many more. They all stood up in support of the importance of this park for their constituents and while it would be an expensive project in the end the City of Chicago needs a large, open and dynamic park of this scale in this location for generations of future Chicagoans to enjoy.

When the time came for public questions and responses, the most poignant question of the evening was directed to the aldermen. One resident asked, "What is keeping this park from happening? Why would this not be built?" Another resident asked the same question directly to Alderman Hopkins, in whose ward the park would be located and who is not part of the coalition. In the past, Alderman Hopkins has not publicly supported this park vision nor had he joined the park coalition. It was reported in the Sun-Times that he felt that "costs for transit and road improvements as well as recreation need to be controlled'. Also in past reports, the city told the Chicago Tribune that it was already working with Alderman Hopkins to preserve 60 acres of open space in the area, and that this 24-acre proposal is "at odds with the outcome of that process."

However, at this community meeting Alderman Hopkins stated unequivocally that he does support the vision of this 24 acre park and he thought it would be a "welcome addition" to his 2nd ward. He highlighted the importance of having a contiguous uninterrupted open space and that he had already asked Chicago Parks District General Superintendent Michael P. Kelly to begin working on a budget to see what it would take to get the park built.

Go here for more information on the North Branch Park & Preserve and to show your support online.