Cubs Need To Prioritize Wrigley Field Security: Chicago Officials

CHICAGO, IL — City officials are criticizing the Chicago Cubs for not doing enough to address security in and around Wrigley Field as concerns over terrorism have increased at the same time as the team's global popularity. Aalicia Tate-Nadeau, executive director for Chicago's Office of Emergency Management, sent a letter Thursday to Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney outlining "several outstanding security measures that require [the team's] prompt attention" this season, including the addition of more security barriers and developing a security plan for the new sports plaza outside Wrigley Field, Crain's Chicago Business reports.

The letter comes after the Cubs recently donated $1 million to pay for 30 additional security cameras around Wrigley Field. Despite that measure, city officials don't think the team has prioritized security, and there has been a lack of follow-through by the team on proposals discussed earlier in the year. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Lake View and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

"The city approved a number of security enhancements around Wrigley months ago, but we've seen no action," a source who didn't want to be named told Crain's. "They still have not delivered a security plan for their new plaza. And yet at the same time the city is spending millions on security around the stadium."

RELATED: Cubs Donate $1M To Pay For More Security Cameras Around Wrigley Field

Areas outlined in the letter that the city wants the Cubs to address include:

• contracting engineers to design a plan to build security barriers along Addison Street, between Clark Street and Sheffield Avenue, a measure the city approved but has seen no action from the team.
• creating a security plan for the new sports plaza outside the ballpark that lays out evacuation protocols and also designs a fence between the shops and the plaza.
• outfiting the off-duty police officers who work security at Wrigley with uniforms.
• integrate the field's cameras with the emergency management office's system and upgrade communications.

The city also blasted Cubs officials in the letter for doing a poor job informing authorities about injuries at the ballpark, an issue that arose when a Wheaton man died after falling over a Wrigley Field railing last month.

RELATED: Wheaton Man Dies Day After Falling Over Wrigley Field Railing

Tate-Nadeau's letter is part of the continuing public jousting between the city and the Cubs as the team has been making improvements and upgrades to Wrigley Field and the surrounding neighbhood. Team officials have been lobbying to close streets around the ballpark on game days, but city leaders have been against that idea, arguing that it would cause too much of a strain on people who lived in the area.

More via Crain's Chicago Business

Wrigley Field during the 2016 World Series. (Photo by Tim Moran)

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