Title
AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND CHAPTER VII OF THE CODE OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT
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To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District:
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of Commissioners grant authority to initiate the 45-day notice period to amend Chapter VII, Section E of the Code of the Chicago Park District. The 45-day notice period ended on September 28, 2020. The District received a comment in support of the change with suggestions for more transparency which the District had already implemented from a community organization and no comments were received in opposition to the proposed amendment.
II. Explanation
Chapter 70 ILCS 1505/7.02, enables the Board of Commissioners to “establish by ordinance all needful rules and regulations for the government and protection of parks…” Therefore, it is recommended that the following chapters of the Chicago Park District Code be amended to reflect the following additions or modifications of language and/or section:
Chapter VII, Section E (Amendments). The District wishes to update procedures associated with naming and renaming parks and park features. Additionally, the District wishes to add additional language associated with the renaming of already named parks. This action would include a name removal period and the procedures associated there within.
During the notice period it came to light that language in the proposed amendment was not specific regarding whether the two-part approach was always necessary in cases of previously-named parks for inanimate objects. There are a large number of parks that have been officially named for trees, animals, even the street on which the park is located. In such cases, changing the name of one of those parks should not require the same level of close scrutiny that removing a name honoring a historic person or event warrants.
It is therefore recommended that Chapter VII, Section E of the Code be amended upon approval from the Board of Commissioners.
Upon final approval, the General Counsel shall prepare and publish copies of the portions of the Code of the Chicago Park District that have been revised by reason of this amendment.