Title
REQUEST TO INITIATE THE 45-DAY NOTICE PERIOD TO UNNAME WEST CHATHAM PARK AND INITIATE A 45-DAY NOTICE PERIOD TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON A NEW NAME FOR THE PARK
Body
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that an order be entered authorizing the General Superintendent or his designee to initiate the notice period to unname West Chatham Park and initiate a 45-day notice period to solicit public input for a new name for the park.
Proposed Park or feature: West Chatham Park
Location: 8223 S. Princeton Ave.
Community Area: Chatham
Ward: 6
II. Explanation
History of West Chatham Park
The Chicago Park District assigns an official park number to every property. West Chatham Park’s original park number is 249.
The park was officially named West Chatham Park in 1953. Between 1967 and 1975, the Park District and the Board of Education jointly offered recreational programming at West Chatham Park and adjacent Simeon Vocational High School. In 1989, the Park District upgraded the park, installing a new soft surface playground and constructing an attractive club room addition to the comfort station. In 2000, the Board of Education transferred adjacent property to the Park District for the park’s expansion.
Located in the Chatham community, West Chatham Park totals 14.30 acres and features a multi-purpose clubroom. Outside, the park offers an interactive spray pool, baseball/softball diamonds, playground, and basketball/tennis courts.
This request to unname West Chatham Park was brought forth by Alderman Hall, who is seeking feedback from community members on potential new names for the park.
III. Park Naming Procedures
Chapter VII, Section E of the Code of the Chicago Park District (“the Naming Ordinance”) governs the naming and renaming of parks and park features. The Code states that if a proposed name honors a person, the (i) person shall have been deceased for a least one (1) year prior to consideration; and (ii) the person shall have demonstrated a continued commitment and made an extraordinary contribution to civic betterment, locally, nationally or internationally. Exceptions to the above criteria may be made by a finding of an extraordinary circumstance by the General Superintendent. When considering the removal of a previously approved park name, the General Superintendent or their designee shall consider the aforementioned criteria. In such cases where a previously approved park name is considered for removal, the park name shall revert to its numerical designation unless and until such time as a new name is approved.
Pursuant to the Naming Ordinance, this request to initiate the notice period to unname West Chatham Park and solicit public input for a new name for the park has been forwarded to the Secretary of the Chicago Park District, who shall (i) file a copy of this request with the Board of Commissioners (or appropriate Committee); and (ii) initiate a notice period of at least 45 days to provide notice and solicit public input. Such notice shall be posted at the respective subject park field house (or for any park without a field house, at the nearest field house) and it shall be sent to advisory councils located within a one (1) mile radius of the subject park. At the conclusion of the notice period, the General Superintendent or their designee may, in their discretion, recommend to the Board that it approve the requested unnaming.