Title
REQUEST TO INITIATE 45-DAY NOTICE PERIOD TO NAME PARK NO. 526 IN HONOR OF BERNARD STONE
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 a 45-day notice period to solicit public input to name Park No. 526 in honor of Bernard L. Stone.
Proposed Park or feature: Park No. 526
Location: 3200 W. Peterson Avenue
Community Areas: West Ridge and North Park:
Ward: 50
Proposed Name: Bernard L. Stone
II. Explanation
The Chicago Park District naming and renaming procedures allow for the naming of features in parks, including playgrounds and buildings. The proposal to name Park No. 526 in honor of Bernard L. Stone has support of North Boundary Home Owner’s League, Alderman Debra Silverstein, State Senator Ira Silverstein and Jewish Community Council of West Rogers Park.
Proposed Name: Bernard L. Stone
Bernard L. Stone (November 24, 1927 - December 22, 2014) was born in Chicago to a pair of Jewish immigrant parents. Growing up, he attended Chicago Public Schools. In 1945, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in WWII. Mr. Stone attended Wright Junior College and John Marshall Law School.
Mr. Stone was the second longest serving alderman in Chicago’s City Council, serving from 1973 to 2011. The 50th ward is located on the far north side of Chicago and encompasses parts of the West Ridge and North Park community areas. Prior to becoming alderman, Mr. Stone was an employee of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the vice president of the 50th Ward Regular Democratic Organization. Mr. Stone ran for alderman of the 50th ward and defeated his opponent in the run-off election on July 3, 1973. A democrat had not been alderman in the 50th ward since 1955.
During his tenure as alderman, there were eight mayors, from Richard J. Daley to current Mayor Rahm Emanuel. From 1998 to 2011, Mr. Stone served as the Vice Mayor of Chicago. Alderman Stone was known to be outspoken and loyal to friends.
As chair of the Buildings Committee, he was respected for his knowledge of real estate and the law. He sponsored legislation mandating overnight temperatures of 63 degrees in apartments and legislation that hindered rushed condominium conversions. Alderman Stone also served on many other City Council committees during his tenure.
In February 2011, there were five candidates running for Alderman of the 50th Ward. This forced a run-off. In the April 2011 run off, Debra Silverstein, a Certified Public Accountant, defeated incumbent Alderman Stone thus ending his political career.
III. Park Naming Procedures
Chapter VII, Section E of the Code of the Chicago Park District, (the Naming Ordinance), which governs the naming and renaming of parks and park features, 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.
Pursuant to the Naming Ordinance, this request to rename and name parks have 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 his designee may in his discretion recommend to the Board that it approve the requested renames and names.