Mar 12, 2008 1:23 pm US/Central
Group Protests Private School Soccer Field In Park
Latin School, Park District Have Agreed To Build Field At South End Of Lincoln Park
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
An activist group and area residents are planning a demonstration Wednesday against a plan to hand over four acres in Lincoln Park to the private Latin School for soccer games.
The Committee to Keep Lincoln Park Public and residents of the Lincoln Park neighborhood plan to protest at 4 p.m. outside the Chicago Park District Headquarters, at 871 N. Fairbanks Ct.
The monthly Park District board meeting is being held Wednesday.
The Park District and the Latin School, at 59 W. North Blvd., signed a contract in late 2006 to construct the soccer field at the southern end of Lincoln Park for $2 million, according to the Skyline newspaper.
Many complained early on about the lack of community input on the project, and the fact that it was not to be made available to public or other nearby private schools, the newspaper reported.
But Latin School parents pointed out that the soccer field would be open to the public most of the time, the newspaper reported.
The group holding the protest has accused the Latin School and the Park District of violating the Lakefront Protection Ordinance, and say they have complained to the city Corporation Counsel's office.
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