Sep 3, 2008 9:46 am US/Central
Activists In Court Over Lincoln Park Soccer Field
Park District Stopped Construction On Field Earlier This Year
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
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The Chicago Park District intended this new soccer field for the Latin School, but construction was stopped earlier this year following a court battle with park activists.
CBS
Opponents of a partially completed Lincoln Park soccer field will be in court Wednesday morning, just hours before the Chicago Park District board is likely to vote to complete construction.
A citizens group, Protect Our Parks, is aiming to stop the troubled project, which it calls a magnet for congestion and criticizes as a destruction of open space.
Earlier this year, a judge chastised the Park District for OK'ing the soccer field without adequate public input. The district stopped construction with about 80 percent of the field completed and resubmitted the plan through the Chicago Plan Commission, which approved the field last month.
Originally, the private Latin School was to give the district $2 million toward construction of the soccer field, near 1800 N. Cannon Dr., in exchange for controlling prime use time. After the judge's ruling, the district board canceled the contract, reimbursed Latin for construction funds spent and paid $40,000 to the neighborhood group.
Latin School will no longer have first dibs on the field.
Protect Our Parks will appear before Cook County Judge Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird. The board meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Park District headquarters at 541 N. Fairbanks Ave.
Parks spokeswoman Michele Jones said the board welcomes public comment. Jones said the neighborhood wants the field. "We encourage people to come out and tell us what they think."
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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