“Winnetka’s century-old oaks get Morton Arboretum audit, praised for reducing carbon in the environment.”
WEST ELM PARK IN THE NEWS — October 22, 2019 — Pioneer Press
We were honored to be among a group of Winnetka volunteers who participated in Morton Arboretum’s “Oaktober” event, October 19th.
Lydia Scott, director of the Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative, provided tablets & software to calculate the carbon storage value of trees.
CRTI software also calculates flood water benefits of trees — A single oak can reduce 5,400 gallons of storm water runoff.
Volunteers were taught how to measure each tree’s diameter and plot GPS locations with the tablets.
Data collected at West Elm Park will be added to the Chicago Region Trees Initiative regional forestry dataset.
This dataset includes aerial imagery, land cover, forest inventories (private and public) and pre-settlement ecosystem mapping.
Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative — Benefits Summary of Trees in West Elm Park
Total oaks — 78
Total maples — 9
Other — 30
Carbon storage (ton) — 116.10
Gross Carbon Sequestration (ton/yr) — 1.46
Avoided Storm Water Runoff (ft3/yr) — 2,518.02
Read more about the Chicago Region Trees Initiative: http://chicagorti.org/?utm_source=mortonarb&utm_medium=menu%20link&utm_campaign=crti
FRIENDS OF WEST ELM PARK UPDATE — September 30, 2019
Many thanks to all the friends of West Elm Park who helped design, underwrite and provide summer homes for our beautiful yard signs.
Working together, our community-wide publicity campaign helped get our message out loud and clear— KEEP WEST ELM PARK FOR ALL!
Thanks to all of you, the Park District heard us! And they decided to reconsider other potential dog-park sites besides West Elm Park.
So, for now — Our yard signs can take a well deserved break — We’ll drive by and collect them this week and keep them warm and cozy till Spring.
Moving forward, the PD reports that they are continuing their review process and will communicate future dog-park agenda items on their website.
We are hopeful that the Park District review process will prioritize nationally recognized “best practice” dog-park site selection standards.
NOT in an environmentally sensitive area
NOT in a residential neighborhood
NOT close to a school
And we are hopeful that the Park District will remove West Elm Park from their list of potential dog-park sites once and for all.
We’ll keep you updated as the dog-park review process continues to completion.
Until then, we remain hopeful that our yard signs can stay in retirement.
STAY TUNED…
PARK DISTRICT UPDATE — July 18, 2019 — SUMMARY
https://www.winpark.org/about-us/projects/dog-park/
The Park District will continue investigating two alternative off-leash dog park sites — the Village Landfill & Cook County land
BUT — “A land use request for a dog park on Cook County land is unlikely to succeed”
AND — “A storm water plan and timeline needs to be more fully developed” before considering a Village Landfill dog park site
CURRENTLY— “No planned public discussion or Park Board action is expected to be taken on the creation of an off-leash/off-beach dog park”
·Previously planned PUBLIC dog park discussions are CANCELLED — June 30th and August 22nd
Future meetings re: agenda items relating to “the potential dog park” — Will be posted on the Park District website
WEST ELM PARK IN THE NEWS — July 2, 2019 — Pioneer Press
“Construction of any recreational facility on this site is inappropriate today as it always has been in the past.”
LETTER FROM THREE FORMER WINNETKA PARK DISTRICT BOARD PRESIDENTS — SUBMITTED TO CURRENT BOARD — June 20, 2019
Dear President Archambault and distinguished Commissioners of the Winnetka Park District Board of Commissioners,
The Winnetka Park District’s mission is to provide a balance of quality recreation and leisure opportunities, while protecting assets, natural resources, and open space for the benefit of present and future generations.
As former Presidents of the Winnetka Park District Board of Commissioners, we clearly understand the daily role you play in striking the balance to achieve the mission of the Winnetka Park District. Today you are once again trying to achieve the balance as you seek a location for the recreational need of a dog park versus the need to protect open space in our landlocked community. This debate is not new, but instead seems cyclical as you face an issue that Winnetka Park Boards before you have examined.
Historically, construction of recreational facilities in West Elm Park has been rejected in order to protect one of the oldest remaining oak savannas in the Midwest. The protection of this natural asset and endangered ecosystem has been paramount. In West Elm Park, preservation of open space has always won over construction of recreational facility. This was true when the site was rejected for a dog park in 1995, and we hope you will uphold this position once again.
Instead, the Winnetka Park District should examine ways to preserve, protect and enhance this beautiful 3.7 acre oak savanna purchased in 1908 as an open space.
Construction of any recreational facility on this site is inappropriate today as it has always been in the past.
Sincerely,
Bob Linn, President 1989-1991
Angie Dahl, President 1991-1995
Joe Dooley, Present 1995-2001
“CLICK” — ON BLUE TEXT BELOW — FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LINK
WEST ELM PARK IS NOT A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR A DOG PARK FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS
HISTORICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE - A 111-year-old environmentally sensitive oak savanna, OPEN FOR ALL, will be changed forever
Restricted Use - A locked dog park will be restricted to a few paid patrons, including non-residents
School and Community Activities Effectively Eliminated - Adventures in Learning, P.E., youth sports team meetings and practices, etc.
Bad Location – West Elm Park is in the middle of a residential neighborhood, surrounded by family homes, a playground and two schools
Too Close to School - Only about 100 feet away
Not Safe - Volume of cars during AM & PM school hours, combined with the number of young walkers and bikers, makes this a high risk area
No Parking - Virtually all “on street” parking is claimed during school hours; additional parking will bleed onto West Elm neighborhood streets
NOISE - Will have negative effect on quality of life in surrounding neighborhood
Property Value – NOISE + DIRECT VISUAL IMPACT of a fence and structures cutting the park in half = negative effect on surrounding home values
Cost – $100,000-$125,000
First and Foremost — It is the Park District’s responsibility to DO NO HARM in selecting a suitable location for a dog park
Therefore — We petition the Winnetka Park District to find a suitable location that is:
NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE
NOT IN THE MIDDLE of a residential neighborhood
And certainly NOT CLOSE TO A SCHOOL
HISTORY OF WEST ELM PARK
1908
Established 1908 with land purchased from Charles J. Kavanagh
Set aside as a wooded park for ALL of Winnetka for the last 111 years
December 2018
A group of Winnetka residents approached the Park District to advocate for a dry dog park in Winnetka
Currently, 370 residents and 94 non-residents utilize Centennial Park Dog Beach
January-May 2019 - Park District directed staff to research and evaluate potential dog park sites
Proposed Sites – West Elm Park and Crow Island Woods Park
May 16, 2019 – West Elm Park Dog Park Plan proposed by Park District
A four-foot fence will partition a graveled dog park area that will include additional structures within
Estimated budget - $100,000-$125,00
A locked fence will only admit paid patrons
Patrons will include non-residents
May 31-July 2 - Online survey
June 3- June 16 - Caucus Survey
WARNING — We question the validity of these surveys as they do NOT register opinions regarding “suitability” of dog park locations
June 20 - Park District Board Meeting
June 24-June 25 - Stakeholder and community engagement meetings held on-site
July 25 - Park District Board Meeting
July 30 - Follow-up stakeholder engagement opportunity — CANCELLED
August 22 - Park District Board review of outreach opportunities and findings — CANCELLED
FRIENDS OF WEST ELM PARK
As wise stewards of our Winnetka natural heritage, we believe that a 111-year-old untouched wooded park (oak savanna) is not suitable for a dog park and should be preserved for future generations.
As Winnetka residents, we object to any change in the usage of West Elm Park that not only limits usage to a few, but also gives exclusive privileges to non-residents in a park that has been open to ALL since 1908.
As Winnetka residents living directly adjacent to West Elm Park, we have very serious concerns about traffic, safety, parking, noise and property values.
We are extremely concerned about the safety of Skokie School and Washburn Jr. High students during school hours and special events as well as all children who live and play all day, every day, alongside beautiful West Elm Park.
ABOUT US
Friends of West Elm Park — a group of neighbors and Winnetka residents who believe that West Elm Park should stay OPEN FOR ALL and not be converted into a dog park.
Our shared goal — that this ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE oak savanna remain a wondrous place where all Winnetkans can connect with nature and enjoy a peaceful moment, where families can picnic or walk their dogs, where preschool children can enjoy art and nature classes, where grade school children can participate in Adventures in Learning activities, where our Village as a whole can host community events like the Easter Egg Hunt and where children of ALL ages can simply PLAY.