NEWS
January 2008
We Need Your Help - Support the Youth
Nine children from Washington Park programs have been chosen to take part in a skiing trip on Feb.. 9th. The Washing Park Advisory Council is looking to raise at least $20 per child to make this a memorable trip for them. Donations can be made directly to the WPAC via Cecilia Butler 773.667.4160.
Election for Washington Park Advisory Council will be held at the Feb. 20th, 2008 meeting. All WPAC members who have attended 6 or more meetings over the last year are eligible to cast their vote.
October 2007
Madiem Kawa, an area resident & WPAC member, will be leading a Volunteer Stewardship Program Workday at Washington Park to remove non-native species of plants & trees and also return native plant & tree species. Current work will be done at the southern lagoon just west of the Fountain of Time, every Saturday Oct 20-Nov 10 from 9am till noon. For more info email Madiem sunshine0711@gmail.com.
March 2007
From the March 2007 site visit; city must guarantee even with public funds. And Tribune feature says Olympics losing bases of interest and we would be better off seeking the 2018 World Cup soccer match.
Mayor Daley had been firm that the Olympics would entail no public funds. But the U.S. Olympic Committee has insisted that the city has to pledge public funds to ensure it can deliver what it proposes-specifically the $1.1 billion Olympic Village and $386 million stadium. -"We definitely want the government top have some skin in the game...We have been assure by the mayor that this is the case..." said USOC vice president Bob Ctvrtlik. This has to be in place by March 31. Available perhaps are lease out funds, as from the Millennium Garages, the Skyway, and maybe Midway. Such would back a line of credit from banks et al. Also, there is skepticism on the cost of the stadium.
Hyde Park Herald, January 31, 2007/ By Nykeya Woods
September 2006
The city announced a proposal to build an Olympic Sized stadium in Washington Park as part of its bid for the 2016 Olympics.
See the Olympic page for all material on this subject.
Note that the Logistics and Broadcast centers are shown in the old Armory, which many want to see have a new use--there are competing interests. The lighted area at the north end is Dyett High School. How would it be impacted? And there is really little left of the ball fields during the construction and olympic period. Hockey fileds asre now moved to Jackson Park.
Washington Park with 2016 Olympic facilities. Tribune
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September 9, 2006
Council President Cecilia Butler was named the first recipient of the Chicago Park District Daniel Burnham Award for vision and 'making no small plans. The award was given at the district's second annual Council Appreciation Day, at Northerly Island.
There was in 2006 a suite of events and exhibits celebrating the 125th anniversary of the naming of the Park for our First President.
The park will get a $700,000 upgrade to the regional playground between the fieldhouse and refectory- it will become a signature playground--$400,000 is from the org. that puts on Lollapalooza downtown plus Parkways Foundation. In future years more parks will receive signature playgrounds, funded in part by Lollapalooza.