The Chicago Park District has spoken. At a special session of the board called solely to deal with the Latin School soccer field, commissioners unanimously voted to complete the soccer facility in Lincoln Park and repay the Latin School for its construction costs. WE MUST NOTE THAT THE DECISION TO REPAY THE LATINS SCHOOL WAS NOT COMPELLED BY OUR LAW SUIT – IT IS THE DECISION OF THE CITY TO DO SO.

At this meeting POP offered to raise finds to restore the site to a grass meadow but was rebuffed. POP board President read this statement. POP had gone to court earlier that morning protesting the special session as well as unauthorized work on the site from August 19 that violated our court order. The judge let both actions stand.

So, look for construction at the site to swiftly resume and conclude.

What’s next?

Protect Our Parks is not finished. We see a number of issues still unresolved with the Latin School Land Grab. For one, we don’t think the Latin School should be repaid since the contract that called for them to be repaid was corrupt and voided. The Park District is facing a $24 million deficit and looks to cut up to 300 jobs”. So where do they get the funds to lavish on this project, spawned by the Latin School – and which we think WILL STILL be the main beneficiary of it?

Next, we’ve been contacted by park groups around the city who are facing land grabs, privatizations and shady deals which end up freezing neighbors out of their own parks. We are working with these groups to get a full picture of park abuse and fashion a response.

Thank you to the thousands of people who have signed our petitions, emailed us and grabbed us in restaurants and on the streets to wish us well and urge us on. Also to the hundreds of donors who supported our legal fund – we could not have come this far without you! To all Chicagoans who love open space and good government and who detest cronyism and back-room deals – stay tuned – we’re not done fighting for you!

A local paper got it right with this headline. Lincoln Park is renamed Latin Park!