Latin School

Public Policy at Issue with Latin School Soccer Field Plan

On Friday, November 2nd the contractor hired by the Latin School to construct an artificial turf soccer field in Lincoln Park began work to build the field despite strong opposition from local community groups, Friends of the Parks and nearby residents. The action to actually start the construction is an end-run around recent action taken by Aldermen Vi Daley, Brendan Reilly and Tom Tunney’s to introduce a resolution to have public review of the Latin School soccer field at the next City Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee.

With no public hearings or notice to the neighborhood or to the broader community, the Chicago Park District on October 25, 2006 approved a contract for the Latin School to construct an artificial turf soccer field at the south end of Lincoln Park. No plan or presentation was made to Lincoln Park community organizations or to Friends of the Parks.

Crain’s Chicago Business later reported on the contract agreement with the Latin School. Crain’s reporter, Greg Hinz, analyzed the contract and wrote an article with the headline “Prestigious Prep School Lands Sweet Deal for New Lincoln Park Field”. Additional newspaper articles brought the issue to light and community groups voiced their opposition to the use of public land for a private school. In September, after months of community activism, Alderman Vi Daley and Alderman Brendan Reilly held a public meeting at the Latin School where hundreds of citizens voiced their opposition to the Latin School proposal. This was followed by a City Council resolution on the matter.

After the construction started, Alderman Vi Daley called together representatives from community groups including the Lincoln Park Advisory Council, the Lincoln Park Conservancy, Gold Coast Neighbors and Friends of the Parks to meet with the Park District and Latin School officials to review the construction and usage plans. While Friends of the Parks made it clear that it does not support the policy of leasing public parkland to a private institution for their priority use, the Park District reiterated that the contract had been approved and the soccer field project is moving ahead.

Alderman Daley and the park groups insisted on changes to the signed agreement which include a reduction of Latin’s use time by 10%, a complete landscaping plan, a significant number of new trees, retaining the configuration of the running path and the addition of a drinking fountain to the south of the soccer field.

Looking forward, Friends of the Parks’ encourages the Park District to develop a policy and plan that calls for the Park District to construct public soccer fields that are open for permitted use by the general public.

For more information, please contact John Paul Jones at jonesjp@fotp.org