SOUTH LOOP ASSOCIATIONSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014

Friends of the Parks is thrilled Mr. Lucas has selected Chicago as the home for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

However…

The proposed lakefront site is just the wrong site.

EROSION OF OUR PUBLIC OPEN SPACE IS A TROUBLING TREND AND SLIPPERY SLOPE

• Loss of the health, recreation and quality of life benefits associated with parks and public open spaces

• Not currently meeting City’s CitySpace Plan minimum requirement of 2 acres/1000 residents by 2010

• Ranked number 14 out of 18 of high-density cities for parkland as a percentage of city area by the Trust for Public Land

• Estimated 17% population growth and over 18% job growth in Cook County by 2040; 850,000 more residents and 435,000 more jobs

• Public open space is non-renewable – more need for open space for quality of life while more pressure on open space for development

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF OPEN SPACE

• Increase of value of property due to location near parks

• Increase in tourism and related dollars attributed to parks

• Costs savings of using public open space for recreational activities rather than

paying for the use of privately-owned facilities

• Gross National Happiness

Source: The Economic Benefits of Seattle’s Park and Recreation System from The Trust for Public Land, March 2011

Chicago’s CitySpace Plan: An Open Space Plan for Chicago

January 1988

By the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Friends of the Parks Opposes Use of Lakefront Public Open Space for Proposed Lucas

Narrative Arts Museum

Chicago, Illinois (June 24, 2014) - Friends of the Parks has a long history of partnership with the

City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District and various governmental agencies to preserve and protect

our open space and parks for Chicagoans and visitors. “While we are very supportive of the Lucas

Narrative Arts Museum coming to Chicago, we oppose its siting on lakefront public open space. The

Lakefront Protection Ordinance specifically states that, ‘in no instance will further private

development be permitted east of Lake Shore Drive’. It is clear that the siting of the Lucas Museum in

this lakefront location contradicts our prior city visionaries’ goal of continuous public open space along

the lakefront”. Such a siting of the museum contradicts the Lakefront Protection Ordinance and our

city visionaries’ goal of continuous public open space along the lakefront which was to remain, “open,

clear and free”, says Cassandra Francis, President of Friends of the Parks.

“Although the proposed site is now used as a parking lot, its future reversion to parkland is possible.

Once a building is in place, it is forever precluded from being public open space. This is not a new

issue given Friends of the Parks’ mission and extensive public opposition to the proposed siting of the

Chicago Children’s Museum in Grant Park. It is a slippery slope,” says Lauren Moltz, Friends of the

Parks’ Board Chair.

We look forward to working collaboratively with our open space partners, the community, the Mayor’s

Office and the Chicago Park District to identify the strengths of alternative sites that will secure broad

community support and will entice Mr. Lucas.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Not long ago, on a lakefront not very far away . . .

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel got what he wanted: a

new museum from "Star Wars" creator George Lucas.

LEGAL ACTION

• Violates Due Process

• Reclaimed land is held in public trust by the State of Illinois for the benefit of all Illinois citizens

• Acceptable land use and function, public vs. private

• Violates Public Trust Legal Doctrine (Lakefront Protection Ordinance)

• Degrades the lakefront as a natural resource and pristine or improved physical environment which

is available for access and use by all citizens on an equal basis, both now and for future

generations

• Interferes with the keeping of the lakefront clear and free for equal access by all citizens to

navigation, boating, fishing, recreation and commerce

PUBLIC PROCESS

• Lucas Museum Site Selection Exercise

• Chicago Park District – Museum Campus Framework Plan

• Plan Commission – Lakefront Protection Ordinance, Zoning, Design

• City Council Approval

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,

Army Corps of Engineers

CHICAGO BEARS TAILGATING

MERIT ONE CONCERT VENUE

NORTHERLY ISLAND

Proposed Beckham Soccer Stadium –Plan A

Proposed Beckham Soccer Stadium –

Proposed Beckham Soccer Stadium –Plan B

CITY AND PUBLIC RESPONSE TO BECKHAM SOCCER STADIUM

David Beckham's MLS plan derailed as Miami mayor vetoes stadium site

Miami Rejects David

Beckham's Waterfront

Soccer Stadium

Will Miami-Dade

voters bend to

Beckham’s request

for public land?

County commissioner

opposes David

Beckham's MLS

stadium at downtown

Miami slip

David Beckham group

looking at other

locations for new

soccer stadium

WHAT IF…CENTRAL PARK,NEW YORK CITY

CENTRAL PARKNEW YORK CITYTODAY

PUBLIC OPEN SPACE POLICY

Proposed Site of Lucas Narrative Arts Museum in Museum Campus