Protest Overnight Parking Charges in Lakefront Lots

Dear Neighbor,

Three weeks ago, I informed you of a Chicago Park District proposal to charge for overnight parking at the Loyola Park and Leone Park parking lots at the rate of 25 cents an hour, which would result in a cost to neighborhood residents of over $100.00 a month to park overnight in an uncovered PUBLICLY OWNED parking lot.  I expressed strong opposition to the plan and scores of 49th Ward residents sent letters and e-mails of protest to Park District officials.

Unfortunately, the Park District has not backed off on their plan.  It's time to take our opposition to the entire Park District Board.

Please join me TOMORROW, Wednesday, June 10th, 4:00 p.m., at the next meeting of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners where we will call upon the Park District Board to rescind this outrageous plan. The meeting will be held at Park District Headquarters, 541 N. Fairbanks, 8th floor.  Please try to arrive early.

If you need a ride, I will be providing bus transportation from the 49th Ward to the Park District Board meeting tomorrow.  Meet the bus in front of the Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf, at 3:00 p.m.  To reserve a seat, please reply to this e-mail or call my office at 773-338-5796.     

This proposal to charge for overnight parking will cause an enormous hardship for the many neighbors who have come to rely on the parking lots for overnight parking in our congested community.  Many of those residents are senior citizens who live on fixed incomes at the Lunt/Lake apartments adjacent to the Loyola Park lot.  They simply could not afford to pay $1,200 a year to park overnight, not to mention the additional cost from the increase in daytime parking rates.

The overnight charges would also create an enormous hardship for everyone else in our community, as people will park on the city streets rather than pay the overnight parking charges.  As a result, there would be even less on-street parking in our parking-starved community.

If you haven't done so already, please e-mail Park District Superintendent Timothy Mitchell, timothy.mitchell@chicagoparkdistrict.com, and Park District Board President Gery Chico, gery.chico@chicagoparkdistrict.com, and tell them you oppose the overnight parking charges.  If you wish to register your complaint over the phone, the Park District number is 312-742-4200.  Call between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thank you for your help and support.

Sincerely,

Joe Moore