July 7, 2004
922 W. Carmen Ave. #2W
Chicago, IL 60640

Mary Ann Smith
Alderman of the 48th Ward
5533 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60660

Subject: Proposal for a Native Plant Garden in Margate Park

Dear Alderman Smith:

On June 19th 2004 we sent a letter to Ernie Constantino with a copy to Greg Harris and you. Then we were just beginning to seek support for a proposed re-use for the existing play lot in Margate Park: to convert the low-walled space into an enclosure for a perennial garden.

In the short time since that letter went to your office, we’ve talked with a number of community leaders (please see the addendum) and received strong support and good advice. Through community discussion our proposal has changed somewhat: we now advocate a native plants perennial garden. Here are some of the advantages this new garden would bring:

• The area around the play lot garden would be enhanced as a quiet meeting place. People come there now to talk and to play board games. This new recreational space would serve other groups in addition to the many seniors who live nearby.
• The garden, with interpretive material, could become an educational resource in our community. Native plants fit nicely with a philosophy that is strong on education and restoration.
• Once established, the natives are very hardy and require less water.
• An attractive garden would be a source of pride for the community and would encourage responsible citizen behavior there.
• The garden would attract butterflies and birds.

However, there are concerns that this proposal must address:

• Public safety must be kept in mind when the garden is established. The plants and grasses within should not create a screen for undesirable activity in the park.
• Native plants need steady watering initially as they establish their deep root systems. Unfortunately, there is no arrangement for watering now, only a public drinking fountain about 50 yards away.
• Pam Holy briefly inspected the material, a mixture of sand and mulch, in the current play lot. Native plants can thrive in nutrient-poor soil. However, we do not know what type of material lies underneath the mixture.
• The Park District will be our critical partner in the establishment of the garden; we have not had discussions with the Park District about this idea yet.
• Preparing the ground, buying new plants, and establishing a watering arrangement will require money. (With the help of a skilled volunteer naturalist, the community could do the planting.)

We understand there has been discussion about the play lot being converted into another soccer field. We strongly feel the garden would be a better use of the space, one that would mean more to the people of our community. There are already more than a dozen soccer fields in the area; most are used only two or three days per week. The vast majority of people who use these fields are not from our neighborhood and cause significant traffic congestion and parking problems. And, given the configuration of the space, trees would have to be cut down for the field.

We ask for your help and advice in working with the Park District and in securing funds for the materials and the water connection. We also very much appreciate and would continue to rely on the help of your staff members who focus on Parks, Infrastructure, Education, and Public Safety as their time permits. In turn, we will organize the community groups and provide the labor for planting and maintenance. We recognize that a lot of hard work is involved in getting a project like this underway and are willing to make the commitment necessary.

We know that you and your staff consider many proposals as part of deciding what’s best for our 48th Ward. Thank you for considering this new one; we hope you can be as enthusiastic about it as we are.

Addendum: Community Support for the proposed Native Plant Garden in Margate Park

The following are the community leaders and organizations to whom we have described the proposal. We made a presentation before the Margate Park Advisory Council on 6/29. All have stated that they are in favor (excepting Janet Crabbe, who has not yet replied).

• Margate Park Advisory Council
• Karen Furnweger
• Pam Holy
• Ed Kuske (President, Castlewood Terrace Association)
• Nancy Meyerson (President, Gunnison Block Club)
• Janet Crabbe (President, Margate Park Block Club)
• Judy Yablonsky (President, Lakeside Area Neighbors Association
• David Farina (President, Argyle Winmore Neighbors
• P. C. Smiley