* Park 506 Rule Sign is Stolen

Sister Cecelia lobbied hard to get a rules sign posted on Park 506 ( The New Harold Washington Playground). See e-mail below.

A rules sign was placed, but now the sign is gone. It's missing. Really, someone stole the rules.

Have you seen this sign? According to the North of Howard Parks people the above sign was stolen. Someone ripped the rules sign off the fence. Who would do such a thing? It's not like they were actually enforcing the rules on the sign anyway.
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NOH: Washington Playlot Issues
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From: Cecelia Fandel
To: Robert.Steele@ChicagoParkDistrict.com
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 9:21 AM
Subject: Park Enhancement?

Dear Robert,

Please forward this on to the Park Enhancement Committee.

For three evenings running now, there has been a group of young teens in the Washington Playlot, playing Basketball, and dunkball eliminating any use of the baby swings, or the circular hanging equipment. In addition, for two nights, I chased them out because they were lighting fire crackers in the playlot. When they left, they spent 45 minutes lighting all types of fireworks on the parkway and in the street. All dangerous activities.

As it is now, when the parents of young children see them coming in the playlot, they leave with their tykes.

Last night I went out because they again were throwing a ball up against our building.

The night before they had climbed over our fence and trampled in our garden to get their ball. As I talked to them I noted that one took out a lighter and started to light litter on fire.

I said, that's it, out... They went over the fence. The fence is now being bent over and down on two sides because they are using that for exits and entrances. It needs repair.

As I exited the playlot I saw a police car parked at the end of Paulina on Juneway. I started to walk toward it, and flagged it down. I'm fortunate they stopped. Sometimes, they don't. I told them about the boys with the lighters and that they were starting down the alley.

The police DID enter the alley. By this time they had lit a box on fire in a neighbors' back yard. The garden site worker saw them, hollared at them and they were trapped between the police and the worker...

A long way to say that THIS IS NOT PARK ENHANCEMENT. THIS PARK DESTRUCTION. AND IT NEGATES THE PURPOSE THIS COMMUNITY ASKED FOR THIS PARK, that is, SO LITTLE CHILDREN COULD PLAY IN A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE environment.

This is PRECISELY why we asked for specific rules to be placed on the sign, and to be enforced.

PARENTS with small children ARE NOT ABLE to bring their children IN AT THEIR CONVENIENCE. Maybe they are able to sneak them in when the bullies are not around. THIS IS AN INSULT TO GOOD PARENTS.

Are these young teens supervised? ARE THEIR PARENTS BRINGING THEM IN? NO!

Definitely, I AM ASKING THE PARK ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE to meet with parent and community reps to go over again WITH US, Here in the neighborhood, the suggested rules we offered in a collaborative spirit. And I want YOU as our laiason to make this happen as soon as possible, as the school term is over in a few weeks.

Our North of Howard Parks Advisory Council meets Tues, June 20. IT would be terrific if this could be accomplished before that meeting.

Sincerely,
Sr. Cecilia

Another residents view of the sad Park 506 situation..