MORE GREEN OPEN SPACE WILL BE AVAILABLE
Even before the first grass seed is planted in the new Maggie Daley Park (that includes the old Peanut Park area), a few persons are complaining that there is not enough "open green space" for kick ball or throwing a Frisbee. You can clearly see from the picture of the entire area on the day the project started, there was a very small "green open area" in Peanut Park and almost none in the old Daley Bicentennial Plaza. See both "before" and "after" pictures below.
Now compare the green open space that will be available in 2015 to all Chicago citizens and visitors to our great city. It has not been accurately measured because all 1000 trees have not been planted, however we have identified 6 areas (plus the open area in the Cancer Survivors Garden) and estimate that the new open area in Maggie Daley Park will be over ten times more than the previously available "green open land". The park district responded well to the many requests by citizens, during the 4 public hearings held in 2010, and the separate presentation sponsored by Alderman Reilly. The final design shown below was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission and has been under construction for nearly two years. A "soft opening" is planned for December, and the final plantings will be installed in Spring 2015.
Only limited area of Green Open Space previously available.
6 TENNIS COURTS ----->
<-------- SIX TENNIS COURTS IN THIS GRAY AREA
Before complaining of a lack of open green space, the opponents of rebuilding convenient tennis courts (for the residents, office workers, and visitors) at the north end of Grant park should look at all the green space that is available now.
