The Focal Point of Community Action
Friday, June 24, 2005
Dear Avalon Park Supervisor, Mrs. McMillan, Avalon Park / 1215 E. 83rd St. / 312-747-6015
This letter is in response to your request for clarification of our appeal for the locking of Avalon park easements after park hours by a volunteer group of community members. Please note that these three easements were initially designed in 1953 for the convenience of the Marynook community. In 1992, the Avalon park supervisor sanctioned a program where by Marynook volunteers secured the park easements, per the request of the Marynook Homeowners' Association. As you know, Avalon Park is unique not only in its design, but also in the fact that the Marynook community has partnered with this park since 1953. In 1992 locks and chains were affixed to the easement gates and select Marynook residents were in charge of locking the gates after park hours and/or opening the gates before park hours. This program was requested because of the increasing level of after-hours illegal activities spilling over into the Marynook community from Avalon Park. These activities included: The firing of hand guns, gathering of gangs, under-age drinking, open drug activity, vandalism of private and city property, playing of loud music, public fornication, the use of Marynook and the Avalon Park easements as escape routes for robbers and thieves, etc. (none of the above listed are embellishments or
exaggerations and continue to occur to this date.)
Based on my research of Marynook documents, these problems have existed since 1967 and persist into present day. Over the years the City of Chicago Park District has upgraded park lighting, erected easement fences, installed park easements bollards (large yellow concrete posts), and relocated park benches in an effort to stem the above listed activities with little success. The most effective solution is, and always has been, the restriction of access through these easements after the park is closed. Precipitated by the after hours gathering of over 30 teens in Avalon park on the 4th of July in 2004, the volunteer program was reinitiated during a 3 month time span (from June to August). The 4th district police department reported issuing 32 citations. These were issued for after-hours trespassing in the park, and included impoundment of 2 vehicles for loud music. Because the easements were locked, the violators were unable to escape. There was also a decrease in 911 disturbance calls. We, the residents noted a decrease in after-hours activity near the easements and a significant reduction in the number of expected summertime thefts. Please realize that we do not attribute all crime in the Marynook Community to the current misuse of the easements, however with historical references dating back to 1967 which detail the community's concerns, these issues must be addressed. It has been noted since 1992, that an appreciable difference can be achieved by merely restricting access through the easements during the hours when the park is closed (from 11:00pm - 7:00am). In the past, members of the Homeowner's Association have requested the permanent closing of the easement. These requests sprung from these members personal victimization by individuals misusing the easements. We, the current Homeowner's Association realize how desirable it is that residents have easy access to Avalon Park, but if the adverse impact on our community far outweighs the advantages, then we can do without it. We seek a simple resolution. If our volunteer program is not acceptable, then another workable solution must be put in place. No one lives in the park, but Marynook is home to over one thousand residents. Our safety must be a priority. Marynook@Yahoo.com
P.O. BOX 19018
Fax: (773) 731-8951
Chicago, Illinois 60619-0018
An aerial view of Avalon Park with the 3 easments into the Marynook community indicated by large arrows.
Contact me directly if your have any question or consideration.
Sincerely, Nicholas J Galloway MHA President
Marynook@Yahoo.com
P.O. BOX 19018
Fax: (773) 731-8951
Chicago, Illinois 60619-0018