Present: Thalia Solano (Park Physical Instructor), Denise Browning (WPAC-Co-President), Susan Fontana (WPAC – Co-President), Doug Wood (WPAC – Secretary and Garden Club), Tim Kolecke (Website), Adam Housley (Dog Park), Clintina Taylor (WPPA), Lisa Stauff (WPPA), John Davidson (attended part of meeting – busy with teen group in other room), Cythia Rosario arrived after meeting and discussed issues with WPAC members.
- Minutes – Doug Wood – July Minutes were read and approved – there was no meeting in August 2010.
- Treasurer’s Report – Richard Tilley-absent but submitted report via email – given by Denise Browning.
- Committee Reports
- Dog Park Committee – Adam Housley – The committee purchased 200 cubic feet and installed pea gravel. The committee will have a leaf-raking day to be announced. Power washer was not used this year. Dead tree remains; Doug will contact Jerome again.
- Web Site Committee – Tim Kolecke – Twitter has 80 followers. He will update site with upcoming events – eg. Haunted Drive-In Movie schedule, fall schedule, events scheduled in park, and registration times.
- Softball Committee – Ryan Jackson – Absent
- WPPA (Wicker Park Parent’s Association) report to the WPAC
- WPPA Music Concert – Clintina Taylor – Clintina reported on the concert series and the scholarship fund. This summer many concerts were cancelled due to weather. The concessions broke even. The group is considering methods to obtain better sales (e.g. banner announcing their goals, different types of concessions, actual amount of ice needed per each sale day, also which location is better – west side or soft ball east side area? Tony will provide detailed budget for the summer series – profits, losses, and final amount in scholarship fund? etc).
- WPPA Scholarship Fund – Toni Anderson – Absent – No Report Submitted
- Park Programming Survey – Toni Anderson – Absent – No Report Submitted
- Lisa Stauff – Needs copies of documents to obtain quotes.
- Open Mic – John Shirk (Urban Encounter – Reported) Absent
- Gardens and Landscape Committee (WPGarden and WPAC Landscape) – Doug Wood
REPORT LANDSCAPE – JULY-AUGUST-EARLY SEPTEMBER- Gardens-July-September – Volunteer met most Saturdays to garden, weed, dead head. Watered when hot – every 2 (urns) to 4 (large amended sections) days.
- Toilets-July-August – The Un-lockable – broken Handicapped toilet was removed and replaced with a non-handicapped toilet. The hours – Sat-Sun-5pm-9am are now maintained.
- Picnic Table – July – Patrick Levar’s crews responded to requests to repair the picnic table, spitting bears, and spent some time on the lockbox.
- Wicker Fest Volunteers-July-August – 8 Volunteers acted as ‘eyes for the police’ from 3pm-11pm on Saturday, July 31 during the Wicker Park Fest. The Alderman Moreno provided vests for the volunteers.
- August – Damage Report to Police – $2,000 of damage was done to the gardens in Early August. We called the police and filed a report for the losses. Christy Webber (Christy Webber Landscapes) was in the park during the report and confirmed the level of damage. In addition, we wrote 14th District Commander Flores at the request of the neighbors and senior to request that her staff clear the Park every evening at 11pm. She agreed to do this and has done so regularly since mid-August.
- August – Staff walk grounds and report status to assist police: In addition to Commander Flores commitment, we requested that Park Staff and our staff security officer walk the grounds hourly to check on park patron activities, document them, and then call police if situations are found during this walk. They were asked to be the eyes for the police officers.
- August – Farmer’s Market Debris – We spoke with Josemar – summer landscaper – who stated that the Farmer’s Market left trash behind on the grounds. We requested that John Davidson speak with FMStaff to correct this behavior. This was done.
- September – Visit from FOTP – Erma Tranter (President – Friends of the Parks) and Maria Dmyterko Stone (Director of Neighborhood Parks and Community Relations –FOTP) visited Wicker Park on Friday, September 10, 2010. I took them on a tour of the dog park, playground, gardens, historic fountain court and ball park. They were interested in documenting interests, projects, and elucidating methods to assist with streamlining procedures to remove factors that are inhibitory to progress.
- September – Tour Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance – The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Partnered with the WPGarden and visited Wicker Park Gardens and then were taken on an historic & Garden Tour on Hoyne and Pierce.
- September – Canning Workshop – Dina Petrakis offered her home to hold a Canning Workshop on Saturday, September 11. 20 students attended the 2.5 hour long workshop.
- September-Lecture – September Lecture – A Year in Humboldt Park – Dina Petrakis was held on Monday, September 13 for an audience of 48 in the Auditorium.
- September – Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance – County Fair – Saturday, September 18. The Garden Club has been invited by Garfield Park Staff to demonstrate Canning Techniques, Tool Sharpening, Fall Container Design, and Paper Making.
- September – Lights – WE requested that the east pole light, fountain lights, and east building security lights be repaired. Also, the lights go off before sunrise and it was requested lights be adjusted to the season and be turned on at 5pm and off at 7am. Patrick is working on this.
- SEPTEMBER – TRASH – The seasonal landscaper is now done with his season. We are working with landscaping to obtain VOLUNTEERS to – pick up a piece of trash – as they walk thru. Your Input to ‘pitch in and pick it up’ would be helpful and appreciated.
- INFO FROM FOYA – WICKER PARK – SEPTEMBER 18
6569 Pending – Chelsea Armstrong- Group – Tabula Rasa – Event Name Tabula Rasa Family Fun Run – Wicker Park and Damen Event Date – 9/18/2010 Event Times 8AM 12:Noon – Set up 9/18/2010 6-8am – Tear Down Time 9/18/2010 9/18/2010 12-1pm – LEMOYNE AND DAMEN – 70 signed up – 8am – portable restroom – north west – Aaron. Needed to provide one portable. Oui Oui. Deliver toilet deliver and pickup – on asphalt or plywood. Due 6:30 pickup at noon. Email Chelsea@tabularasachicago.org
3 TABLES, 1 tent – 10X10; 3 banners – 2 on tent – one on table and on sidewalk to LeMoyne. Volunteers 20. More people there.
Join in walk or run. Come Early. Tabula Rasa, Latin for blank slate, will provide a structured, holistic and innovative living environment that will transition at-risk young adults from incarcerated youth to independent contributing members of the community.NOTE: Park staff were not aware of these details – info given to John Davidson to coordinate.
MOTION: The WPAC voted to donate one toilet to the group to help cut their costs. - BUDGET HEARINGS – SEPTEMBER 30
2011 Regional Budget Hearings -Registration: 5:30pm Budget Hearing Begins: 6:00pm – Thursday, September 30, 2010 Douglas Park 1401 S. Sacramento Dr. - FRIENDS OF THE PARKS – OCTOBER 5
Friends of the Parks (FOTP) invite you to attend a welcome reception for Chicago Park District Board President Dr. Bryan Traubert Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 5:00pm. Immediately following the reception will be the quarterly Park Advisory Council (PAC) Networking Meeting from 5:45 p.m. – 7 p.m. Please RSVP by September 28, 2010 to confirm your attendance. When you RSVP please provide the following: * Park name * List of PAC officers * PAC website address * Dates of your PAC meeting * is FOTP your fiscal sponsor
- Staff Reports – John Davidson – report distributed – Davidson & Rosario in Teen meeting held at same time.
- Park Kid’s/ youth Programs
Monday – Gym Games, Lead Up Games and Circle Games
Tuesday – Arts and Crafts and Floor Hockey
Wednesday – MSI Science Club and Floor Hockey
Friday – Fun Friday and Flag Football - Upcoming Special Events
TBA- Science Club Field Trip (Partner Level) – 2 field trips
9/18 – Park Voyagers Field Trip – Museum of Contemporary Art 10am-2pm - The Teen Scene
- Conceptual Design Workshop Site visits and Workshops (Teen Playground)
Schedule laid out. - Regional Special Events – Pumpkin Patch- Humboldt Park – 10-16-10am-2pm
- Recent Service Request Repairs
Gym Floor restoration, Exterior lights re-lamped, exterior light timers set on 5pm-off 7am, Installation of job box behind softball backstop, restroom sink knobs reinstalled, aeration of baseball field.
- Park Kid’s/ youth Programs
- NEW BUSINESS – DISCUSSIONS
- Discussion on Park Kids registration numbers – enrollment number dropped to 60 from 80.
- All children’s sports changed to week days. John Davidson stated that some will be scheduled on Saturdays in the next session.
- All discussed the slow process of the gym, game room, and roof repairs and how this affected late start dates for Mom, Pops, and tots and other encumbrances.