A reader observes about the Clarendon Park playlot, next to the fieldhouse:As a daily dog walker - early morning and later at night, I was noticed a huge waste of water on display coming from the large children's sprinkler in the playground. The water from this sprinkler seems to runs non-stop 24 hours a day at what has to be a rate of gallons of water per minute - I have never seen it turned off.
Can't they install a shutoff or set it up for automatic turn on - it was pointed out by friends in from the suburbs where they are on restricted water use and lawn watering schedule.
Ald. Shiller has really been
This really doesn't bother me. It's for children; let them have some fun for 2 or 3 months out of the year. We are blocks from one of the largest freshwater sources in the country. There are sprinklers and fountains using water for grass or just to look at. The kids in the city don't have that many resources. Maybe some sort of automatic shutoff at night is warranted, but this seems ok when it is 80 degrees or more. As one child I work with said, "Why can't the gangs and people shooting each other realize that summer is for the kids, I want to play safe outside."
ReplyDeleteI second that thought, of all the things that bother me in Uptown, this is really really far down the list.
ReplyDeleteBesides, these water features tend to bring out the families and actually make the park safer for everyone, so they have a nice side benefit. Gang Bangers aren't real big on getting their drugs wet.
plus, it probably gets reclaimed down the road anyway like the rest of our water...
ReplyDeleteMaybe Shiller could put a sign up that says "This Water is Recycled."
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with christopher, it does make me smile that our "green" alderman didn't catch this obvious waste of resources in the design of the park. (not that she had much involvement - or really cares much about wasting things - pissing away over $480,000.00 per unit construction costs on the Wilson Yard "Affordable Housing" comes to mind)
Methinks that even a complaining phone call to Shiller's office about sprinklers that cool off needy neighborhood kids trapped in the city during the summer would come off as petty and be met with derision. And rightly so.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Uptown Update, for giving the person upset about running playground sprinklers an opportunity to vent--and at the same time make a major logical leap by linking this situation to (for them at least) Ald. Shiller's hypocrisy and poor management of her ward. Yeesh.
"trapped in the city"???
ReplyDeleteChicago has one of the best park systems in the world. There is a large freshwater lake with hundreds of miles of public beaches and a tremendous bikeway system. Free programs are provided at city parks all summer. Chicago has been the number one tourist destinations for three years in a row.
"trapped in the city"???
billyjoe, just between you and me your hidden agenda is showing. You might want to readjust, if you know what I mean. Just sayin'.
Sorry, but many people would agree that young kids living in low-income, single-parent households in Uptown are basically trapped in the city with no one to take them nor pay their way to the many Chicago attractions you're referring to.
ReplyDeleteThus, an easily accessible and continuously running neighborhood park sprinkler is a modest godsend for them.
And if you're going to make claims about us being the "No. 1 Tourist Destination," could you please provide a link to a Web site or article that confirms this?
Well, when you consider the alternative-open fire hydrants-this is quite benign. And, I would imagine, eco-friendly through the use of "recycled" water. (Isn't that also true of that chi-chi "Spitting Fountain" at Millennium Park?) And am I the only who's thinking that this harkens back to the old "Shower in the Stands" of old Comiskey Park?
ReplyDeleteAnd am I the only who's thinking that this harkens back to the old "Shower in the Stands" of old Comiskey Park?
ReplyDeleteI believe new Comisky still has one of these.
Thanks for the info; as a DHCF I wouldn't know.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the sprinkler...it may indeed be wasteful to operate it 24/7 but it may have been a cost/benefit trade-off. Perhaps the park district would be a good place to start. There are too many valid significant issues with current Ward management to resort to petty reactionary accusations (in fact, that's one of the valid issues).
ReplyDeleteThe apologists for the current wardlord should be ignored. The "needy...low income...single parent" children of Uptown have unfettered access to all the same free ammenities as everyone else. With Helen's support, now that the Chicago Children's Museum will be in Grant Park, I'm sure it will be a free museum.
Let's pick our battles a bit more carefully.
I dunno, overlooking a relatively minor issue for the others isn't the best policy. The controls for this system are not expensive and may be easy to install. I say do it right or not at all. Install a timer and a thermostat to control the flow of water.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm guessing any water that the public may run thru (i.e. Millennium Park and playground fountains) isn't 'recycled'. The type of grey water or reclaimed storm water people talk of isn't potable (drinkable) and therefore not safe to play in. There are several layers of filtration that must be installed and at that point, the economy in this application goes down the drain.
ReplyDeleteLet the water run 24/7 for the needy children? Is there not a curfew? It would be darn convenient for their parents to take them there to cool off at 3am.
ReplyDeleteMy point was/is that this issue might be better directed to the Park District.
ReplyDeleteThere's no reason the water needs to run continuously if no one is using it--it's a waste. The water features at River Park turn on at the push of a button on the side of the building, and turn off after 10 minutes or so. No one minds or is inconvenienced, in fact, the kids all want to push the button.
ReplyDelete"We are blocks from one of the largest freshwater sources in the country."
ReplyDeleteChristopher: You are making the incorrect assumption that Chicago has unlimited access to that freshwater. The amount of water the city and region can pull out of the lake is limited by law. Canada, Wisconsin and Michigan 'own' substantial shares (I think it's called the Great Lakes Water Treaty). Recently there have been a number of news stories about a severe water shortage in Chicago. You might think having the kiddie sprinklers running 24/7 is no big deal now but what would you say if you weren't allowed to water your lawn or garden? On top of that, how much would installing a switch actually cost? I'd betcha that switch would pay for itself after a month or two.
Have referred this matter to Brian Loll and Michael Brown at Clarendon Park.
ReplyDeleteWhy waste our precious resources when a push button can save water and the extra high water bill.
Thank, Katharine. ;-)
ReplyDelete"No. 1 Tourist Destination," could you please provide a link to a Web site or article that confirms this?"
ReplyDeletebillyjoe, this information was from a radio news report I heard a week or two ago. When I just searched, Chicago is fourth in the US on http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/TravelGuide-United_States_of_America.html. (although for many people, it is their "number one" destination)
That being said, each of the activities I mentioned are free, provided by the City to all of us, including poor kids who come from single parent households and can't rub two nickles together. A creative parent or kid will find a world of opportunity in Chicago, all for free.
I know it tugs at the heartstrings to even mention the words "needy neighborhood kids trapped in the city during the summer" or "young kids living in low-income, single-parent households" but let's get real. Chicago's a pretty awesome place for a kid to grow up. Many poor rural kids would love the opportunity to be "trapped" in Chicago instead of the small town with not much more to do than tip cows, drink beer and go to the county fair once every summer.
Are there kids unhappy living in Chicago? Probably. Does it mean Chicago is a horrible place to grow up or live? If you say "yes," maybe you are the one who is not happy?
I've seen more dogs get washed down in this thing than I've seen children playing in it.
ReplyDeleteClarendon Park is getting a new playlot. Brian and Michael reminded me that the community planning process with start later this year.
ReplyDeleteWe have funding for the playlot.
The playlot will be moved up and run along Clarendon so it will be more visible.
If you're a parent and want to participate in the planning process, stop by or call Clarendon Park 312-742-7512.
billyjoe - when was the last time you had to pay to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo or head out the harbor which is just steps from these "trapped" areas?
ReplyDeleteAlso, about every single park in the city is offering free films during the summer too.
There's a lot to do for free in this town. And I don't think shelling out the bus fare or the L fare is very demanding either. Heck, save up $6 and head out to the 'burbs on the Metra and take in the Free Family Film Festival at one of the Regal Cinemas.
Doesn't cost much to have fun in this town.
And another thing... We've got to give the homeless somewhere to shower! ;)
ReplyDelete