Park Districts in the Sensible Growth Paradigm

1
Park Districts in the Sensible Growth Paradigm

• Presentation to the Illinois Association of Park
  Districts
• January 26, 2002

2
What is the Campaign for Sensible Growth?

• 4-year old coalition of 175 civic, government,
  business organizations
• Promotes sensible growth
• Strengthen economic competitiveness of Chicago
  region
• Revitalize, support existing communities
• Promote new development that is walkable,
  pedestrian friendly, transit-oriented and
• that protects natural resources

3
Land consumption in Chicago region is increasing
at rapid rate

• Developed land could double over next 30 years
  16 Chicagos
• Regional population, employment forecasts for
  2020 25 increase
• Developed land forecast 55 increase

4
Americans are seeking more open space, parks

• 83 favor establishing zones for green space,
  farming, forests that would be off limits to
  developers
• 77 favor government using tax dollars to buy
  land for more parks and open space and to protect
  wildlife
• In 1999, Americans ranked sprawl, traffic top
  concern, over crime, jobs or local problems

5
Sensible Growth principles give people more of
what they want

• Neighborhood Livability
• Better Access, Less Traffic
• Thriving Cities, Suburbs, Towns
• Shared Benefits
• Lower Costs, Lower Taxes
• Keeping Open Space Open

6
Residents vote for open space

• Will, Lake, DuPage, LaSalle, McHenry counties
  passed referendums for open space purchase
• Park Districts find support for land purchases

7
Natural Open Space Preservation

• Protects
• - ecosystems
• - habitats
• - watersheds
• - prairies
• - fens
• - natural water systems

8
Fine line between open space, parks and recreation

• Web site search
• Trails and Open Space Coalition
• Space Open Multilingual golfing lessons
• Open Spaces Travel and Recreation Guide

9
What is recreation?

• Tennis courts Soccer fields
• Swimming pools Ball fields

10

• Will County decision, December 2001
• We doubt seriously whether approved that
  (referendum) initiative sold on the basis of
  obtaining new properties for open space projects
  benefiting all county residents had a golf
  course in mind when casting their ballots-- The
  Star

11
Good planning necessary for both natural open
space, recreation

• Well-funded land management plan will guide
  protection, enhancement of lands
• Balance protection of natural resources w/
  recreational, usage needs
• Local Legacy planning begin with inventory,
  evaluation
• Map resources
• Plan accordingly

12
New development techniques work to conserve open
space
13
Cooperation needed between park districts,
municipalities, developers, forest preserve dist.
14
State aids both natural open space preservation,
recreation

• OSLAD Open Space Land Acquisition and
  Development Fund (through IDNR) Mostly active
  recreation
• Open Lands Trust Fund Areas for non-development

15
Do we have to choose? NO

• We need both.

16
Issues are there you make the decisions

• Citizens want, need open space for quality of
  life
• Park Districts provide both natural open space,
  recreation
• Fine line must be taken to provide both in
  cooperation with other governments, developers

17
Thank you very much