Changes

===Green Building Design===

===Green Building Design===

Dr. Golden has had a leadership role in large-scale commercial development as principal of Holley Court Partners.  His proposal features green technology, including LEED, a rooftop garden, and internal recycling.<ref>http://www.oak-park.us/public/pdfs/Planning/Harlem_South/2006%20RFP%20Responses/09.26.06_Holley%20Court%20Partners.pdf</ref>

[[File: LesGoldenSaveCoyotes.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small>An active animal welfare advocate in the State of Illinois, Dr. Golden argued for compassion toward the coyote population of northern Illinois in a series of columns, and letters to the editor, and press releases.<small>]]Dr. Golden has had a leadership role in large-scale commercial development as principal of Holley Court Partners.  His proposal features green technology, including LEED, a rooftop garden, and internal recycling.<ref>http://www.oak-park.us/public/pdfs/Planning/Harlem_South/2006%20RFP%20Responses/09.26.06_Holley%20Court%20Partners.pdf</ref>

===The $50,000 “Trees: Our Natural Infrastructure for the Environment” Challenge===

===The $50,000 “Trees: Our Natural Infrastructure for the Environment” Challenge===

===Weed Picking and Green Committee===

===Weed Picking and Green Committee===

The idea was slow in becoming reality.  After periodic lobbying of the park district by Golden and the members of the CARE party over many years, however, the creation of a Green Committee by the park district in 2008 has finally formalized Golden’s proposal and made weed picking rather than pesticides the practice at every park in the village.  The practice has now been adopted as well by neighboring towns.

[[File: LesGoldenSodforCitizens.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small> Les Golden, of Oak Park, Illinois, is a leading environmentalist and animal welfare advocate in the State of Illinois.  He frequently lobbies for these causes in columns, letters to the editor, and press releases.  In 2000, he began a program by which citizens can obtain free sod from park district trimmings to beautify their landscaping.  The worms and worm eggs are also saved from the landfills by this project.</small>]]The idea was slow in becoming reality.  After periodic lobbying of the park district by Golden and the members of the CARE party over many years, however, the creation of a Green Committee by the park district in 2008 has finally formalized Golden’s proposal and made weed picking rather than pesticides the practice at every park in the village.  The practice has now been adopted as well by neighboring towns.

==Tree Activism==

==Tree Activism==

===Saving Old Growth Trees===

===Saving Old Growth Trees===

In about 1998, Dr. Golden discovered that all the trees around a parking lot were to be destroyed.  He organized the local parents and their children, and notified the Chicago television media to cover the protest.  Diann Burns of ABC Channel 7 famously reported, "Why don't they just move the fence?!"

[[File: LesGoldenOakParkPesticideBan.jpg|thumb|left|175px|<small>In 1991, Les Golden, as president of Citizens Active for Respect for the Environment, achieved a ban on pesticides in the parks and recreation centers of Oak Park, Illinois.</small>]]In about 1998, Dr. Golden discovered that all the trees around a parking lot were to be destroyed.  He organized the local parents and their children, and notified the Chicago television media to cover the protest.  Diann Burns of ABC Channel 7 famously reported, "Why don't they just move the fence?!"

In 2007, Dr. Golden discovered that all the old growth trees in a park in Oak Park were to be destroyed for a ball field.  He contacted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, organized a rally on two days notice, arranged for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago t.v. stations, and the local media to be present, had speakers including the Green Party candidate for governor appear, and in an emergency meeting the Department of Natural Resources forced the local park district to save many of the trees slated for destruction.<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-11-24/news/0411240206_1_new-trees-oak-park-district-mulberry-trees</ref><ref>Dwyer, Bill  (2007), “Tree Fury at Field,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 10, p. 1; http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/07-10-2007/Tree_fury_at_Field</ref><ref>Noel, Josh (2007), “Oak Park tree-removal plan heads for debate,” ''Chicago Tribune'', July 12, p. 7; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-07-19/news/0707181717_1_trees-park-renovation-plan</ref><ref>(2004) http://www.oakparkjournal.com/2007/2007-Field-Park-ralley-July-8th-2pm.html</ref>

In 2007, Dr. Golden discovered that all the old growth trees in a park in Oak Park were to be destroyed for a ball field.  He contacted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, organized a rally on two days notice, arranged for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago t.v. stations, and the local media to be present, had speakers including the Green Party candidate for governor appear, and in an emergency meeting the Department of Natural Resources forced the local park district to save many of the trees slated for destruction.<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-11-24/news/0411240206_1_new-trees-oak-park-district-mulberry-trees</ref><ref>Dwyer, Bill  (2007), “Tree Fury at Field,” ''Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest'', July 10, p. 1; http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/07-10-2007/Tree_fury_at_Field</ref><ref>Noel, Josh (2007), “Oak Park tree-removal plan heads for debate,” ''Chicago Tribune'', July 12, p. 7; http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-07-19/news/0707181717_1_trees-park-renovation-plan</ref><ref>(2004) http://www.oakparkjournal.com/2007/2007-Field-Park-ralley-July-8th-2pm.html</ref>