Changes

<b>Ridgeland Common</b> is an expansive area within Oak Park, [[Illinois]], which is the location  of a swimming pool, ice rink, and ball fields.  Until the summer of 2013 it was also the location of a popular sledding hill, dog run, and wood chip/mulch pile.

<b>Ridgeland Common</b> is an expansive area within Oak Park, [[Illinois]], which is the location  of a swimming pool, ice rink, and ball fields.  Until the summer of 2013 it was also the location of a popular sledding hill, dog run, and wood chip/mulch pile.

Although numerous public meetings on the reconstruction of the area had been held for several years, the discussions centered on the swimming pool and ice rink.  In backroom maneuvering, park board commissioners affiliated with youth soccer, some as paid coaches, managed to push through unannounced plans to remove the natural turf field and replace it with artificial turf, bulldoze the sledding hill, remove the wood chip/mulch pile, and cancel the dog run.  Dozens of mature trees, including the two large hackberry trees on top of the sledding hill, and bushes were also destroyed.

Although numerous public meetings on the reconstruction of the area had been held for several years, the discussions centered on the swimming pool and ice rink.  In backroom maneuvering, park board commissioners affiliated with youth soccer, some as paid coaches, managed to push through unannounced plans to remove the natural turf field and replace it with artificial turf, bulldoze the sledding hill, remove the wood chip/mulch pile, and cancel the dog run.<ref>http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/2-26-2013/Ridgeland-plan-scorns-survey/</ref><ref>http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/2-26-2013/Ridgeland-plans-will-destroy-the-park/</ref> Dozens of mature trees, including the two large hackberry trees on top of the sledding hill, and bushes were also planned on being destroyed.<ref>http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/3-5-2013/Park-District-of-Oak-Park-plans-to-flatten-sled-hill,-move-dog-park-at-Ridgeland-Common/</ref>

==Citizen Uproar==

==Citizen Uproar==

A citizens group scheduled a meeting with the Executive Director of the park district, Jan Arnold, and addressed their concerns.  The citizen initiative led to articles in the [[Chicago Tribune]], and numerous letters to the editor in the local Oak Park press.  A rally was scheduled at Ridgeland Common and a resident began an online petition.

A citizens group, Oak Parkers for Sanity in Our Parks, scheduled a meeting with the Executive Director of the park district, Jan Arnold, and addressed their concerns.  The citizen initiative led to articles in the [[Chicago Tribune]], and numerous letters to the editor in the local Oak Park press.  A rally was scheduled at Ridgeland Common and a resident began an online petition.

Letters concerning the toxicity of the matter of artificial turf continued through May, 2013, long after the destruction of Ridgeland Common had begun.

Letters concerning the toxicity of the matter of artificial turf continued through May, 2013, long after the destruction of Ridgeland Common had begun.<ref>http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/3-19-2013/Demolishing-the-notion-of-'commons'/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS</ref><ref>http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/5-14-2013/Children's-bodies-are-not-landfills/</ref><ref>http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/5-28-2013/Is-artificial-turf-a-wise-investment?/</ref>

The citizens group also shared their concerns with the so-called “Green Committee,” which had been formed in 2008 in response to citizen uproar over the devastation of Field playground, and the destruction of most of its trees and all of the bushes surrounding the fieldhouse.  The response of the Green Committee was to invite an artificial turf contractor to an emergency meeting.

The citizens group also shared their concerns with the so-called “Green Committee,” which had been formed in 2008 in response to citizen uproar over the devastation of Field playground, and the destruction of most of its trees and all of the bushes surrounding the fieldhouse.  The response of the Green Committee was to invite an artificial turf contractor to an emergency meeting.  The well-documented hazards of artificial turf<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Rick_Doyle/3-dangers-of-artificial-t_b_1661499_172771284.html</ref> were ignored, and the citizens group were not allowed to speak.

==Political Concerns==

==Political Concerns==

These are the concerns that were expressed to the Executive Director, Green Committee, and the local press.  

These are the concerns that were expressed to the Executive Director, Green Committee, and the local press.  

===Citizens Survey:  2% !===

===Citizens Survey:  2%!===

The Oak Park Park District website reports the results of the Leisure Vision/ETC Institute Fall 2010 Community Survey commissioned by the Park District of Oak Park.  Released in February 2011, the goal was to establish priorities for services and programs.  It showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.

The Oak Park Park District website reports the results of the Leisure Vision/ETC Institute Fall 2010 Community Survey commissioned by the Park District of Oak Park.  Released in February 2011, the goal was to establish priorities for services and programs.  It showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.

====Democratic Citizen Input Lacking

====Democratic Citizen Input Lacking====

When artificial turf was proposed for Lindberg Park, residents were notified by flyers and the resulting uproar led  to cancellation  of the plans.

When artificial turf was proposed for Lindberg Park, residents were notified by flyers and the resulting uproar led  to cancellation  of the plans.

Because there are very few “neighbors” to Ridgeland Commons, few attended the meetings to cause another uproar.  The organized sports interests were notified and were present in great disproportion to their numbers in the community.  

Because there are very few “neighbors” to Ridgeland Commons, few attended the meetings to cause another uproar.  The organized sports interests were notified and were present in great disproportion to their numbers in the community.  

Maternity health exercise</br>

Maternity health exercise</br>

Kids just running up, down, and around for exercise and joy</br>

Kids just running up, down, and around for exercise and joy</br>

Frisbee launching</br>

Frisbee launching</br>

Aerobics, marathon, and triathlete training (running and up down the hill) </br>

Aerobics, marathon, and triathlete training (running and up down the hill) </br>

===Many Users of the Hill:  Simple Joy===

===Many Users of the Hill:  Simple Joy===

Picnicking in the shade</br>

Picnicking in the shade</br>

Sunbathing away from the pool crowds</br>

Sunbathing away from the pool crowds</br>

July 4 fireworks viewing position for more than 100 people every year</br>

July 4 fireworks viewing position for more than 100 people every year</br>

"Wrigley Field bleacher" viewing of the sports</br>

"Wrigley Field bleacher" viewing of the sports</br>

Solitude for reading</br>

Solitude for reading</br>

Star gazing and meteor shower viewing (shielded to the south by the tracks) with or without telescopes </br>

Star gazing and meteor shower viewing (shielded to the south by the tracks) with or without telescopes </br>

===Bulldozing of Hill Leaves Poor Alternative===

===Bulldozing of Hill Leaves Poor Alternative===

==Environmental Consequences==

==Environmental Consequences==

===Environmental Toxicity===

===Environmental Toxicity===

Artificial turf is made of toxic material and, unlike natural turf, contributes to the urban heat island and global warming by reaching high temperatures in sunlight.   

Artificial turf is made of toxic material and, unlike natural turf, contributes to the urban heat island and global warming by reaching high temperatures in sunlight.   

We repeat:  The Park District’s own survey released in 2011 showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.

We repeat:  The Park District’s own survey released in 2011 showed that only 14% of Oak Park residents wanted "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf," and that only 2% of Oak Park residents placed "outdoor sports fields with synthetic turf" among their top 4 priorities.