Analysis of Concept Plans

In brief, these concepts are contrary to resident priorities for Gillson. They add more parking, move, remove, or widen roads, cut down up to 25 mature trees, relocate and reconfigure the main entrance, and contain options for new concrete structures, a ceremonial entrance, and multiple wooden jetties over the dunes. Removing roads that have served park visitors well and follow the geology and natural topography of the park is a bad idea. None of the concepts include a Master Landscaping Plan or focus in detail on the roads and sewers that need to be repaired. None of the concepts improve the natural landscape, add more trees or other plantings, promote biodiversity or enhance habitat for wildlife. There is no commitment to native plantings or removing invasive species. We do like that each concept addresses pedestrian and bicycle access into the park.

These concepts in full can be found HERE.

Concept 1 is the least obtrusive and the most in line with residents’ views about keeping Gillson natural. It cuts down the fewest trees and preserves open space. Yet, it adds 40 new parking spaces along Middle Drive. No parking has ever been allowed there, so these should be considered new spaces. Because no traffic is currently allowed on Middle Drive, many walkers and bikers use it as a safe pathway away from traffic through the park. So do families pushing strollers to get to the playground. We have seen people roller skating on Middle Drive, as well as children running, playing four square, and shooting hoops. Prohibiting driving and parking on Middle Drive keeps playground users safer and gives parents peace of mind. Under concept 1, two mature trees would be cut down. — Concept 1 is the least obtrusive and the most in line with residents’ views about keeping Gillson natural. It cuts down the fewest trees and preserves open space. Yet, it adds 40 new parking spaces along Middle Drive. No parking has ever been allowed there, so these should be considered new spaces. Because no traffic is currently allowed on Middle Drive, many walkers and bikers use it as a safe pathway away from traffic through the park. So do families pushing strollers to get to the playground. We have seen people roller skating on Middle Drive, as well as children running, playing four square, and shooting hoops. Prohibiting driving and parking on Middle Drive keeps playground users safer and gives parents peace of mind. Under concept 1, two mature trees would be cut down.

Concept 2 removes Middle Drive and also moves and widens roads to add 40 new parking spaces, mostly in four new parking pods, three around around Lakeview Center. It adds new concrete pedestrian pathways where Middle Drive already exists. Why remove Middle Drive and then build new concrete pedestrian pathways when Middle Drive already serves that purpose? In addition to the uses mentioned in above, Middle Drive was intended to be and still acts as a catch basin to move stormwater in the park. Without it, drainage and standing water will become a problem at the playground and nearby areas. Concept 2 widens and moves Upper Drive, adding parking and more concrete. It also includes new parking (more concrete) near the dog beach, even though most dog owners can and will walk or use the large lot along Overlook Drive. It appears to remove the well-used sand volleyball court that is a welcome amenity, particularly for younger park goers. It also cuts down 20 mature trees and fails to consider the likely injury and death to the trees lining Middle and Upper Drive once they are removed or moved and widened, as well as the trees near the new parking near the dog beach. It may also adversely affect the 1919 trees near Lakeview that honor those residents killed in action in World War I. — Concept 2 removes Middle Drive and also moves and widens roads to add 40 new parking spaces, mostly in four new parking pods, three around around Lakeview Center. It adds new concrete pedestrian pathways where Middle Drive already exists. Why remove Middle Drive and then build new concrete pedestrian pathways when Middle Drive already serves that purpose? In addition to the uses mentioned in above, Middle Drive was intended to be and still acts as a catch basin to move stormwater in the park. Without it, drainage and standing water will become a problem at the playground and nearby areas. Concept 2 widens and moves Upper Drive, adding parking and more concrete. It also includes new parking (more concrete) near the dog beach, even though most dog owners can and will walk or use the large lot along Overlook Drive. It appears to remove the well-used sand volleyball court that is a welcome amenity, particularly for younger park goers. It also cuts down 20 mature trees and fails to consider the likely injury and death to the trees lining Middle and Upper Drive once they are removed or moved and widened, as well as the trees near the new parking near the dog beach. It may also adversely affect the 1919 trees near Lakeview that honor those residents killed in action in World War I.

Concept 3 also removes Middle Drive and, like Concept 2, adds new concrete pedestrian pathways in its place. Again, why? It adds new concrete in four expanded and redesigned parking pods, three located near Lakeview Center. It removes Upper Drive, w… — Concept 3 also removes Middle Drive and, like Concept 2, adds new concrete pedestrian pathways in its place. Again, why? It adds new concrete in four expanded and redesigned parking pods, three located near Lakeview Center. It removes Upper Drive, which is used for parking year round by a wide variety of park users, including ice skaters, participants in the Park District’s soccer and lacrosse programs, tennis players, playground visitors, and bird watchers. Removing Upper Drive would leave all with no nearby parking. It would also require all vehicles to drive through the entire park to exit, adding noise, congestion, and pollution, instead of using the shorter, less crowded Upper Drive. With no exit onto Upper Drive, it will be difficult to limit parking along Overlook Drive to residents and parking pass holders like is currently done during the summer. Concept 3 also includes new parking (more concrete) near the dog beach, even though most dog owners can and will walk or use the large lot along Overlook Drive. It appears to remove the well-used sand volleyball court that is a welcome amenity, particularly for younger park goers. Thirteen trees would be cut down, possibly including some of the 1919 trees. The trees lining Middle and Upper Drive, both removed, as well as the trees near the new parking near the dog beach, would likely be damaged or die.

Concept 4 also removes Middle Drive and, like Concepts 2 and 3, adds new concrete pedestrian pathways in its place. It adds even more concrete---27 new parking spaces, mostly around Lakeview Center. It uses more concrete to widen Upper Drive to allow for two way traffic, as well as a row of diagonal parking. It relocates the main entrance further north on Michigan Avenue through the Rotary tree grove, making the turn into Gillson narrower and more difficult for emergency vehicles, service trucks, and boat trailers. Concept 4 also includes new parking (more concrete) near the dog beach, even though most dog owners can and will walk or use the large lot along Overlook Drive. It appears to remove the well-used sand volleyball court that is a welcome amenity, particularly for younger park goers. It erects a pedestrian plaza at the south entrance (more concrete) and closes off the Washington Avenue exit to cars. It cuts down 25 mature trees, and likely adversely impacts all of those lining the roads that are to be removed or widened, as well as the trees near the new parking pod near the dog beach. — Concept 4 also removes Middle Drive and, like Concepts 2 and 3, adds new concrete pedestrian pathways in its place. It adds even more concrete---27 new parking spaces, mostly around Lakeview Center. It uses more concrete to widen Upper Drive to allow for two way traffic, as well as a row of diagonal parking. It relocates the main entrance further north on Michigan Avenue through the Rotary tree grove, making the turn into Gillson narrower and more difficult for emergency vehicles, service trucks, and boat trailers. Concept 4 also includes new parking (more concrete) near the dog beach, even though most dog owners can and will walk or use the large lot along Overlook Drive. It appears to remove the well-used sand volleyball court that is a welcome amenity, particularly for younger park goers. It erects a pedestrian plaza at the south entrance (more concrete) and closes off the Washington Avenue exit to cars. It cuts down 25 mature trees, and likely adversely impacts all of those lining the roads that are to be removed or widened, as well as the trees near the new parking pod near the dog beach.

Concept 5 removes Upper Drive. It adds 32 new parking spaces and 2 new parking pods (more concrete), mostly near Lakeview Center. It also adds new pedestrian paths (more concrete) near Middle Drive, even though that road already adequately serves walkers and bikers. Eliminating Upper Drive is a bad idea. It leaves upper park users, as well as harbor and Sheridan Shore users, with no nearby parking. All vehicles entering the park would have to drive through the entire park to exit, adding noise, congestion, and pollution. Boat owners with trailers would also have to drive through the entire park, as would emergency vehicles, both of which are now able to use the shorter, less crowded Upper Drive. Most importantly, with no turn off at Upper Drive to exit the park, diverting visitors who are non-parking pass holders and unable to park along Overlook Drive will now occur at Michigan Avenue, causing dangerous traffic tie-ups and back-ups north and south along Sheridan Road. Four trees would be cut down, and some of the trees lining Upper Drive would likely be damaged or die when the road is removed.

Add-ons: In addition to the four concepts, the consultants presented add-ons that could be used with any of the concepts. These would add concrete and buildings to Gillson and are unnecessary.

A. Alternate Entrance: This would move the main entrance further northeast along Michigan Avenue through the Rotary tree grove, destroying seven mature trees and impacting more. The consultants said that this would allow for a “ceremonial” entrance. It would add more concrete and eliminate some parking along Michigan Avenue, while narrowing the turn into the park, making it more difficult for boat trailers and fire trucks to enter the park. — A. Alternate Entrance: This would move the main entrance further northeast along Michigan Avenue through the Rotary tree grove, destroying seven mature trees and impacting more. The consultants said that this would allow for a “ceremonial” entrance. It would add more concrete and eliminate some parking along Michigan Avenue, while narrowing the turn into the park, making it more difficult for boat trailers and fire trucks to enter the park. Six trees would be removed, and likely others nearby would be damaged or die during construction, including several trees honoring past presidents of the Harbor Rotary.

B. New Restroom Facility: This would build a bathroom and shelter near the tennis courts and playground. Nearby trees provide plenty of shade and shelter, and existing bathrooms at Lakeview Center are so close to this location that it is unnecessary. Also, as the consultants noted, water lines would have to be extended and a sanitary pump installed, making this a costly option. — B. New Restroom Facility: This would build a bathroom and shelter near the tennis courts and playground. Nearby trees provide plenty of shade and shelter, and existing bathrooms at Lakeview Center are so close to this location that it is unnecessary. Also, as the consultants noted, water lines would have to be extended and a sanitary pump installed, making this a costly option.

C. New Shelter Facility: This would build a concrete structure near the volleyball court. We don’t understand its purpose. There are already picnic tables, including an ADA accessible one, under the shade trees in this area. Picnickers prefer sit within their own group and move the existing tables around to accommodate their group. This building is unnecessary and superfluous. — C. New Shelter Facility: This would build a concrete structure near the volleyball court. We don’t understand its purpose. There are already picnic tables, including an ADA accessible one, under the shade trees in this area. Picnickers prefer sit within their own group and move the existing tables around to accommodate their group. This building is unnecessary and superfluous.

D. New Sailing Beach Facility: This would be a new sailing shack with no new restrooms. Long-time users of the sailing beach say no new sailing shack is needed, especially if it is costly and is in use only a few months of the year. — D. New Sailing Beach Facility: This would be a new sailing shack with no new restrooms. Long-time users of the sailing beach say no new sailing shack is needed, especially if it is costly and is in use only a few months of the year.

E. Overlook Drive Boardwalks and Benches: This would add wooden jetties jutting toward the lake along the south beach. We don’t understand their purpose. The existing walk is wide, and seating pockets allow users access to the lake, as do the sand p… — E. Overlook Drive Boardwalks and Benches: This would add wooden jetties jutting toward the lake along the south beach. We don’t understand their purpose. The existing walk is wide, and seating pockets allow users access to the lake, as do the sand paths among the dunes. Not all visitors keep to those paths, but neither will all visitors will stay on the jetties. Limited signage about the value of keeping off the dunes would work just as well and be a less expensive alternative.

F. ADA Ramp Adjacent to Stairs at Lake Avenue entrance: This winding ramp would require 32 trees be removed, many of which help shore up the bluff to the parking lot. That is unacceptable.