Much has happened in the past week.
May 8
The Chicago Children's Museum made a presentation at the Daley Bicentennial Plaza explaining their philosophy and plans to build a new museum at that site. Children's Museum representatives insisted that the 100,000 square foot museum and its visitors would not disrupt the site as a community resource. A number of attendees posed questions regarding the reasoning behind the bid to relocate to the site of a successful community park area, rather than to the museum campus or another site. In response, Museum representatives sited their interest in the area's transportation resources, parking, beautiful surroundings and unobstructed lakefront views.
When pressed, Peter England, President of the Chicago Children's Museum, stated "I did consider other locations, but they were not offered to me." This led to the question of who offered up the Daley Bicentennial Plaza location, not only a public resource but also a location on land deeded to remain forever open, a requirement which has withstood many challenges over the years. Mr. England replied only that a couple of board members and a couple of people from the Chicago Park District were behind the plan.
Mayor Daley has yet to comment about the Daley Bicentennial Plaza proposal. This seems remarkable in light of the fact that the plaza is dedicated as a memorial to his own father. One is left to wonder what involvement Mayor Daley may have in this plan.
May 10
Residents of the Daley Bicentennial Plaza area, who have now informally organized under the name Friends of Daley Bi, met with Alderman Natarus. The line to sign in to the meeting extends out the door of the fieldhouse. Four hundred names were collected on the sign-in sheet. Total attendance was even higher as some attendees did not sign in. Despite the late arrival of the Alderman, a standing room only crowd waits to hear what he has to say. The Alderman repeatedly refers to the plan as a "bad idea." He also stated plainly that he opposed the plan, and that he was a member of the Chicago Plan Commission, whose approval would be required to issue any permits for construction of a museum. He stated that he would vote against the issuance of any such permit.
Despite the Alderman's strong statements, many residents are expressing concerns that his comments may be insincere, a cover for a deal made behind closed doors and not shared with the public. Continued community pressure will be needed to make clear the expectation that it is not enough to merely state an opposing viewpoint. The community needs its park resources and cannot afford to let them slip away.
May 12
Despite the large turnout at the community meeting and the clear statements of Alderman Natarus, Chicago Children's Museum representatives announce their intentions to move forward with their plans to pursue the Daley Bicentennial Plaza site.
