WE LOVE LAKE SHORE PARK

Dog owners in Chicago's 2nd Ward's Streeterville neighborhood have been gathering at Lake Shore Park daily for many years. On any given day, 20-50 individuals, families, neighbors, and dogs gather to enjoy the beautiful field in the middle of the park. What was once a budding meetup has become an integral part of the community. A community that has brought many Streeterville residents joy during a very difficult last couple of years. New friendships, a love of the neighborhood, and most importantly, a sense of camaraderie with fellow residents have bloomed in a very short time.

 

THE PROBLEM

Over the last few weeks, there has been an uptick in the number of neighborhood dog owners being shooed off the public property by Park District employees. What seemed to be accepted over the years has all of a sudden been uprooted, leaving dogs, owners, and friendly neighbors no place to go. This seems to come at a time when the park installed new gym equipment. Residents who frequent Lake Shore Park know that the people who come daily with dogs FAR outnumber the number of people who use the gym equipment.

Local taxpayers are concerned that the money they spend to live in the neighborhood is not being spent properly. They feel that the city should be focused on year-round improvements, not splashy photo ops. The dogs and owners are there every day. In the heat of summer, in the rain, in the spring, in the 10 inches of snow in the winter, the dog owners and dogs are there. Everyday.

 

SAFETY CONCERNS

There has been a major increase in violent crime (ie murders, carjackings, muggings, thefts) throughout the city of Chicago. Residents of the city's 2nd Ward are all too familiar with the uptick, especially in and around the gorgeous Lake Shore Park: stolen cars have been crashed and abandoned near park entrances. Perpetrators of crimes have run through the park with guns and weapons. Helpless elderly victims have been mugged and assaulted in broad daylight on surrounding streets. Dog owners in Lake Shore Park have assisted CPD on several occasions to track down criminals.

The Lake Shore Park Dog Community gathers in numbers for safety in a neighborhood that is a rising threat. Many of them walk home together in numbers, to combat any potential violence on neighboring streets.

 

COMMUNITY

The Lake Shore Park Dog Owners Community has brought many Streeterville residents joy during a very difficult last couple of years. New friendships, a love of the neighborhood, and most importantly, a sense of camaraderie with fellow residents have bloomed in a very short time.

This group takes full responsibility to clean up after their pets, remove trash from the park, keep the park orderly and maintained, be respectful to other park guests, and ensure the safety of others. They, and their dogs, deserve to have a safe place to gather. They deserve to enjoy the beautiful park. And they deserve to make new community connections while maintaining the special connections they have already made.

We ask you to sign our petition so that we may bring this to the Alderman of Chicago's 2nd Ward and the Chicago Park District to remedy the need for a place for the community's dogs and owners to go.