Stakeholders and protectors of parkland,
On an application that Billy Ocasio filed with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, he made a statement about the Museum he oversees in Humboldt Park regarding his plans for future construction, development, and additional occupation of a much larger parcel of our park. In Mr. Ocasio's own words:
",,,[we are] making necessary additions to extend our footprint, WHICH IN A LATER PHASE WILL ESTABLISH AN OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT STAGE SIMILAR TO RAVINIA."
Those of you who prefer open land over development, who value conservation over concessions, and believe in preservation over profit, THIS IS THE TIME TO ACT!
Please contact every person you know and ask them to sign the petition:
https://www.change.org/Appropriation_of_Parkland_by_Former_Alderman_Must_Be_Stopped
Will some of you also make calls, and send emails? Especially to the Chicago Park District as they could order the demolition of the illegally and disingenuously built structure right now. The Archives and storage building could be built anywhere; it is consuming parkland out of convenience, not necessity. This is going to take a village.
Ravinia is 36 acres. How much more of Humboldt Park's 205 acres would it take to please Mr. Ocasio to satisfy his appetite? How many permanent structures? How much of Humboldt Park would be permanently fenced off from free everyday public use and access?
An amazing and unique historic building in the park has been leased by the Chicago Park District to Mr. Ocasio's organization for $1 per year for a 99-year term. A new structure was built next to it without permission and without permits that exceeded the stated size in the IDNR application document by over 450%. There has been a complete absence of transparency throughout this process. Isn't control of an amazing historic building in the park for generations enough? It appears not for Mr. Ocasio, and his appetite for placing permanent development on parkland has by his own actions and by his own statements been revealed. A modus operandi has been clearly established, and we must mobilize to stave off this development and future construction projects in our community built on public land without inclusion and without our consent.
This park is worth preserving, protecting, and fighting for. Let's do it!
Note: Image accompanying this message is taken from page 40 of the IDNR Public Museum Capital Grant Application May 29, 2020, which was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.