Are you among those that are wondering what is going on regarding the cinder block structure in Humboldt Park that is a hideous juxtaposition to the landmarked pastoral prairie landscape, and still blocks your view of the magnificent historic landmarked Receptory and Stables building? 

The Chicago Park District has not answered our petition or responded to multiple media accounts that have clearly documented a nefarious plan years-in-the-making and a process riddled with dysfunction and a complete lack of transparency.

Are you willing to spend 10 minutes of your life to help fight against public corruption? If so, read on and get your keyboard clacking! 

The museum developers failed to follow established procedures, and skirted multiple agencies and multiple processes that act to ensure community engagement, protect public land, and safeguard how public funds are spent.

We have to continue to push back and fight to protect what belongs to us!

We are that public. We are that community. A diverse mix of homeowners, renters, business owners, and park enthusiasts. One way or another, we all pay taxes that fund Chicago Park District salaries, programs, improvements and maintenance. We should have gotten an answer from the Chicago Park District. 

Let's tell them about our continued disappointment and renew and enforce our demand to have the illegal structure removed!

Please take the time to tell them, in your own words, why the museum should be forced to remove their illegally constructed building, why parkland should be preserved, landmark status respected, prairie preserved, and why they shouldn't be allowed to [direct quote from museum director on $750,000 IDNR grant application] “extend the footprint” of the organization, “which in a later stage will establish an outdoor entertainment stage similar to Ravinia.”

We have to do what we can now to shut the door on the current attempt to gain a foothold under false pretenses, and therefore thwart future plans to grab and develop even more of our precious parkland.

Like me, you can be pro-museum and pro-archive and pro-collection building and storage but be adamantly opposed to the placement of the new structure.

However, an archives storage building can be built anywhere. The Humboldt Park prairie and the Receptory and Stables building are both one-of-a-kind and are magnificent. The building was originally designed to be viewed in the round (360 degrees) and the landscape was designed masterfully around it.

For instructions on the process of how to sign up to speak, or engage the Chicago Park District on this matter in other ways, go to:

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/get-involved/speaking-board-commissioner-meetings

Your letter of protest can be emailed before 4PM on Monday and will be given to the Board of Commissioners for review. Submit to the following email address: signuptospeak@chicagoparkdistrict.com

The Board Meeting starts at 11:30AM. It will be held at 4830 S. Western Ave at the Chicago Park District Administration Building - Park 596.

After our opposition succeeds, we could band together to help the Museum find another location for their storage facility, and even help them to fundraise!

Thank you in advance for reading, and for your participation.