Hello everyone, thank you for your support in getting this petition out to Glenview Park District (GPD). It's come to our attention during this process that we should not be directing this communication at the Village, but rather to the GPD. Additionally, it's come to our attention that we should be providing recommendations for them as well.
Given this, we've updated our intended outreach to be as follows below. We ask that you review and either leave your signature as is or follow the steps to remove your signature within 24 hours. These details can be found in the Change.org FAQ section if needed.
If you would like a copy of this letter you can email me at: ekscherer@gmail.com and I will send a copy. Change.org does not allow me to upload a Word or PDF doc.
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Jennifer Roberts
President, Glenview Park District
2400 Chestnut Avenue
Glenview, IL 60026
Via email
Dear Ms. Roberts,
We are writing to request a meeting to discuss the reopening Glenview Park District facilities. We have circulated a petition among Glenview residents regarding this issue and have attached it hereto for your consideration.
Specifically, we are requesting the following:
1. Reopening Wagner Farm, the Grove, Community Park West, Community Bark West Dog Park, children’s playgrounds, parks immediately. These locations can be opened immediately within Governor Pritzker’s Phase 2 of the Restore Illinois Plan, as is currently the case with the path around Lake Glenview. Proper safety protocols, such as social distancing, and masks if people come within 6 feet of each other, can be easily implemented. In fact, the more locations that are open to residents, the easier it is to social distance. Our families and our children deserve access to the amenities that our tax dollars fund, including the children’s playgrounds. Additionally, given the Glenview Park District has chosen to currently cancel all summer camp programs there is an even greater need to open these facilities so that our children can safely play outdoors this summer in order to get much needed physical activity to stay healthy.
2. Reconsider your policy of not issuing any permits for any Glenview Park District Facilities until September 1, 2020. Implementation of this policy is pre-mature pending any guidance from Governor Pritzker regarding permitted usage over the summer. Your policy unnecessarily and inexplicably punishes Glenview residents who want access to our tax funded facilities.
3. Open both Flick Pool and Roosevelt Pool on June 1, 2020. Your policy of only opening one pool will deprive many Glenview residents of access to the pools. It is clear that when pools open in our State, social distancing, capacity limits and other safety measures will need to be in place. Utilizing both pools will increase capacity to accommodate more Glenview residents.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the “CDC”) reports that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas or water play areas. The CDC also says that proper maintenance, including disinfection with chlorine and bromine, should inactivate the virus in the water.
There are many examples of the safety protocols that community pools in other states are currently implementing to address COVID-19, such as:
· Capacity limit (only permit Glenview residents and members)
· Modification of deck chair layouts to ensure social distancing
· Proper disinfection of frequently touched surfaces several times a day
· Access to soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer for all visitors
· Close access to showers, locker rooms; access to toilets/sinks only
· No community flotation devices
· Increased checks of pool chemicals to ensure sanitation
· Introduce physical barriers and guides to prohibit gathering
· Add signs and instructions regarding social distancing and other safety protocols
Glenview residents are well aware of COVID-19, the current social distancing guidelines and other safety measures, as well as the current statistics regarding infection and deaths. The Village of Glenview is reporting 27 total fatalities from COVID-19 and 397 total cases (out of a population exceeding 45,000) since March. Illinois Department of Health - Long Term Care reports 26 fatalities at Glenview Terrace and 1 fatality at Glenview Health Care and Rehabilitation.
We cannot ignore the glaring fact that the elderly and those with comorbidities are at a much, much higher risk of COVID-19 (in Glenview, in Illinois, across the United States and across the world, for that matter) than those under 65 years of age with no underlying conditions. We believe that Glenview residents should have safe, reasonable access to our taxpayer funded outdoor spaces immediately, especially since they fit within the Governor’s Phase 2. We understand that safety protocols such as social distancing will be required. Residents can make informed choices about what is best for them and their families. Healthy people (both visitors and staff) who are not in an at-risk category are no more a stress on the hospitals if they social distance as an employee or visitor at Target or Home Depot than they are if they social distance as an employee or visitor at Wagner Farm or the Grove. In fact, the outdoor fresh air makes our outdoor Park District facilities less of a risk than the indoor stores.
Regarding the pools and other things that may fall outside of the Governor’s Restore Illinois Plan current Phase 2, we would ask that the Park District consider that Glenview should be separated from Chicago. A quick look at the data will show this – 397 cases out of 45,000 residents = 0.88% of Glenview residents have had COVID-19 since March; 27 deaths out of 45,000 residents = 0.06% of residents have died of COVID-19. This data includes our “essential workers” – those that the Village and the State have deemed shall continue working with proper safety protocols. The data shows that the risk to essential workers is no different than the risks to the rest of us. There is no evidence to suggest that any staff at Park District Facilities (following proper safety protocols) would be subject to heightened risks. Of course, we wholeheartedly support any and all safety protocols to protect staff.
We would ask that the Park District actively seek ways to improve the lives of Glenview residents through this unprecedented and difficult time, rather than punish and admonish. Glenview residents have been overwhelmingly cooperative and patient with the stay-at-home orders, social distancing and mask rules. We are asking that now that data is readily available regarding who is actually at risk, we modify these draconian rules to reflect the reality. To be clear, no one is asking for unfettered, unrestricted access to anything at this time – we are simply asking for safe and reasonable access to our amenities. To also be clear, no one is asking that the Park District put anyone (staff or visitors) at risk who (i) is afraid, (ii) unwilling to bear such risk, or (iii) is in an at-risk category. We are asking that the Park District please work for our collective benefit in creative ways to address proper safety protocols.
Perhaps the Park District is working behind the scenes to make some of this happen. Since we don’t know, we would also ask for the Park District to be more transparent with the status of their discussions regarding our facilities. We are asking to meet with you to discuss these issues, or that you host some type of virtual town hall, with resident questions to be submitted in advance. Thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of the residents of Glenview.
Sincerely,
Erin Murnighan, Bonnie Kearns, Andrea McDonnell, Kim Lombardo and Young-Jin Chang
Sources to be provided upon request. Please contact either Erin Murnighan, ekscherer@gmail.com, or Bonnie Kearns, bkearns@centanagrowth.com with response.
Enclosure [petition]