We oppose the plans of Lubavitch Chabad to create a private parking lot primarily to serve their congregation in Seneca Park on the current location of the basketball court on the northwest side of Seneca Park. The reconfiguration of the park will change the character of the park, remove mature trees, increase traffic, add a concrete heat island to the area and change the access to the alley between Karlov and Keystone.   Although this immediately affects the surrounding Seneca Park community, this may set a precedent for other communities in Skokie.

Here is a complete list of possible consequences.

• Land swap of private interest with Park District creates a new precedent
• Possible loss of market value and desirability of surrounding housing stock
• Change in residential zoning to commercial zoning
• Unstated and unforeseen future uses of commercial property
• Loss of visual appeal. 
• Removal of mature trees in park and along alley, to be replaced by immature trees
• Reconfiguration of park and the alley south of the park. 
• Relocation of the alley that accesses the backyards of the residents of Karlov and Keystone (new entrance would be in the middle of the block)
• More concrete surfaces contribute to more car pollution, polluted water runoff and it will create an urban heat island
• Loss of residential tax income for the Village
• Reduce access to green parkland on Karlov with a limited entrance

We want our voices heard in this matter.  For more information go to https://stopthesenecaparklandgrab.com/