No mow in Aurora

[EagleDad]

Gotta say, if they put some Bison in, that'd be cool and I'd be all for it.

Our subdivisions just don't have enough buffalo in them these days

[EagleDad]

I just received this from Alderman Keith via the email subscription on his website (http://www.9thward.net):

The Fox Valley Park District has decided not to mow various open green space areas throughout the 8th and 9th Wards of Aurora. In doing so, they have allowed what were once manicured blue grass fields to turn into overgrown weed beds. The Park District claims they are allowing the areas to become "Naturalized" to prevent water erosion and improve environmental conditions. I suspect the decisions are more based on financial concerns and the residents on the far east side of Aurora are not being provided the same service as other areas of Aurora. I personally visited an open green space area adjacent to the neighborhood that the Park District's Executive Director lives in, and it had been recently mowed.

The Park District personnel will be at the Eola Community Center on Thursday June 1st to discuss their decision to stop mowing the open green spaces. There is no specific start time for the meeting. Stop in anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 PM and let them know your thoughts. We must let the Park District know that we deserve to receive the same consideration as the rest of Aurora. The open green spaces that the Park District owns as a result of our tax dollars are to be maintained so we can enjoy them. It is hard to play baseball in a field of weeds two feet tall.

Even if one of these fields is not in your back yard, it has a negative impact on our neighborhoods which has a negative impact on you.

I will also be asking you to attend the next Park District Board of Directors meeting on June 12th if the no mow decision is not changed.


Leroy Keith
Alderman, 9th Ward

Go Leroy!

I guess he knows where Mr Donnell lives ;-) I hear the grass is greener on that side of the fence.

[title1parent]

Well, I guess the pitchfork is out......ED fire up the flamethrower. After use at the meeting I will need it for the prairie.

[gatormom]

I went on the FVPD web site. I found this interesting nugget there.

The Fox Valley Park District was established in 1947 and is the second largest park district in the State of Illinois. Now serving over 180,000 residents, the park district spans an area of 57 square miles encompassing over 2,400 acres of open space. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of Fox Valley Residents by providing diverse recreation programming and distinctive, well maintained parks and facilities that offer the highest possible recreation experience.

I guess quality of life depends on where you live.

[aldermanchris]

The No Mow policy by the Fox Valley Park District is an affront to the taxpayers of the area. There is no question that this policy affects this area disproportionately. The tall grass is unsightly. Those who support the idea need to understand smaller lots were allowed to be built on because they backed to large usable space. This issue will not go away until the decision is reversed.

I really appreciate all the support from the community in attempting to reverse this poor decision.

Alderman Chris Beykirch

[EagleDad]

Welcome Chris, and thank you very much for your support in helping the FVPD to rethink their strategy on this!

[chicoryowl]

Just got back from the meeting. I got there right before 7:00 and there were a fair number of people (maybe 30-40?).

I didn't stick around. I just filled out a comment form. My handwriting is terrible so good luck to them reading it. I indicated that they were doing a disservice to homeowners near the unmowed land and reflecting poorly on Aurora as a whole by establishing these unkempt parcels.

I drove by 2 areas on Montgomery on the way home. I guess they're mowing the edges now. It gives the impression that their mowers broke down in the middle of mowing and they couldn't finish the job. Very sloppy looking.

[gatormom]

I left close to 6:30. There were quite a few people earlier. People were able to move in and out. It was not a meeting, but rather an "open house."

Because we could not hear questions or answers at times it was frustrating. T1P and I asked if they could bring some chairs in, answer was no.

Since this impacts so many areas around us, it was interesting to see the pictures. One person had a picture of a drainage pipe that had the grate removed and the high grass covered it, someone could walk right into it. Park District employee said they should include that in their comments. I don't know, sounds dangerous to me, how about calling someone now to fix that now.

Both alderman were there. A Beacon reporter was there. A lawyer was there, not from the park district. One Park District board member showed later. Rumor had it they called and emergency meeting of the board.

Because it was set up like the original boundary information nights, four areas had people to talk to. I kind of felt sorry for the people there to explain how they were going to make the changes and transform our areas into grasslands. Apparently the crowd was not too interested.

Mr. Donnell was there as well. A noxious weed, Canadian thistle is in at least one of the areas and he told a resident not to worry, no burn necessary, there are chemicals that will get rid of it, you just can't buy it, but we (FVPD) can. Very environmentally conscious if you ask me.

I think one point expressed frequently was that this is a park district, not a forest preserve.

I didn't waste many words with my comments. Just wrote MOW in big black marker.

[EagleDad]

And now we'll see the FVPD responsel, I guess. Clearly the community that they are serving has spoken (I have not seen a single resident in support of this).

If they do not change their course on this issue, I can see no alternative but to pressure for a change of leadership at FVPD. If they are that out of touch with their community and charter, then something should be done.

[lacy]

You could always "rumble".

[wvhsparent]

lacy said:

You could always "rumble".

Be nice!

[lacy]

I just couldn't help myself!!!

[title1parent]

Sounds like we will be attending the June 12 FVPD Board meeting if things don't change soon.

[gatormom]

It may be funny to you lacy, but it is not to us. If you woke up one spring, discovered the grass was getting long in the green areas around your house, called the park district and found out they were changing your children's play areas into natural grasslands, you would be furious.

Top that off with, instead of actually notifying the public and beginning the actual project, they are just letting the grass get long.

I walked away from that meeting with no idea when they plan on fixing the mess they have created. I saw no time-line for actual work. Because these areas are so close to power lines, gas pipelines, and homes, controlled burns cannot be done and chemicals will need to be used to remove unwanted plants.

Our neighborhoods carry with them a certain reputation, remember the boundary meetings and how nobody wanted to go to school with us! We have come a long way towards gaining understanding and some respect in this school district, thanks WE and May Watts. And now our park district, whose board members are appointed out of Kane County, is trashing the area. We have no voice, no vote in how our neighborhood looks.

The FVPD has set up an email for comments:

[e-mail]

[lacy]

Gatormom, I didn't say it was funny. I thought ED was funny (as well as ridiculous). Good luck to you. I don't live within the FVPD boundaries.