'Significant Improvement' Reached in Riverbank Restoration Plan

Residents' protests have not gone on deaf ears: a revised plan for the Horner Park Riverboat Restoration includes more trees and adjustments to river access. 

The initial plan, headed by the Chicago Parks Department and Army Corps of Engineers, called for a clear cutting of trees along the riverbank for grading. After a public meeting Sept. 9 where more than 100 residents opposed the plan, Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) sent a list of questions about the project. 

That list was addressed in a letter sent to both Pawar and Ald. Deb Mell (33) Tuesday from the Army Corps and Park District officials. It stated several changes to the proposal and promises of communication from both agencies. 

"I think we achieved significant improvement in the plan," Waters ecology teacher Pete Leki said in a note to neighbors. "I was particularly pleased the the plan has become more complex in its treatment of the bank." 

At the public meeting, Leki spoke against the removal of trees after heading restoration on the east side of the riverbank. 

Project Manager Lt. Col. Kevin Lovell said engineers reduced the proposed grading area by about 20 percent. The Army Corps will only remove invasive species along the river bank, rather than cutting down trees. 

Leaving trees along that grading area will help shield houses from the lights of Horner Park's baseball fields. That was a prime concern among residents, who were told trees would block the lights during installation five years ago. 

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About 60 trees originally slated for removal between the fence and western edge of the project will remain. Ten of those trees exist between the fence and top of the regraded bank, where 42 will still be removed.

Just north and west of that area, 47 out of 189 trees were scheduled to be cut down. After a walk-through with residents Sept. 12, Lovell said all of those trees will remain, "except for a possible 1 to 5 trees that may need to be removed for a staging area."

That's one thing still concerning Pawar.  At the public meeting, the alderman asked the Army Corps and Park District to come together with residents for a compromise. 

"While I'm happy that there have been major changes made to the plan, I think what was frustrating to me initially is that it took me putting down everything on paper and my community going to a number of meetings for us to even get to this point," he said. 

The alderman said he'd continue to ask questions about cutting down trees for staging equipment and use of herbicides along the riverbank. 

"I just need to keep asking questions and searching for answers," he said. "I do acknowledge the Army Corps and Park District have worked really hard to address the community's concerns. My job is to trust and also verify specific details in the plan."

Bidding will be open thought the end of the month and the Army Corps hopes to have clearing and grubbing finished by March. 

Engineers also added more wood chip trails, increasing access to the river from two points to seven. A mowed grass buffer will now be 10 feet wide instead of 8 feet. 

"Our whole goal here isn't to do something that's sustainable for 5 years, it's 75 to 105 years," Lovell said. "This has been an incredible effort to answer comments into a revised plan."