By Mary Corrado
Editor
After years of work and input from all sides, the Chicago Cubs on Monday presented a 15-year Proposed Wrigley Field Neighborhood Protection Plan to address parking and traffic congestion as well as litter and public behavior issues. Listening intently were representatives of at least 14 community groups and the Ravenswood and the Lake View chambers of commerce; they will now take the plan back to their groups to invite response. The Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), which brought together the Cubs and community members to hammer out this proposal, includes Ald. Gene Schulter (47th), who hosted this meeting, Ald. Helen Schiller (46th), Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), and Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd); all but Matlak attended this meeting.
"The Chicago Cubs recognize the impact of home games—particularly night games—on the neighborhood around Wrigley Field," the proposal begins. "The Cubs have heard the concerns of the Blue Ribbon Committee and, in unprecedented cooperation with the City of Chicago and the community impacted by the operation of the ballpark, would commit funds and services to substantially improve parking and traffic congestion and ease public behavior issues in the neighborhood."
Funding
For the next 15 years, the Cubs are offering to provide services and financial commitments to fund and operate expanded remote parking, print residential parking permits, expand trash pick-up and cleaning in and around Wrigley Field at times that benefit the community—even on non-game days, and promote public transportation and other means of getting to the ballpark without bringing cars to the neighborhood, such as bicycling. These efforts are intended to mitigate the effects of home games, especially night games.
The Cubs would also create—with a yearly contribution of $67,000 for 15 years—a $1 million "CubFund" to be spent with the input of the community and at the direction of the City and the aldermen. It is intended to address new and on-going neighborhood issues not addressed by the proposed plan, in the area bounded by the North Branch of the Chicago River, Belmont Ave., Lake Michigan and Buena Ave. This is designed to give the neighborhood flexibility to address issues related to the Cubs as they arise.
The Cubs also would fund, up to $100,000, the cost for the engineering study for building a permanent Addison St. entrance ramp onto Lake Shore Dr. In addition, they would fund, up to $48,000, the purchase of three free-standing, variable traffic message boards for use by the City to flash traffic messages to motorists approaching the neighborhood around Wrigley.
Transportation and parking
Beginning in 2004, the Cubs would completely fund and operate remote parking for all night games and all weekend games. This first-ever weekend remote parking would operate for two hours after each weekend game to allow fans time to visit neighborhood businesses, while at the same time reducing traffic congestion leaving the ballpark. The Cubs would pay for shuttle buses, bathroom facilities, additional lighting and staffing/security for this operation.
To encourage greater use, the remote parking lot would be used free for the first year. After that, the Cubs may charge a fee only if use of the lot averages at least 500 vehicles per game in the previous year, with the minimum per game average increasing to 750 vehicles in 2006 and 1,000 in subsequent years. (Due to the needs of DeVry University, its parking lot may not be able to accommodate more than 500 cars related to Cubs games; additional lots will be sought by the Cubs as needed.) Free bike corral service and heavy promotion of the CTA will be continued.
Litter and trash
To supplement the efforts of the Chicago Dept. of Streets and Sanitation, the Cubs would clean, in concentric circles around the field, beginning with care of the immediate field area. Detailed cleaning will follow each night game in the area bounded by Racine Ave., Grace St., Wilton Ave. and Cornelia Ave., on Kenmore Ave. adjacent to Challenger Park, and in all Cubs-owned or operated parking lots. The Cubs would empty public trash cans on major streets used by Cubs fans as far west as Damen Ave., north to Buena Ave., east to Halsted St., and south to Belmont Ave., at times complementary to City services. In addition, on non-game weekends from April to October, the Cubs would empty public trash cans on major streets in and around the area at least once per weekend. "It's not our trash, but it is our neighborhood, and we're happy to do it," said Michael Lufrano, senior counsel for the Cubs.
Quality of life issues
A command center and hot-line for neighborhood information or complaints on fan activities and parking would be provided and funded by the Cubs. Alcohol sales would end at 9:20 p.m. or after the seventh inning. Additional portable toilet facilities would address the problem of public urination. Also, Cubs staff would monitor crowds after the games.
The police already use 50 officers from two hours before to two hours after games to improve traffic and crowd control. Beginning in 2004, police plan greater efforts: to dedicate one sergeant and eight officers, provided by the 18th and 23rd districts, to stay in the neighborhood even longer than this, to deal with disorderly behavior. The police also recently persuaded the local bar owners to not permit customers to leave with glass bottles in hand, and the local liquor stores to not sell beer in glass bottles on game days.
Game scheduling
The Cubs are asking to phase in 12 additional night games resulting in 30 total night games for the regular season. Additional revenue from these night games would be used in part to fund the neighborhood protection plan. Any All-Star and post-season play would continue to be in addition to the maximum allowed regularly-scheduled games.
The phase-in moves from 18 night games in 2003, to 22 in 2004, to 26 in 2005, to 30 in 2006 and each year thereafter. (The Cubs initially asked for 39 night games, to give players a rest after long road trips and to make it possible for families to attend with children out of school.)
As night games are added to the schedule, an equal number of Friday games would be moved from 2:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. When the Cubs reach 30 night games, there will no longer be any 2:20 p.m. Friday start times.
No regular season split double-headers would be scheduled (though they may be used in case of rain-outs, cancelled games, etc.). No Friday night or Saturday night games would be scheduled unless compelled by Major League rules or contracts. The Cubs would request to have no home game to conflict with the annual Pride Parade or Halsted St. Market Days.
Management
The City and the Cubs would prepare an annual report on their activities under the neighborhood protection plan, and host an annual community meeting about it to review operations for the upcoming year. The City, the Cubs and local aldermen would regularly review the plan and revise it as deemed necessary.
Next meeting
The BRC will next meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the Stadium Club at Wrigley Field.
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