The following neighborhood protection plan was given to Inside by the Chicago Cubs.The Cubs understand the need to address the impact of Cubs games on parking, traffic, inappropriate fan behavior and safety in Wrigleyville. We are prepared to implement the following steps during the 2003 season:
• Commitment of $100,000. The Cubs will devote a minimum of $100,000 each year to address parking, traffic, inappropriate fan behavior, safety and other projects in Wrigleyville. We propose these funds be used to address the items noted in this proposal among others, and that they be expended based on input from a committee consisting of the Aldermen of the 32nd, 44th, 46th and 47th wards. The Cubs will provide an annual report on how this money is spent. These funds supplement the more than $5 million in annual amusement and sales taxes collected by the Cubs and available to address these issues.
• Aggressive clean-up. The Cubs re-enforced our post-game neighborhood clean-up efforts in 2002. These efforts were noticeable throughout the community and received favorable comments from residents. The increased clean-up efforts will continue in 2003.
• Cubs full-time community liaison. The Cubs will hire a community liaison whose primary job is to work with neighbors and community groups to identify and address issues of concern. This person will attend community group meetings, be available by telephone and e-mail, and work to promptly resolve neighborhood concerns. This position will supplement the involvement of Cubs senior personnel. The Cubs have also created an e-mail address for neighbors to contact the team on an on-going basis.
• Communicating with Cubs fans. The Cubs will develop pamphlets and other materials highlighting neighborhood issues (e.g., parking, public transportation) for distribution to season ticket holders and others purchasing Cubs tickets. Similar material will appear on the Cubs Web site. We will also include announcements about these issues on our in-park public address system and as fans exit the ballpark.
• Support for public transportation. The Cubs will promote CTA and other public transportation during Cubs games ($450,000 value). We will offer our employees and vendors discounted CTA transit passes.
• Restroom accessibility. In 2002, the Cubs added temporary restroom facilities (port-a-potties) in Cubs-owned parking lots. In 2003, this will continue and the Cubs will make available additional temporary facilities in Cubs-owned lots as needed. Designated restroom facilities inside the park will also be available after games if sufficient demand exists.
• Traffic revisions. The Cubs will ask the City to implement those recommendations supported by the community from the comprehensive traffic study completed under the direction of the City Department of Transportation. The Cubs will also support revisions to the study based on input from the community. According to the transportation experts who conducted the study, implementing these recommendations will “more than offset the expected increase in traffic and parking demand generated by the proposed renovation.”
• Cut-off beer sales. We will continue to end the sale of alcohol in open seating areas at 9:20 p.m. for all night games (or end of 7th inning, if earlier).
• Neighborhood e-mail alerts. The Cubs have established an e-mail alert system for schedule changes and other issues that affect the community. This system worked well in 2002 to alert community groups to the game vs. St. Louis on Aug. 31, rescheduled after the death of the Cardinals’ Darryl Kyle. The system will continue in 2003, supported in full by the Cubs.
• Neighborhood watch. The Cubs have instituted a neighborhood watch program to report and deter inappropriate public behavior. This made a noticeable impact in 2002. Cubs personnel will be present in those areas around the ballpark where the most attention is needed (as determined by residents’ input).
• Command center. We will continue to fund and provide facilities for the command center to coordinate game-day activity of Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and other City agencies.
• Police hotline. The Cubs will continue to support a police hotline for resident complaints regarding cars that need to be towed and reporting of nuisance issues.
• Wrigley Field Traffic Operations Committee. The Cubs continue to participate in this group to evaluate and implement game-related traffic, parking and other issues.
• Bicycle program. The Cubs will offer bicycle parking to make bicycles a more viable mode of transportation to games. We will offer a bicycle-check area on an experimental basis in 2003.
• No home game during Pride Parade. The Cubs have asked Major League Baseball not to schedule home games on the day of the Pride Parade.
• Accountability. Cubs Executive Vice President Mark McGuire and the Cubs community liaison will attend public meetings with community groups, elected officials and residents on a bi-annual basis to receive the comments of the community and monitor the status of on-going game operations. The Cubs will report annually all expenses related to this plan.
We believe this plan addresses some of the issues of concern to the Wrigleyville community. It is our hope these items will be evaluated after the 2003 season and revised for future years as necessary.
As the Cubs expand Wrigley Field and phase in additional night games each season, we are prepared to take additional steps to address the impact of this growth. Among the things the Cubs will do:
• Eliminate Friday 2:20 p.m. games. We typically play 13 games each season on Fridays at 2:20 p.m. These games create more traffic congestion than night games as games end at the same time most residents return home from work. As we phase in growth from 18 to 30 night games a year, we will move those Friday 2:20 p.m. game start times to 1:20 p.m. This costs us attendance but reduces traffic congestion.
• Additional night game contributions. As an increase in night games from 18-30 is phased in, the Cubs will increase the $100,000 commitment in recognition of the additional impact.
• Dedicate additional amusement tax revenue to the Wrigleyville community. Construction of the proposed seating expansion will generate as much as $250,000 or more each season in additional tax dollars. The Cubs will ask the City to designate a portion of these funds for City services in the Wrigleyville community to address parking, traffic, inappropriate fan behavior and safety.
• Remote parking and shuttle service. Many community groups have requested remote parking shuttle service be expanded to include weekend games. We agree this expansion could be worthwhile and will work with business and community groups to locate remote lots and participate in funding solutions.
• WGN parking lot. The Cubs will use the parking lot at WGN-TV for Cubs employees and vendors for night and weekend games, reducing the demand for parking in the neighborhood.
• Adopt the Sheridan El station. The Cubs will approach the CTA about adopting the Sheridan El station and explore ideas to improve its aesthetics.
One thing is clear: the Cubs alone cannot solve all issues in the Wrigleyville community. We extend our thanks to all our neighbors who have given their time and energy to offer constructive input. We also thank the City for its on-going effort to explore added police protection, greater car towing and ticketing services, enforcement of resident permit parking restrictions, shuttle buses and other services. We hope a portion of the taxes collected by the Cubs (more than $5 million annually) can be dedicated to support services in our community. |
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