PARK
DISTRICT
7540 W. BRAEMAR LANE
FRANKFORT, IL 60423
815-469-3524
www.fspd.org

Dear Mr. Arnold:

I am glad that you attended the July meeting of the Park Board, and subsequent basin tour for Commissioners on August 13, 2009. In response to your request, staff prepared a comprehensive Native Area Management Report that you received on August l3

After touring similar naturalized basins on Thursday, August 13th, we offer this correspondence clarifying the position regarding maintenance and future actions in the areas of concern.
The basin adjacent to your home was designed and planted to provide required storm water storage, using recommended native landscape practices. In all naturalized areas owned and maintained by the Frankfort Square Park District, we are faced with residents that appreciate the “look” and the benefits provided, and those who do not.

The park district is able to provide mountains of supporting material citing benefits and success of native landscapes, but that will not change individual perception of overall appearance.
Tinley Park Engineer, Chris King, of Robinson Engineering, and Ted Virgilio of
Branecki-Virgilio & Associates confirm that the structures are operating correctly.
No further action is required

.
Staff reports and supporting documents indicate the establishment of native vegetation and required maintenance to promote continued success.
The issue of primary concern is the abundance of water lilies and what continued action will be employed.

Water lilies are a native species and offer no negative impact other than aesthetics. The park district, as detailed in Section 2 Item No. 1, and Section 4, has attempted various controls with, at best, minimal success. Staff will be directed to employ GlyphoMate 41 on Friday, August l4, or as weather conditions dictate the ideal time for application.

The goal will be to manage lily pads at a level not exceeding 30% of the total surface area. Staff will monitor the success, and repeat application of products necessary to attain this level.

The Native Area Management Report that was provided to you lists improvements and enhancements that have been, and are scheduled to be employed. Further efforts will focus on continued necessary maintenance and management of park district-owned property.

• Naturalized landscapes will be maintained through accepted practices of periodic bums/mowing and selective herbicide applications.
• All physical improvements, i.e. benches, paths, signage, etc., will be maintained in good repair.
• Park sign landscaping will be completed in the fall of 2009.
• Lily pad control, previously described will be employed and monitored.

Normal actions, as herein described, are consistent with all properties within park district borders.

One concern expressed by you during the basin tour regarding the wooded area adjacent to the bike/walking path directly north of the Hilda Walker School site will be cut down. In addition, the park district will provide continual maintenance to hopefully deter youths from loitering in this area. If residents observe inappropriate activity in at this site, we encourage them to contact the Tinley Park Police Department, and follow up with a phone call to the park district.

Park district staff verified that no storm sewer grate was installed on the basin’s outfall to Union Creek. Tinley Park approved plans called for this structure. The developer and the Village of Tinley Park will be notified, and hopefully will install this structure in short order.
Commissioners are elected to represent the community and use resources to meet the mission of the Frankfort Square Park District. It should also be understood that based upon the expertise of our park district staff, chiefly Jim Randall, Executive Director, and Julie Arvia, Superintendent of Beautification and Natural Areas, the Park Board is satisfied that these individuals are acting in the best interest of the community they serve. The BMP’s employed by the district are progressive and provide numerous ecological benefits not the least of which hit Ttidêredüetibh in the carbon footprint and provision of water conservation.

For future reference, if residents have specific concerns, they would be better served by reflecting these issues to any of the available outlets, either by contacting the park district office, e-mailing concerns to the park district, and by attending monthly Board Meetings.

Sincerely,
Pamela S. Kohlbachcr
President, Park Board of Commissioners

Please join us for a meeting on every third thursday at Frankfort Square park district to discuss the issues about the clean up of the ponds and parks on our walking paths.

Please ask all your friends and neighbors to join us. 

I am also looking for volunteers for any weekend to sit at the walking path by the bridge and talk to all the people on the path to join us in the meeting with the park district.  We can set up a table and some chairs.

Please let me know if you’re interested.
Let’s clean up our beautiful neighborhood.

Click here to hear the

Recording of the last

board meeting

Staff members are in the process of gathering all the information that was discussed during the July Board Meeting.  When I return on Monday, August 10^th, I will review the documents and will forward them to Commissioners for their review on Tuesday, August 11^th. 

The Commissioners will be touring various basins located within FSPD borders, as well as surrounding areas on Thursday, August 13^th, enabling them to draw comparisons.  At the conclusion of the tour, per your request, Commissioners will prepare a report detailing continued improvements and normal maintenance of your specific area.

It was our understanding that your group would attend the August 20^th Park Board Meeting, which begins at 7:00 p.m.  Your group will be allowed ample time to ask questions during the meeting.

To summarize, the following actions will be taken:

1. Staff compiles requested information.
2. Compiled information will be forwarded to Commissioners on August 11^th.
3. Commissioners will tour basins on August 13^th.
4. Commissioners will prepare a report confirming maintenance and continued improvements for your specific area, per your group’s request.
5. Your group will attend the August 20^th Board Meeting for an exchange of information.

Please note; it is the policy of the FSPD that personal phone/address/e-mail information is not distributed to the public.  If residents wish to contact Commissioners, they may do so using any of the following e-mail addresses:

• info@fspd.org
• admin@fspd.org
• jrandall@fspd.org,

or simply leave a phone message at the park district office (815) 469-3524.  Information is then relayed to Commissioners.

I will discuss releasing personal contact information to residents with Commissioners during the August meeting.

Jim Randall

Dear Ms. Ronan:

The Frankfort Square Park District is aware of your concern regarding the lily pads.  In 2008, the district contracted an outside firm to apply herbicides as a control measure in these areas.  In 2009, a staff member completed course work, testing, and certification to provide aquatic herbicides in this area and throughout the district when necessary.  The park district is in a much better position to address your concern earlier and more often than in the past.

If you would like me to notify you of application dates, enabling you to personally track the progress, please let me know.

I have been encouraging residents to present concerns directly to Commissioners for many years.  I highly encourage you to take the opportunity to attend a meeting in the coming months.

Sincerely,

Jim Randall