Friends

of the
Parks

From: Friends of the Parks

CHICAGO, May 3, 2016 Friends of the Parks has agreed with the City of Chicagos request that we stay
our pending lawsuit to stop construction of George Lucas lakefront museum on the proposed site
adjacent to Soldier Field. The City has informed U.S. District Court John Darrah of that. We acquiesced
because the city is now prioritizing another site. Any stay still enables us to reinstate the lawsuit, if
necessary.
Meanwhile, the stay gives all parties the opportunity to have a more direct and productive dialogue to
reach a potential solution about a museum site. We support such an open forum.
Friends of the Parks is willing to work collaboratively with the Lucas Museum, the Mayors Office, the
Chicago Park District, the community and our open space partners to find an alternative site that isnt on
the lakefront or on a site that shrinks the citys public open space.
Already, we have met with several of the museums central participants, including Mellody Hobson, on
behalf of her husband George Lucas; Chicagos deputy mayor and general counsel; and Father Michael
Pfleger on a museums impact on jobs and the economy, among other parties.
From any multilateral discussions, we seek this:

The active and serious investigation of other possible non-lakefront sites that include, among
others, the former Michael Reese Hospital property; the site at 18th street across from the original
location and across Lake Shore Drive, and the marshalling yards west of McCormick Place for
trucks and recreational vehicles.

A strong grasp of the impact the museum would have on jobs, particularly to South Side residents;
tourism and the economy in general; taxes and other costs to Chicago residents; and educational
benefits.

Clear specifics about any proposed site and plan that promises to generate the most viability and
create more park space for Chicago residents and visitors to enjoy.

As a strong steward of Chicago and a partner to its progress, Friends of the Parks understands and
appreciates the benefits to jobs and to the citys economy that tourist attractions such as the proposed
Lucas Museum deliver, especially to the citys South Side. As a public policy organization, we encourage
fruitful discussions about such benefits that go beyond park-related issues.
At the same time and to be clear, our 40-year-old organization reaffirms our enduring commitment and
mission to preserve, protect, promote and improve the use of our parks and open spaces throughout the
Chicago area for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors.
We have an absolute duty to fight to uphold the Public Trust Doctrine that requires the welfare of the
public over the benefit of others as it applies to the use of land created by the infill of Lake Michigan.
For further information, please contact: Kim Klein, Director of Operations at kleink@fotp.org.
17 N. State Street Suite 1450 Chicago, Illinois 60602 p (312) 857 -2757 www.fotp.org
Preserving, Protecting, Improving and Promoting the Use of Parks and Open Space Since 1975