Why The Interpretive Center Does Not Belong On Rosewood Beach
Whether you call it a "multi-purpose beach house" or an "Interpretive Center" as it has always been called, and whether it is 1000 or 2000 sq. ft., it does not belong on Rosewood Beach.
It will impede the view looking north on the beach and no meaningful purpose has been stated for its presence. There will be other restrooms on the beach that can be kept open in cold weather, if that is the reason for the I-Center. Is the Park District going to heat that structure after the summer when it turns cold?
Moreover, the Center is planned close to the water’s edge. What happens to it when the lake rises as it always does? Will it be flooded like the previous structure on the south end of the beach which had to be demolished?
The last Park District plan for Rosewood that I was aware of provided for a concession stand of about 500 sq ft, bathrooms of about 550 sq ft, a lifeguard station of about 380 sq ft, and an I-Center of about 1997 sq ft, a total of about 3427 sq ft. That means that the I-Center would consume about 58% of the structures planned for the beach!! Even if the I-Center is only 1000 sq ft, it would still consume 41% of the structures planned for the beach!
The only purpose I can see in the I-Center is the park board’s desire to use the grant money it will receive; but the board can get that money just as well by building it at one of several other suggested sites for it. And what about parking? Rosewood Beach does not have a large parking lot and on a hot summer day cars or buses headed for the proposed I-Center may well keep out others who want to park and use the beach for its only real recreational purpose: to swim, sun, picnic, play volleyball, sit on a bench or just walk along the beach.
The other three proposed small structures along the new beach walk, seem to be perfect for the site and will be welcome additions.
David Greenberg
2:10 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
Well said Aaron. We don't need an IC at Rosewood Beach. You mentioned that you wonder if the Park District is going to heat the IC after the summer. I also wonder if they plan on air conditioning it during the summer months.
Also, don't forget that the $800K grant is really only a doubler - if we kick in $400K, we get $400K from the State. But the State only pays 90 days after we've completed construction, and that's assuming that the State won't raid those funds for some other purpose, such as dealing with the current pension funding issues. It's entirely possible that we will never see that money from the State, and then the taxpayers are on the hook for that extra $400K.
But really, how much should a guard shack, concession stand, and some toilets cost? Is that really $800K worth of construction? The cost of a HOUSE? It just boggles the mind.
Laura Knapp
10:50 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
Why doesn't PDHP first figure out better use of the North Shore Yacht Club Facility? I'm a member of this SHARED public/private Club and they sure don't put in much maintenance to fix it and they rent it out to the Public. They should put some money into this as a meeting facility before they start building more structures in prime open space locations.
Doug Purington
10:04 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
If not for the inclusion of the "interpretive center", the Park District's plan for Rosewood Beach has lots of merits which the RNA fully support. It has been confirmed by one of the Park Board members that this proposed edifice (unwanted and unnecessary at Rosewood) could very well be located elsewhere. If it was removed from their current proposal, the support by the residents of Highland Park would very likely be overwhelmingly in favor. Come on, Park District, let's have a plan that everyone in Highland Park can support and enjoy to its fullest!
Doug Purington
3:19 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
We all want and deserve a beach in Highland Park (Rosewood) as nice as the one in Lake Forest and with the naturalistic designs and amenities proposed by the Park District. That said, in no way is an "interpretive center", or "beach shelter",or whatever one wants to call it, necessary to accomplish that. Again, the 7 or so alternatives that have been suggested for that building make so much more sense. The primary focus of the restoration of Rosewood Beach should be to provide a beautiful, comfortable, accessible, natural in concept venue for all families in Highland Park to be able to enjoy all year-round, something that we've been without for years and years. This proposed structure is in no way necessary for that premise to be realized! An "interpretive center", in of itself, is a wonderful concept...it just needs to be properly placed. According to one of the Park District board members, that placement can be elsewhere without sacrificing the matching grant monies. So, let's support the Park District's plans sans this unwanted and unneeded building (at Rosewood)!
Jean Meier
8:31 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Perhaps the Park District should heed the Native American saying: "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we cannot eat money." The Park District wants an interpretive center on Rosewood Beach because it received grant money earmarked for such a building and because it hopes to charge people for classes that will take place there. Only when Highland Park's last swimming beach is ruined, will we realize we can interpret Lake Michigan and its natural surroundings without a building.