March
6, 2002
CHIPPING AWAY AT HISTORY
BELMONT ROCKS
LIMESTONE PART OF LAKEFRONT BEAUTY
Reflections by Demetra Soter
The City of Chicago is known for its lakefront...more than 20 miles of parks and beaches that are open to the public, to be appreciated by all. Lake Michigan makes our city a wonderful place to live with spectacular views and an open, welcoming feeling that few big cities have.
For years, the lakefront between Diversey and Belmont, and from Belmont to Montrose was a special part of that. The limestone rocks along the water gave us a fun place to sit in the sun, to climb, to enjoy the views and to cool off on hot summer days.
But now, north of Belmont, that has been taken away. The rocks have been replaced by a concrete wall...a straight, sterile barrier.
A concrete barrier to the lake totally defies everything the lakefront is meant to be. This new barrier belongs on the docks of New York City, not the lakefront of Chicago.
This year, the same thing is planned for the Diversey to Belmont rocks. Now that we know what's at stake, we should do what we can to keep that area as special as it is today.
At 7:30 p.m., Monday, March 11 at the Wellington Avenue Church, 615 W. Wellington Ave., the Southeast Lakeview Neighbors is having a meeting on the project. Everyone is welcome to come.
We know there are problems with erosion that have to be dealt with. And we know the city has worked very hard on this. But now that we realize it's not as good as it could be, I hope the city and community groups can work together toward the best plan possible.
Many of us weren't aware of the lakefront plan until the area north of Belmont Harbor was finished. When it first opened, I was shocked and saddened. Such a quaint, beautiful area was turned into a concrete embankment. On the rocks, people used to come, find their own nook or cranny, and feel they were in a private place even when lots of other people were there, too. The rocks are too spectacular to just grind up and toss aside.
I'm sure there would be many architects and landscape architects who would be proud to work with our city in saving this section of lakefront. And I believe the city cares enough so that they won't ignore this issue. The whole lakefront is just too valuable to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to build something that doesn't even let people sit on the edge and dangle their feet in the water.
As a pediatrician at Cook County Hospital, I'm also concerned about the safety of the new revetment...particularly when it comes to children. As it is now, if a child should accidentally fall in, it would be incredibly difficult to get that child out. By the time an adult found one of the built-in ladder rungs, made their way down into the water and then went over to the child, it could very well be too late.
I also know how important exercise is to the health of all of us...young and old. As it is, many of us...including children...spend too much time sitting by computers and in front of television sets. Swimming is excellent exercise, and something we want to encourage. Why would we build a barrier to that? If we now have to make changes to the lakefront, we should encourage swimming instead of discouraging it, as the new wall now does.
Chicago beaches are crowded and their rules are restrictive. If the areas that have been limestone are being redesigned, it'd be great if we could establish more swimming areas, particularly for those who are serious about the sport.
Since we have the opportunity to make improvements, now is the time to do it. I hope that we can all work together to make the lakefront the best it can be.
If you'd like to join the effort, Robert Clarke, who is president of the group, can be reached at shango1@aol.com and Derek West, who is chairman of the group's Lakefront Protection Committee, can be reached at e-mail derekwest@mindspring.com.