100 signatures reached
To: Chicago Park District Board Members
Save historic Jackson Park outer harbor!
Please dredge our historic harbor and channel to at least 12 feet to restore safety, keep it operational for mariners and the historic schools it plays host to.
Why is this important?
Jackson Park Harbor is home to the largest concentration of minority boaters in Chicago. It is also home to the only US Sailing Sanctioned LGBTQ+ Sailing School, and one of the most successful minority focused school aged children's sailing programs in the country, the Open Horizons Youth Sailing School.
Failure to maintain this harbor will result in these historic and unique organizations having to close their doors. The impact this would have on the surrounding communities could be catastrophic as they both employ people from the communities they serve. This in addition to the cultural aspect that would then be missing from the South Shore, Jackson Park, and Hyde Park communities.
Last year the Rainbow Races school boat ran aground several times while attempting to exit its designated slip, with students on board. Not only does this hurt the reputation of the school, but it creates a dangerous, and potentially deadly situation where people who were there to learn, could have fallen overboard.
It creates an even more dangerous situation when you consider that this harbor will NO LONGER be a safe refuge for mariners during times of distress. This leaves a large hole in where a boat in distress may go for safe refuge, or in the event of an on board emergency. The two harbors left would be Hammond, and 31st, both many miles away.
Failure to maintain this harbor will result in these historic and unique organizations having to close their doors. The impact this would have on the surrounding communities could be catastrophic as they both employ people from the communities they serve. This in addition to the cultural aspect that would then be missing from the South Shore, Jackson Park, and Hyde Park communities.
Last year the Rainbow Races school boat ran aground several times while attempting to exit its designated slip, with students on board. Not only does this hurt the reputation of the school, but it creates a dangerous, and potentially deadly situation where people who were there to learn, could have fallen overboard.
It creates an even more dangerous situation when you consider that this harbor will NO LONGER be a safe refuge for mariners during times of distress. This leaves a large hole in where a boat in distress may go for safe refuge, or in the event of an on board emergency. The two harbors left would be Hammond, and 31st, both many miles away.