Forest Park Beach Tree Removal was Necessary for Erosion Prevention in Lake Forest

In the past year, the city of Lake Forest has had to remove several trees along the bluffs of , which caused alarm for many residents of the city’s First Ward.

According to Dan Reeves, superintendent of Parks, Forestry, and Golf for Lake Forest, the removal of the trees was necessary to maintain the stability of the bluff.

“This is strictly about stabilizing the bluff,” he told residents, explaining that engineering studies have shown that bluffs can have no more than 60 percent coverage from trees to allow enough light through to allow adequate growth of ground cover.

“Without it (ground cover), erosion will occur,” Reeves said. “The best level of erosion prevention is ground cover.”

Residents of the First Ward expressed their concern about the tree removal along the bluff at their ward meeting, hosted by the city Thursday night at .

Lake Forest Mayor James Cowhey, First Ward Aldermen David Grumhaus and Kent Elliott Novit, and City Manager Bob Kiely were on hand to give residents an update, to answer questions, and communicate concerns on issues affecting their ward, as the well as the rest of the city.

Several topics that were covered in the First Ward Meeting had previously been covered during the and meetings which were held last month.

Other issues covered directly affected the First Ward.

Forest Park Redevelopment Project

Although Forest Park is located in the First Ward, residents expressed concern that there was not adequate representation from residents of other wards on the Forest Park Project Committee. This has been a concern raised at previous ward meeting.

“I don’t think it’s fair that there are not people represented from all wards,” said First Ward resident Anne R. Whipple, who said that many of her friends in other areas of the city were completely unaware of the Forest Park project.

Cliff Miller, who serves as chairman of the landscape committee for the project, informed residents that committees for the projects had been developed based on experience in certain areas, and not by ward residency.

City leaders assured residents that any plan that comes out of the Forest Park Project Committee will be subject to review by the historic preservation committee, and the city council which represents the entire city.

“I am confident that the outcome will be a good outcome for the community,” said Cowhey.

A website dedicated to the project at www.ForestParkProject.com will launch next week.

The committee is hoping to have their first public meeting regarding the project in May.

Curb and Resurfacing on Lake Road, and South Beach Access Road

The city is planning on doing some storm sewer and curb improvements this summer on Lake Road, between Deerpath Road and Spring Lane.

“There was curb there before, and we need to put curb there to stabilize the road,” explained Kiely.

The project will be put out to bid with the repair of Forest Park Beach’s Forest Park South Beach access road, which has become unsafe due to erosion issues.

The curb and gutter work is scheduled to begin late in the summer, after Lake Forest Day. Once completed, the South Beach access road will begin after Labor Day.

Final repaving of Lake Road and the South Beach access road will be done at the same time once both projects are complete.

East Side Train Station

The city has received approximately $1.2 million in outside funding to make improvements to train stations on both the east and west side of Lake Forest.

Starting in June, improvements to the east side station will begin, and will include replacing of the station’s roof to a new slate material to match Market Square.

In addition, painting and tuck pointing will be done to the structure.

The project is expected to be concluded in November.

Cultural Corridor Committee

Although it is in its very beginning stages, a committee is being formed to recommend improvements to the city’s cultural corridor, which includes the , , and .

The committee will explore ways to redevelop and enhance the area. The committee’s first report is expected sometime this spring, and recommendations will be submitted to the appropriate committees for consideration.

Future Meetings

The final ward meeting for the city’s Third Ward is scheduled at 7 p.m. April 25 at the Municipal Services Building.