By Ben Joravsky
So she was surprised to open the local Press in June and learn that 41st Ward alderman Brian Doherty and his allies on the Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce were backing plans to chop about six feet off the eastern end of the park. The city, the article read, “will undertake a beautification/ streetscape improvement project to provide nine to 15 new parallel-parking spaces for commercial and commuter use along Avondale.”
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
“It was very hot back then,” says Sykes, “but I felt it was important to go out. A lot of people didn’t even know what was going on until I told them about the project. I collected over a hundred signatures. Everyone was very supportive, including many of the firefighters at the firehouse. A lot of them signed.”
Doherty says he has nothing against Sykes, though he thinks her complaints are exaggerated. He says the parking spaces won’t desecrate the memorial and will take only about three or four feet from the eastern end of the park. “There are two reasons for this project–to slow traffic and to provide parking, which our merchants need,” he says. “That’s it. There is no hidden agenda. In no way will it desecrate the memorial. In fact, we’re looking to put a fountain there to make it even more attractive.”
