City Council Meeting -Parking on Golf Course for 2 years?

Submitted by Mary Rosinski on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 16:08

This item is on the agenda for the next council meeting Monday 27th. What has the discussion on this been? If anyone knows could they summarize community sentiment on this. What does the city get back from Northwestern for this? Maybe Northwestwern would clean up the parking lot on Central Street. It's an eyesore.

(A3.5)*Approval of proposal from the Wilmette Golf Course Association for NU Parking on     the Frank Govern Memorial Golf Course
Recommend approval of proposal from the Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association (doing business as Frank Govern Memorial Golf Course, formerly Peter Jans) to park cars on holes # 9, 17 and 18 during Northwestern University home football games for a two year period. This request does not include parking for other activities/events. 
 

Comments

jeffpsmith

Sat, 04/25/2009 - 06:40

My understanding is that Northwestern is not part of this deal. The Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Ass'n, a not-for-profit, owns the course and gets the parking revenue.

Members posted on this last summer, first when the proposal was aired, and then when a public meeting was held. My gut sense is that there are mixed feelings. Generally, stadium neighbors don't like their streets filling with cars, either parked or cruising for nonexistent spaces, so something that alleviates that is welcome. However, making more parking available near the stadium encourages people to drive closer in hopes of getting a spot, and so might be self-defeating. Also, there is some legitimate concern as to whether parking on-course preserves or degrades an open green space that is an important part of the neighborhood and ecosystem.

The savviest out-of-town football fans park up to a mile from the stadium and enjoy the pleasant walk.