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 This is an artist's rendition of the potential future for Lane Tech Athletics. We need your help to convince lawmakers and school board officials that Lane deserves facilities on par with other schools.
December 9, 2005
The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor
Office of the Mayor
121 N. LaSalle Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
Re: Lane Tech Stadium
Your Honor:
We wrote you on October 31st requesting a meeting with you to discuss your support of the three-part project to improve Lane Tech’s athletic facilities. We have not received a response. Please contact us so that we can set up a date to meet with you in order to fully discuss our proposals.
Over the past few months, you have received copies of numerous correspondences from our committee, concerned parents, coaches, athletes, and alumni regarding the deplorable conditions of the Lane Tech Stadium and surrounding practice fields. We have sent you copies of correspondence sent to Mr. Arne Duncan detailing our proposals to ensure that our ‘fields of dreams’ becomes a reality.
WE NEED YOUR DIRECT HELP AND INTERVENTION to ensure that the student athletes of Lane Tech, of which 59.4% are low income with 43.1% Hispanic, 13.9% black, 28.8% white, 13.7% Asian/Pacific, and .6% Native American, are provided with a safe environment in which to practice and compete. Lane Tech is the largest high school in Chicago, the second largest in Illinois, the school that boast the most successful sports program in the city, the school that won 75 championships in the last four years, the school of champions.
Our executive committee looks forward to meeting with you to discuss our proposals to ensure that Lane Tech Stadium becomes a viable facility for the children of our community for decades to come.
Sincerely,
The Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee
Kim Camacho, Ted Cappelen, Colleen Frayn, Marie Goss, Calixto Marcano, Luis Munoz, Lawrence Murphy, Beatriz Penso-Buford, Eleonor Rodriguez, Michael Ulreich
Marie Goss (contact), 773-736-4030 home; 312-856-8275 work; 312-856-8278 fax mariegoss@comcast.net
Cc: Alderman Patrick Levar
Mr. Arne Duncan
December 9, 2005
Mr. Arne Duncan
CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION
125 S. Clark Street, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Re: Lane Tech Stadium
Dear Mr. Duncan:
We have not received a reply from our letter dated November 16th (see attached copy) requesting a response to our proposal regarding the allocation of Lane Tech Stadium to Lane Tech High School
We have been informed that you met with Principal Foley on November 18th to discuss this matter and were receptive to his and our proposal that the control of the stadium and surrounding practice fields be allocated to Lane Tech High School along with the necessary budgetary funding.
We have sent you numerous correspondences since the summer and representatives of our committee have met with you to discuss our quest and vision for Lane Tech’s athletic facilities. We are becoming increasingly impatient. We seek a timely and progressive solution to this dilemma.
Our executive committee and the Lane Tech community at large await your response in writing. We are all prepared to meet with you in person to finalize the arrangements to ensure that Lane Tech Stadium becomes a viable facility for our student athletes.
This is our quest. This is our dream. We are not going away.
Sincerely,
The Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee
Kim Camacho, Ted Cappelen, Colleen Frayn, Marie Goss, Calixto Marcano, Luis Munoz, Lawrence Murphy, Beatriz-Penso-Buford, Eleonor Rodriguez, Michael Ulreich,
Marie Goss (contact), 773-736-4030 home; 312-856-8275 work; 312-856-8278 fax; mariegoss@comcast.net
Cc: Principal Keith Foley
Mayor Richard M. Daley
Dear Mr. Arne Duncan,
Over the past few months, you have received numerous correspondences from
our committee, concerned parents, coaches, athletes, and alumni regarding
the deplorable conditions of the Lane Tech Stadium and surrounding practice
fields. We have requested that the Board of Education implement a three part
project to (1) allocate funds to renovate the stadium, including the
installations of lights, artificial Fieldturf, and a track, (2) build a
state of the art baseball stadium, and (3) purchase the land west of the
stadium to develop facilities for practice fields, softball, soccer,
lacrosse, volleyball, and tennis. Representatives from our committee have
also met with Sean Murphy, David Pickens, Calvin Davis, and you to discuss
in person our requests.
Our committee has continued to meet to discuss our plans to resolve these
issues. We have decided, with the support of Principal Foley, to request
that the control of the stadium and surrounding practice fields be allocated
to Lane Tech High School along with the necessary budgetary funding.
With this new direction, the Board of Education can absolve themselves of
their responsibility of maintaining and improving the stadium and practice
fields to Lane Tech High School. We in turn can:
Establish a partnership with the Chicago Park District to provide input on
the development of the purchased land west of the stadium for Lane Tech High
School students and the surrounding community.
Reach out to our local, state and federal representatives for grant pledges
for this project. Cement the relationship with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago
Bears and the NFL for grant pledges for this project. Solicit business and
community partnerships to fund this project.
Obtain parental support for fund raising efforts to fulfill our dreams of a
safe environment in which our student athletes can compete. We can not
request this commitment from our parents and students knowing there won't be
a return on their investment if these properties are not in Lane tech's
control.
Ensure that Lane Tech Stadium is a viable facility for both games and
practices for the children of our community for decades to come.
We await your response after you have had an opportunity to evaluate our
proposals and we are confident that you will decide that this is the best
course of action. This is our quest. This is our dream. We are not going
away.
Sincerely,
The Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee
Your Honor,
On the 18th of August 2005, we wrote you and asked for your support on the
following issues:
That the land west of Lane Tech be purchased for athletic field and park
development.
Lane Stadium have a complete restoration, including the addition of light
and a new playing surface
That a partnership be formed with the Cubs to refurbish the baseball
fields.
After meeting with Mr. Duncan's staff and Mr. Duncan himself, we are now
compelled to seek your direct support and intervention in this matter. Three
meetings have been marked by a lack of preparedness with little or no
continuity on behalf of the Board. We will document specific examples of
this at our meeting.
We have seen the amazing transformation that the City has undergone under
your direction. We feel that the Lane Tech athletic fields continue to be
ignored by the Board. You, as Mayor, have the ability and power to correct
many years of neglect by the Board.
At the most recent meeting with Mr. Duncan and his staff, specifically,
David Pickens, Sean Murphy, and Calvin Davis, Mr. Duncan pledged to help
improve the fields of Lane Tech. His "vision" as outlined in Mr. Murphy's
letter calls for the Board to put up matching funds of 150,000 if the Lane
community raises an additional 150,000. It is imperative that you understand
that the Lane Stadium is part of the Board of Education and not a part of
Lane Tech's budget. It shares the same land, but is totally operated by the
Board of Education. That is why our committee's response to Mr. Duncan was
that, "the Fields of Dreams Committee is appalled at the unconscionable and
ludicrous suggestion that it is our responsibility to raise funds to satisfy
the Board's obligation to the students of Lane Tech. To the best of our
knowledge, no other school has been required to raise funds for capital
improvement."
We have not gone to the Lane Tech community with this ridiculous proposal.
We feel it would be an embarrassment to the committee and to you as Mayor.
Again, that we know of, no other school has been required to put up matching
funds in order to secure a capital improvement.
We need your direct help to move this project forward. There are several
scenarios that need to be discussed, some that are "outside the box" and
some that put responsibility where it needs to be placed.
The "Spirit of Lane " is a large and powerful voice. We have a growing list
of State Representatives and Senators and local Alderman who believe that
this effort is long overdue and are fully supporting our efforts. We hope
that after our meeting with you we will be able to announce a plan that
makes the fields of Lane Tech a model that will be the envy of every school
district.
Please contact us so that we can set up a date to meet with you in order to
move this project forward.
Sincerely,
The Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee
I write today to lend my support to the Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee
and their goal of improving the athletic fields at Lane Tech. As you may be
aware, this committee is comprised of concerned parents and coaches who are
reaching to ensure student athletes can practice and compete in a safe
environment.
Please review their proposals, which include:
Acquisition of the land directly west of Lane Stadium, which has been
acquired by the City of Chicago through eminent domain, either by purchase
through TIF funds or donation from UPS. Cement the relationship with Chicago
Cubs Vice President Mike Lufrano who has already pledged financial
assistance for a state of the art baseball field on this property.
Refurbish Lane Stadium, add lights for night games, and install a certified
running track so that IHSA meets can be held.
Construct state of the art practice facilities for football, soccer,
lacrosse, and a campus park that would be shared by the community. The
Chicago Park District has pledged their support for this project and is
awaiting your response.
Thank you for looking into this matter.
Sincerely,
John J. Cullerton
State Senator
6th District
Mr. Duncan:
In case you haven't been informed, The Fields of Dreams Committee at Lane
Tech is on the march. Principal Keith Foley and Athletic Director Richard
Rio have averted much potential embarrassment for you and the Chicago Board
of Education. In spite of half truths, non-attendance to legitimate
meetings, non-return of repeated calls to your staff or your office, these
gentlemen, have to date, kept events on a highly constructive level. They
have truly acted on the behalf of the Chicago Public Schools.
From this point on, we the Committee, are returning to the pragmatic anger
which packed the school auditorium in 95 degree plus temperatures in early
July. Now schools are open and the Fields of Dreams Committee wants "red
meat", as they say in political circles.
Down thru the years, Lane Tech has been a National Treasure, one of the few
schools right at the top in academic and athletic performance. Even the
initiated (your trio of staff) would be forced to admit something
extraordinary takes place when a 70 percent minority population absorbs the
Lane Spirit in an urban setting and continues to set records.
Mr. Murphy continues to emphasize no funds but we happen to know there are
funds. Your trio expresses shock on their first visit when one of our people
revealed we knew the NFL was putting funds at your disposal.
"How did you find out?" was the incredulous response. We know there is not
only that money, but also much more. There just has to be some
re-prioritizing on your part. Don't you think it's high time that Lane Tech
finally is included in your current financial planning? 1942 to the present
is a long time for any program to literally go unfunded. President Roosevelt
turns in anguish at what the Chicago Public Schools has done to his fine
work of 1942.
We also know from our kids that when you want to bring in dignitaries to
view a particular program, Lane Tech is invariably one of the top choices.
We are not going away Mr. Duncan! We repeat, it's time for a
re-prioritizing! Taylor Bell's Sun Times article captures your planned
neglect that the Chicago Public Schools unconscionably perpetuates at Lane
Tech. You, Mr. Duncan and your three cohorts; Mr. Murphy, Mr. Pickens, and
Mr. Davis.
Please, what did these young, very heroic athletes do to deserve such
racially insensitive shabby treatment?
Justify it Mr. Duncan!
Tell us, show us your basis for selection for funding citywide athletic
programs for the last 10-15 years.
Very sincerely,
The Fields of Dreams Committee
This resolution was put in front of the City Council by Alderman Eugene
Schulter on Monday 12 SEP 05.
Resolution Clark Park Expansion
Whereas, the Department of Planning and Development is an agency of the City
of Chicago, and the Chicago City Council annually approves the budget of the
Department of Planning and Development; and,
Whereas, the availabilty of open parkland is essential to the quality of
life of residents of all Chicago neighborhoods; and,
Whereas, the 47th Ward ranks 48th out of all 50 wards in available park
space on a per capita basis; and,
Whereas, the City of Chicago has spent years restoring the Chicago River and
it should be enjoyed by all; and,
Whereas, the ten acre parcel of land located at 3500 N. Rockwell Street lies
adjacent to Albert G. Lane Technical High School located at 2510 W. Addison
Street; and,
Whereas, the athletic programs at Albert G. Lane Technical High School are
in need of additional space, and,
Whereas, Albert G. Lane Technical High School has won championships at the
City and State level and is the largest high school in the city of Chicago;
and,
Whereas, the students attending Albert G. Lane Technical High School
represent all Wards on the north side of the City of Chicago; and,
Whereas, the ten acre parcel of land located at 3500 N. Rockwell Street lies
adjacent to Richard Clark Park located at 3400 N. Rockwell;, and,
Whereas, the ten acre parcel of land located at 3500 N. Rockwell Street lies
within the Western Avenue South TIF District; and,
Whereas, the ten acre parcel of land located at 3500 N. Rockwell Street has
remained vacant since 1967 when Riverview Amusement Park closed, and is
currently owned by United Parcel Service; and,
Now, Therefore, be it resolved that we, the Mayor and members of the City
Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this 12th day of September
2005 A.D. do hereby declare that the Department of Planning and Development
allocate Western Avenue TIF funds to acquire the ten acres located at 3400
N. Bell from United Parcel Service through eminent domain proceedings or
direct negotiation.
Gene Schulter
Alderman 47th Ward
In addition, Channel 2 televised parts of the protest march. On the link below, move the cursor towards the end and you will see the news clip. If the clip does not start right away, you may have to copy the address below and paste it into the address bar of your browser.
http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=15481@wbbm.dayport.com
Dear Mr. Cullerton,
My name is Luis Muñoz and I live in the 46th Ward. I'm a Chicago Police
Officer and an assistant varsity football coach at Lane Tech. I am a
graduate of Lane Tech (1978). I went on your district map and it shows that
Lane Tech is in your district. I am a member of the Fields of Dreams
Committee, specifically the Chairman of Lane Stadium. Our Fields of Dreams
Committee is dedicated to bringing a sports complex west of Lane Stadium. We
have proposed a three part plan for this to be a success. Number one, the
land west of Lane Stadium that is currently owned by UPS be purchased with
TIFF funds allocated to your district. Number two, the Chicago Board of
Education fulfilling its obligation to renovate Lane Stadium and the back
football/baseball field behind Lane Stadium. Our #2 seeded baseball team
could not play a home game because the IHSA would not approve this due to
the dilapidated state of the field. Our team played three straight road
games. Our City Championship Track Team does not have a place to practice.
They had to go to a far north side location to practice for the State
Tournament. Our City Championship Girls Softball Team plays every game on
the road. Currently the Chicago Board of Education refuses to put any money
into Lane Tech period! Number three, the Chicago Cubs have already committed
to financing a state of the art baseball field if the land is acquired from
UPS. You can visit our website at www.lanetechfootball.com for further
information.
We, the Fields of Dreams Committee, are seeking your help. We would like a
letter of support from you and whatever political pressure you can put on
Arne Duncan and the Chicago Board of Education. As you may well know, we
held a protest march last Wednesday at Alderman Eugene Schulter's office
which appears to be your office also. We asked him for his support and he
stated that he would support us, although the committee that met him does
not believe him. We told Alderman Schulter that we are not going away.
Alderman Schulter made it quite clear to us that we are a small part of his
Ward. In other words, Lane Tech is not important to him. We hope that this
is not your stance. We also hope that you will meet the parents of Lane Tech
at a future date. Alderman Schulter told us that he would try and meet the
parents of Lane Tech if we could schedule it so that his schedule does not
conflict so that he can show up. We hope that you will not try but agree to
meet the parents of Lane Tech. Thank you.
Luis Muñoz
Chairman of the Lane Stadium Committee.
As you can see from the pictures below, the practice field is in serious need of repair. Many former players still have scars from rocks and glass that became embedded in their skin during drills. The field is shared by the baseball team and is used for Lane Home games.
PLEASE help make the field a much safer environment for our teams.
August 19, 2005- Congressman Rahm Emanuel sent the following letter to Arne Duncan in an effort to get funding to Lane improve Lane's Athletic facilities. Please express your gratitude to Congressman Emanuel
Dear Mr. Duncan:
I am writing on behalf of one of the true jewels of the 5th Congressional
District, Lane Tech High School, and its efforts to upgrade the quality of
its athletic facilities. Lane Tech stands as one of the pillars and centers
of our community, and their athletic department consistently makes us proud
with each and every city championship they win.
I have visited Lane Tech for their athletic events on many occasions and I
am struck by how dilapidated many of their facilities are. The football
stadium is crumbling in places now marked by colored paint by the building
department. The track and baseball fields are in such a state that the
school cannot ever take advantage of its hard earned home field advantage in
the playoffs. The baseball team has overcome an outfield bereft of grass,
but still manages to consistently be one of the finest programs in the city.
Several of their other teams can never host games, as they have no facility
at all with which to compete.
Lane Tech's student-athletes deserve a facility that is worthy of the hard
work and effort they put forth every year to be successful. Principal Keith
Foley and Athletic Director Rich Rio have provided the leadership and
dedication to make this school and their athletics what they have become. We
as governmental agencies must provide the resources that schools such as
Lane Tech need both in the classroom and on the playing fields.
I appreciate your attention to this matter. If you have any questions of me
on this, or anything else, please feel free to contact my District Director
John Borovicka.
Sincerely,
Rahm Emanuel
Member of Congress
August 18, 2005 Letter below sent to Mayor Daley from the Field of Dreams Committee
Dear Mayor Daley,
I am writing you on behalf of the entire Lane Tech Community. We on the
Fields of Dreams Committee have been actively working on trying to save the
Lane Tech stadium. It has been ignored and left to deteriorate for many
years. The fields are in terrible condition. Our City Championship baseball
team, a second seed in the state tournament, (the highest seed ever given to
a public school team) was forced to play all its games on the road because
the field was deemed unsafe by the IHSA.
This is just a brief illustration of the type of conditions that exist at
Lane Tech. The once beautiful stadium was built at the behest of Franklin
DeLano Roosevelt as he directed his "Works Project Administration" in the
early 1940's, has been left to deteriorate. While not a landmark, the
stadium is home to over eighty schools during a typical year.
The stadium is operated by the Board of Education and not Lane Tech. That is
why we are soliciting support from you and all the local politicians whose
communities enjoy the Lane Tech experience. We currently have the written
support of ten of the twenty nine aldermen whose wards send students to Lane
Tech. We have four State Representative's written endorsement and
Congressman Rahm Emmanuel's support.
We have had preliminary talks with the Board of Education, but they have
been slow to react. At a recent meeting, we informed them that the Chicago
Cubs were willing to make a commitment to our baseball program. After two
weeks of waiting, the Board did not contact the Cubs. The Park District is
negotiating to purchase land to the immediate west of Lane Tech and the
Board has been slow to respond to their requests for a possible partnership
in developing a first class park and fields facility for Lane Tech and the
community.
While we are trying to move forward on those fronts, we are missing a key
endorsement for the project. That is the support of Alderman Eugene
Schulter. He has been invited to attend several meetings with our committees
and to a community meeting. He has not responded to our requests. While Lane
Tech lies within his ward it is essential that we have his support for this
project. This project will serve a community that reaches well beyond the
Lane Tech campus.
The Lane Tech community has always been proud to support you, as you have
always supported us. We hope to continue that support as we move forward
together. Today though, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
We are asking you to help us in getting the cooperation of Alderman
Schulter. We will continue to make attempts to gain the alderman's support.
We are hoping that your interest in the success of this project will help us
in gaining the critical support of Alderman Schulter.
We understand that this is a long term project. However, certain things have
to happen NOW for the project to be successful.
1.) The land west of Lane Stadium needs to be purchased for future park and
field development.
2.) The stadium needs to have a complete restoration. The additions of
lights, a new football, lacrosse, and soccer surface put in place.
3.) That the funds from the Cubs be subsidized to refurbish the baseball
field.
We look forward to supporting you for many years. We look forward to your
full support and cooperation with this project. We intend to be as loud as
we need to be so that this is a successful project.
Please feel free to contact us for any additional information.
Sincerely,
Executive Committee
Lane Tech's Fields of Dreams Committee
August 9, 2005
The Lane Tech Football Booster Club would like to thank everyone that
attended the fundraiser at Murphy's Bleachers on 2 AUG 05. We were able to
raise over 3,000.00 on that terrific evening. It was great seeing the former
alumni from years past. It is our hope that the Lane Tech Football Booster
Club continues to grow with new memberships and new sponsors. If you're not
a current member or sponsor please join by using our website as we intend to
plan another event in the first week of October.
To update our supporters on the Fields of Dreams Project, we have had 2
meetings with Chicago Board of Education representatives. The
representatives were David Pickens, Shawn Murphy, and Calvin Davis. Mr.
Pickens is the assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, Arne Duncan. Mr.
Murphy is the is the Chief Financial Officer of the Chicago Board of
Education. Mr. Davis is the Head of Sports for the Chicago Public Schools.
At our first meeting the Fields of Dreams Committee proposed a 3 point
project involving the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Park District, and the
Chicago Board of Education. The Chicago Cubs have agreed to renovate the
baseball field to a state of the arts facility. The 2nd part deals with the
Chicago Park District and the City of Chicago joining forces in buying
private land just west of Lane Stadium that is currently owned by a private
entity. The Chicago Park District and the City of Chicago are seeking to
purchase this property not only for Lane Tech but also the local community.
The 3rd part deals with the renovation of Lane Stadium and the installation
of permanent lights, turf, and structural renovations. The Chicago Board of
Education made us promises and agreed to meet exactly two weeks later to
update the Fields of Dreams Committee on their progress.
On 10 AUG 05 the 2nd meeting occurred at which time Mr. Pickens, Mr. Davis,
and Mr. Murphy reported to the committee that the Chicago Public Schools had
no funding for any parts of the proposal. In spite of the sincere efforts of
the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Board of
Education made no efforts or commitments to help Lane Tech and the
surrounding community. However, during the meeting, the Chicago Board of
Education did admit that funding projects for other schools and stadiums
were in progress.
It is apparent to the Fields of Dreams Committee that the Chicago Board of
Education absolutely refuses to provide any funding for our Lane Tech
students and alma mater. Through the Fields of Dreams Committee's research,
it has been learned that no money has been spent on Lane Tech for the past
40 years. Our efforts to this project has the full support of our parents, a
majority of Aldermen, Congressmen, and Illinois State Representatives.
The Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee will meet on Tuesday, 16 AUG 05 to
formulate a plan of action to force the Chicago Board of Education to accept
their responsibilities to fund and improve one of the biggest high school
athletic programs in the state.
We the Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee demand and expect the full
support of the Chicago Board of Education towards this goal. Please feel to
contact Arne Duncan at 773 5531000 with your concerns of making this dream a
reality. The Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee will oppose all efforts of
the Chicago Board of Education in the demolition of Lane Stadium without a
firm commitment to rebuild a stadium at the same location.
The Lane Tech Fields of Dreams Committee will update you as developments
occur. The Chicago Board of Education will soon learn what our statement
"Wherever you go, whatever you do, remember the honor of Lane!"
really means. Thank you for your support,
The Fields of Dreams Committee Members
Updated September 25, 2005
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