(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago environmentalists who fear hundreds of trees will be removed from the South Side are hopeful they’ve achieved a symbolic victory with a ballot referendum.
The referendum, to be floated in June, would be non-binding and asks if the city should allow the chopping down of any more trees.
The tree removal started with the Obama Presidential Center. And now, more tree removal is part of the plan to make way for a golf course in Jackson Park and South Shore. The project is overseen by Tiger Woods’ firm TGR.
“Trees make air. The planet didn’t just come with air. Trees make air. And we’re cutting them down,” says Jeannette Hoyt of Save Jackson Park.
She said while Woods may not be known as an environmentalist, Barack Obama has some credentials in that area.
“President Obama was our climate change president. He was the one who fought for our national parks to be preserved. I’m so saddened that those considerations don’t extend to Chicago,” Hoyt said.
Chicago Park District officials said the golf course project has not been finalized.
The Chicago Park District says the Jackson Park/South Shore plan has not been finalized.
WBBM has asked TGR to comment on environmentalists’ concerns.
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