Masters champ Tiger Woods on Wednesday beat the drum for his stalled plan to merge the Jackson Park and South Shore golf programs into one championship-caliber course, calling it “something that we need to make happen.”
After competing at a pro-am event that’s a prelude to the BMW Championships at Medinah Country Club, Woods tried to pump new life into the stalled undertaking.
“We’re excited about it. The project still continues. It’s still going forward. It’s exciting to bring something for the public right there in President Obama’s front yard, back yard. I don’t know how you want to look at it,” Woods informed reporters.
“It’s an incredible piece of property. We’re trying to do something that’s unique and different and exciting for all the kids there that play. One of the things that we’ve talked about is that all kids will play for free. So, that’s something that we need to make happen.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has mentioned she is “not wild about” the merger, citing “red flags” and “environmental issues.”
She has argued that the merger, which gained momentum when former President Barack Obama selected Jackson Park for his presidential heart is “not a well-thought out plan,” nor has it been “respectful of the community.”
The merger has stirred controversy as a result of the design by Woods’ agency would require closing Marquette Drive, constructing a pair of recent underpasses, displacing tennis courts and relocating the South Shore Nature Sanctuary to make method for a brand new 12th gap.
Theunderpasses alone — at 67th Street and South Shore Drive and at Jeffery Boulevard and 66th Street — value $30 million — as a lot as the value tag for simply the brand new course.
Brian Hogan and Mike Ruemmler are co-founding administrators of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance.
Ruemmler couldn’t be reached for remark.
Hogan responded to a textual content message concerning the standing of personal fundraising for the undertaking by saying, “Momentum progressing. Approaching $10 million [in] pledges. Confident in [meeting] $30M goal.”
Pressed on the up to date value of merging the 2 golf programs, Hogan mentioned, “Cost estimates pending further design development and review.”
Two years in the past, the Chicago Park District signed a 10-year settlement with a non-profit co-founded by Ruemmler, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s former marketing campaign supervisor, to spearhead what was then a $30 million plan to merge the Jackson Park and South Shore golf programs right into a single, championship-caliber course.
The settlement, signed Dec. 15, 2016, requires the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance to be the “sole fundraising entity” for the undertaking and “work in partnership with the Park District for the fundraising, implementation and construction of agreed upon master plans.”
The contract, obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times underneath a Freedom of Information request, set timelines and fundraising objectives — practically all of which haven’t been met.
For restoring the South Shore golf course, the timeline was May by way of September 2018. The fundraising purpose to be met by the non-profit alliance was $10 million.
For the Jackson Park course, the timeline was March 2018 by way of September 2020. The non-profit’s fundraising purpose was $15 million.
At the time, Hogan expressed confidence that the fundraising objectives outlined within the contract can be reached in time to finish building in 2020.
Ruemmler managed Emanuel’s 2011 and 2015 mayoral campaigns.
At the time, his involvement fueled hypothesis that the undertaking, on the drafting board since 2000, was a achieved deal.
That principle was additional fueled by Emanuel’s personal emails. They confirmed City Hall had been laying the groundwork for the undertaking since early August 2016 — practically 5 months earlier than the alliance was shaped and Emanuel and the Park District went public concerning the undertaking.
Earlier this week, Lightfoot was requested whether or not she deliberate to satisfy with Woods to debate the golf course merger whereas he’s on the town for the BMW…