NEIGHBORHOOD protection report

Transcription

1 NEIGHBORHOOD

2 Dear Neighbors: Thank you for your support of the Chicago Cubs in Each year, we are proud to share with the community our efforts aimed at protecting and enhancing the quality of life for Lakeview residents, while ensuring the fan and visitor experience at Wrigley Field is the best in baseball. We kept this commitment in Through our annual investment of more than $750,000, we reduced traffic congestion in the area, proactively communicated to residents about events and activities in the neighborhood and helped keep our community clean and safe. Our notable achievements in 2012 are highlighted below: More than 40,000 fans took the free shuttle bus to Wrigley Field from the remote parking lot at DeVry University, helping alleviate traffic in the neighborhood. More than 5,000 bicyclists took advantage of the free valet service during the season, further reducing traffic and air pollution in the area. Our neighborhood newsletter reached more than 8,000 subscribers with regular updates about events inside and outside the ballpark, including impacts to parking and traffic in the area. We continued our support of CubFund, a $1 million, 12-year commitment to fund unanticipated neighborhood protection and improvements for matters related to Cubs baseball games and other events at Wrigley Field. We are also proud of our investments in the community. In 2012, the Chicago Cubs provided charitable grants of more than $2.3 million to deserving area non-profit organizations. The team also donated complimentary tickets to more than 500 community and social service organizations throughout the year. We continue to actively participate in the community, working hard to improve the quality of life in our neighborhood. Thank you for your help along the way. We look forward to working together again in Chicago Cubs Community Affairs

3 Remote Parking Operation In the nine years since the Cubs assumed operation of the remote parking lot at DeVry University at the request of the City of Chicago, the parking lot has continually experienced success. During the 2012 season, which included 53 night and weekend games and four concert dates, more than 15,000 cars parked at DeVry University and more than 40,000 fans rode the free shuttle bus to Wrigley Field. Every car using the remote parking facility helps reduce traffic congestion around Wrigley Field. This season, the remote parking lot was operational for 53 dates, including every Cubs night and weekend game during the season and four musical performances. Highlights of the year include: Total cars parked: 15,000+. Total fans using the lot: 40,000+. Average number of cars per event for all games (regular season): 293 Largest single game usage: 480 cars. The Cubs created television and radio advertising for the remote parking facility to help encourage its use. The advertising highlighted its convenient location and affordability. Cubs season ticket holders and online purchasers were sent information with their ticket orders before the 2012 season began. Fans could also download information about the remote facility from the Cubs website, Brochures explaining the shuttle bus and other transportation options were distributed by hotels in and around the Chicago area. Transportation alternatives were also suggested on the back of season parking and daily sale coupons for all Cubs parking lots. The team and the City worked together to continue use of the electronic message boards on Western Avenue, Irving Park Road and Addison Street, near Rockwell Street to promote the remote parking facility. These signs were in place for all night and weekend games at locations adjacent to City streets. Static signage on many streets in the area, as well as on the Edens and Kennedy expressways, further helped direct cars to the lot. Bike Check Service In 2012, the Chicago Cubs once again offered a popular free bicycle check service from a valet location on Waveland Avenue near Gate K. The bike check operated throughout the regular season and continued for all event dates at Wrigley Field, including musical performances. Bike service began three hours before the scheduled event time and ended one hour after the conclusion of the event. More than 5,000 bikes used the free service during the regular baseball season. This free bike check service continues to host a regular clientele of riders and continues to be a major contributor to reductions in vehicular traffic in the community. In addition to the Cubs official bicycle check service area, hundreds of fans locked their bikes to one of the many bicycle racks around the park. Many Cubs employees and vendors serving the ballpark also used the bike valet service. 3

4 Traffic Management Authority The Office of Emergency Management and Communication s Traffic Management Authority was again instrumental in working with the Cubs and the community to reduce traffic congestion and coordinate traffic flow during events. The flexibility of TMA personnel is key to addressing shifting traffic needs. The number of TMA personnel increased or decreased as attendance varied and traffic patterns changed. Typically traffic aides are posted in the streets around Wrigley Field to control vehicular traffic for event dates. The Cubs reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of TMA traffic aides. In 2012, the total payment through June was $261,000 with a projected yearly total of $560,000. The following traffic pattern ideas have been offered by neighbors and businesses during the course of the season. Each should be evaluated as a way to determine best practices to address Cubs-related traffic around Wrigley Field: Stop traffic on Sheffield Avenue for all games beginning when ballpark gates open two hours prior to game time. Stop northbound traffic on Racine Avenue (from Addison Street to Grace Street) for 30 minutes after each game. Objective: Help keep northbound Clark Street clear for bus traffic. Night games Coordinate traffic signals on Irving Park Road westbound to Western Avenue after games. Objective: Keep westbound Irving Park Road available for cars headed to the expressway. Night games and weekend games Facilitate a bus lane on northbound Clark Street from Waveland Avenue to Irving Park Road. Objective: Smooth post-game traffic flow. Stoplights at the intersection of Clark Street with both School and Roscoe Streets to replace the stop signs. The City of Chicago implemented an offset centerline on westbound Irving Park Road between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue. The new striping allows two lanes of westbound traffic at all times and should help facilitate traffic exiting the area after ballpark events. The Cubs supported this effort. The two westbound lanes are an asset to traffic operations. Promotion of Alternate Transportation The Chicago Cubs continue to use valuable television and radio broadcast time and print advertising to promote public transportation and alternate means of getting to the ballpark, including CTA, Pace, the remote parking lot at DeVry University and the bike valet operation. Brochures mentioning these services have been printed and distributed for the past eight years. The following assisted with traffic issues in 2012, promoting alternate means of transportation and other ways to reach the Friendly Confines: In-game announcements during Cubs television and radio broadcasts. Promotion of CTA service on Wrigley Field scoreboard. In-park announcements during games. Detailed information available at all times on 4

5 Permits Printing costs for the Neighborhood Night Game Parking Permit stickers, guest vehicle placards (Single Game and All Game Placards) and Access Passes in LV-2 zones are the responsibility of the Chicago Cubs. Chicago Transit Authority Fan surveys during the 2012 season found significant numbers of Cubs fans took CTA and other forms of public transportation. Additional rail service was provided for weeknight Cubs games via Purple Line Express trains, which stop at Sheridan located one block north of Wrigley Field; and Yellow Line trains, which operate two hours later than the regular schedule from Howard. Cubs fans can also access detailed information published in the Cubs monthly magazine, Vine Line and the Cubs Yearbook. Information was also provided to season ticket holders and other ticket purchasers. Fans can also access Wrigley Field from several CTA bus routes, including #8 Halsted, #22 Clark and #152 Addison. Season ticket holders, as well as online purchasers, were sent information about public transportation with their ticket orders before the 2012 season began. Transportation alternatives were suggested on the back of daily parking coupons for all Cubs parking lots. Information on public transportation and remote parking at DeVry was also placed in all Cubs game-day programs. PACE Use of the Pace bus program was very strong during the 2012 season. In part, this was due to the promotion on radio broadcasts and within Wrigley Field. Pace operated its Schaumburg shuttle from the Northwest Transportation Center and a non-stop shuttle service from the Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard, Illinois. Up to six buses are staged on Clark Street and ready for the return trip one half hour after the last out of the game. The service is well-received by Pace users and offers a convenient way to get to Wrigley Field from the western suburbs on most game days, and all night and weekend games. In 2012, the ridership on the Wrigley Field Express from Schaumburg was 22,711, and ridership from Lombard was 11,491 for a combined total of 34,202 Pace riders. 5

6 Litter, Trash Removal Among the efforts undertaken by the Cubs in 2012: Picked up trash after games and the following mornings. Emptied trash bins around the park during games. Power-washed sidewalks immediately adjacent to Wrigley Field (north side of Addison Street, west side of Sheffield Avenue, south side of Waveland Avenue, east side of Clark Street) at least once per homestand. Made in-park announcements during each game (e.g., throw away trash in bins before leaving the park and throw trash only in bins outside of the park). Stationed trash bins and personnel at exits to ask people to deposit trash, non-souvenir cups, wrappers, etc. in bins before exiting the park. Posted signs to remind fans to throw away trash in bins before exiting the park and throw away trash in bins outside the park. Cleaned area bounded by Clark Street, Sheffield Avenue and Waveland Avenue. This included emptying garbage bins on opposite sides of the street. Emptied public trash bins every Saturday, after each event and on holiday weekends and designated holidays when City service was lessened and garbage increased, even when unrelated to Cubs games. Emptied public and Cubs-owned or -placed trash bins at corners or locations in the area bounded by Halsted Street, Montrose Avenue, Damen Avenue and Belmont Avenue, and in the area bounded by Kenmore Avenue adjacent to Challenger Park and Kelly Park and Seminary Avenue adjacent to Kelly Park after night games, and in all Cubs (or affiliate) owned-or-operated Wrigley Field parking lots on all game days (typically three hours after a game). Cleaned and swept streets near the park, including Sheffield, Wilton, Fremont, Grace, Waveland, Racine, Seminary, Kenmore, Clifton, Alta Vista, Byron, Patterson, Eddy and Cornelia. Hand-cleaned neighborhood on Saturdays when the team was away. Offered a recycling program around the exterior of the ballpark. Neighborhood clean-up and trash removal was performed after each game or event by the Cubs. Game times After each game, Cubs operations crews began their work approximately three to four hours after the game ended. The crews worked three zones dressed in bright shirts identifying them as Cubs Night Crew. Each group had a blue dumpster with Cubs logo to help further identify them. The Cubs hired Allied Waste, Inc., to empty public trash bins and additional cans in an area of approximately a two square mile boundary. Halsted, Belmont, Ashland and Montrose are the boundary area. This area contained approximately 215 trash containers; all were emptied after each game as well as selected non-game days, including Saturdays in April through October. Cleaning also took place after all special events. 6

7 The Cubs played 30 regular season night games in 2012 including two on Saturday and one on Sunday. The 2013 Cubs schedule is available at and was made available as a pocket schedule to fans and residents in September. Early notification of the schedule helped facilitate neighborhood and community event planning. Communications Among the efforts undertaken by the Cubs in 2012: Sent monthly newsletter and alerts to municipal entities and neighborhood leaders during the course of the season. Communicated with neighbors via through Cubs Community Connection. Reached more than 8,000 people who have signed up for regular updates. In 2012, 717 new subscribers registered for the newsletter. Approximately one per month was sent to provide news and timely information about activities at Wrigley Field, schedule changes, etc. Promoted notice of game time changes. Continued participation in community meetings and neighborhood association meetings to keep in touch with the community, stay informed and share information. The team attended more than 75 meetings in Worked with members of the Wrigley Field Traffic Operations Committee before and during the season to review performance and share notes and ideas. Continued neighborhood watch by Cubs crowd management personnel to observe fans postgame and deter inappropriate behavior. Following the music performances this summer, additional private security teams of off-duty police officers were placed at key intersections until the early morning hours to further this effort. To sign up for neighborhood alerts, visit Additional Game Day Protections The Cubs provided and funded the following in 2012: Portable restrooms placed in each Cubs-owned or affiliated parking lot. Bleacher restrooms available for one hour after games. Hotline and Command Center At the request of our neighbors, the Cubs funded a command center and hotline operated by the Chicago Police Department to address calls from neighborhood residents during Cubs home games. This command center is staffed by Chicago Police and used for roll call for both the CPD detail and the TMA units. The hotline is operated by Chicago Police Department personnel. Game day hotline: CPD-TOW on game days before, during and after the game. To contact the Cubs about community concerns at other times: For emergencies: Always dial

8 MUSIC Roger Waters, Brad Paisley and Bruce Springsteen Musical Performances On June 8 and 9, Roger Waters and Brad Paisley delivered two exciting nights of music and entertainment in Lakeview. In September, Wrigley Field welcomed Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band for two sold out performances. As a special offer to Lakeview residents, the Cubs offered an advance online pre-sale opportunity through the Cubs Community Connection Newsletter. Thousands took advantage of the pre-sale opportunity, while several hundred people opted to enjoy the sounds from Waveland and Sheffield Avenues outside the ballpark. The four successful performances generated $24 million in economic impact and $2.5 million in estimated tax revenues to the City, County and State, including $1.6 million in taxes for the City of Chicago alone. The enormous economic impact also helped neighborhood bars and restaurants, Chicago-area hotels, rooftop businesses, neighborhood parking lots and residential garages. The Cubs stepped up their neighborhood protections in the community during the shows. The Cubs neighborhood hospitality team remained on the streets around the park to provide a visible deterrent to loud noise and disruptive behavior following each show. The Cubs also provided additional portable toilets in alleys for exiting concert-goers. The team s collaboration with the Chicago Police Department, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications and the Traffic Management Authority to alert residents and concert-goers on traffic advisories and parking restrictions all helped ensure a well-managed crowd and event. The Cubs Hotline remained open and active before and after the performances to address calls from neighborhood residents. As a result, there were few complaints, mostly related to the need for towing of illegally parked cars. Wrigley Field has hosted 15 successful concerts since Each concert has been a great experience for music lovers, Lakeview residents, Chicago and the local economy. We are encouraged by the favorable responses we received in 2012 and hope to continue the tradition of attracting great events to keep Wrigley Field a thriving contributor to the excitement and quality of the Lakeview community and the City of Chicago. Block Parties Between June and August, the Chicago Cubs held block parties during games against the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals, in an effort to improve the gameday fan experience and offer another exciting activity for the Lakeview neighborhood. The block parties were free and open to the public. The events included food, drinks, family-friendly games and live music before and after Cubs games. 8

9 Community Affairs In 2012, the Cubs Community Affairs team participated in more than 75 meetings of community organizations and served on the boards of directors of neighborhood associations, chambers of commerce and non-profit groups. Chicago Cubs Charities and the McCormick Foundation, through its fund Cubs Care, together granted a combined $2.3 million to Chicago and other nonprofit organizations in Chicago Cubs Charities fundraising events and donations raised a net $2.3 million in Following are some of the highlights of our charitable donations: The sixth annual Race to Wrigley 5K hosted more than 7,000 runners and raised more than $200,000 for Chicago Cubs Charities and Lurie Children s Hospital. Last January, the Cubs Caravan made its annual trek with Chicago Cubs players, coaches and front office personnel visiting seven schools, two hospitals, a police station, a library, the USO of Illinois at the Great Lakes Naval Academy and a luncheon benefiting Chicago Cubs Charities. The annual Cubs Bricks and Ivy Ball, which brings together Cubs owners, players, coaches, wives and front office executives and staff for an impressive show of organizational support benefiting Chicago Cubs Charities, raised more than $1 million. In May 2012, the Cubs were the presenting sponsor of HUG Chicago, a volunteer beautification program created by Choose Chicago and Chicago s hospitality and civic organizations. The program was developed to beautify and protect Chicago s structural assets visible and accessed by tourists. As part of the program, nearly 50 members of the Cubs front office cleaned and painted a pedestrian underpass in Lakeview. In August, nearly 400 bicycle enthusiasts participated in the Wrigley Field Road Tour benefitting Chicago Cubs Charities and World Bicycle Relief. The annual 100-mile trek, which begins and ends at Wrigley Field, raised nearly a half million dollars while helping boost awareness for health and fitness, a core mission of Chicago Cubs Charities. The Cubs wives 10th annual Food Drive to benefit the Lakeview Pantry brought in 15,000 pounds of food. The food drive helps the Lakeview Pantry supply food to those in need and is the Pantry s largest food drive each year. In support of education, the Cubs were the presenting sponsor of the 15th Annual Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field in September. The annual gridiron game, which features two Historically Black Colleges and Universities, raises money for college scholarships. At the conclusion of the season, the Cubs 12th Annual Wrigleyville Neighbors Day welcomed more than 1,600 residents to the Friendly Confines for free food and refreshments and a chance to play catch on the field. The team also hosted the families of the 19th Police District and firefighters from Engine Co. 78. The Cubs participated in the 2012 Pride Parade and appeared at Chicago s Bud Billiken Parade and several Lakeview neighborhood festivals and events. Throughout the year, Chicago Cubs players and coaches were active in the community, visiting hospitals, schools and taking part in on-field clinics for charitable organizations. The Cubs charitable efforts also extended to inner-city youth with a generous contribution to a new ball field in Harrison Park located in the Pilsen community; to seniors and homeless youth by providing meals during the holidays; and to support player charities, including the Dempster Family Foundation, Wood Family Foundation, Rizzo Family Foundation and Theo Epstein s Foundation to be Named Later. 9

10 CubFund Recommendations CubFund is a $1 million commitment made by the Cubs to fund unanticipated needs in the community over a ten-year period. The Cubs contributed more than $143,000 to CubFund for 2012 and the fund maintains an available, unspent balance in excess of $1.1 million. CubFund is available to be used in furtherance of neighborhood protection and improvement for matters related to Cubs baseball games and other events at Wrigley Field. It is intended to fund unanticipated expenses related to the impact of Cubs baseball games on the area surrounding Wrigley Field. CubFund may be used within the area bounded by the North Branch of the Chicago River, Diversey Parkway, Lake Michigan, Buena Avenue, Clark Street from Buena Avenue to Montrose Avenue and adjacent blocks, and at or around any remote parking lots. Uses are determined by the aldermen of wards neighboring Wrigley Field after input from the Cubs, the City of Chicago and the community. We hope you enjoyed reading about the Cubs Neighborhood Protection and Improvement program and its role in being a good neighbor and steward in the community. These efforts remain an important part of the ongoing partnership between the Cubs and our neighbors and will continue into Thank you for your help making these efforts possible. We look forward to seeing you in and around the community in the year ahead. 10