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Message to State Reps (optional)

Dear State Representatives,  I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent actions taken by the Wilmette Park District that have significantly encumbered public access to Gillson Beach by the surrounding Chicago-area communities. As a constituent, I urge you to intervene and protect our rights to this state-owned property.  As you likely know, the Wilmette Park District erected a fence along approximately one-third mile of previously free, open, and clear state beach at Gillson Park. This move has restricted public access and imposed fees without appropriate public notice or input.  In 1911, Illinois Senate Bill 223 granted the land at what is now known as Gillson Park to the Wilmette Park District, explicitly stating that any land formed or made through natural or human intervention shall be owned by the State of Illinois, not the Wilmette Park District.  The Park District is well aware of these legal boundaries. Former board president James Brault highlighted in a 2012 Tribune article that the beach adjoining the Baha’i lakefront property belongs to the State due to specific property deed conditions.  Significant new beach property has been formed since the 1911 grant through natural sand accretion and “made land” along Lake Michigan.  Furthermore, it appears that the Wilmette Park District may be unlawfully preventing the public from accessing the water. According to (70 ILCS 1205/11-4), the State grants park districts jurisdiction over navigable waters only if they own adjacent property. In this case, the property along the water seems to belong to the State, not the Wilmette Park District.  On behalf of your constituents, I urge you to stand up for the public’s rights to free and unencumbered access to state beach property and public waters. Please inform the Wilmette Park District board and staff that you are committed to protecting these rights, ensuring that public access is not restricted or impaired by fences or fees.  Thank you for your attention to this matter of deep importance to me and others in the community. I look forward to hearing from you soon about how you plan to address these concerns. Please feel free to reach out to me directly to discuss further or if you need my address to verify if I am within your district. Your prompt response and assistance are greatly appreciated.

Message to Park Board (optional)

Dear Members of the Wilmette Park Board, I am writing as a concerned resident to urge you to make a public commitment to never reintroduce the fence and fees at Gillson's South Beach. While the seasonal fence has been removed, there has been no statement from the board regarding its potential return in future seasons. This lack of clarity is concerning to many residents who believe that our community spaces should remain open and accessible to all.  The decision to erect the fence and impose fees earlier this year was made without adequate public notice or input and against the overwhelming opposition again voiced by the community as it was over a decade ago. As elected officials, your voters entrusted you with the responsibility to act in accordance with the wishes of the people you represent. I am disheartened by your ongoing failure to address our concerns and your continued silence on this issue.  I have also noted a troubling pattern of non-responsiveness from the board. Past correspondence has frequently been answered with boilerplate language from embattled Executive Director Steve Wilson, rather than direct, thoughtful responses from each of our elected officials. As representatives of the people, I expect each of you to respond individually to the residents you serve. The lack of transparency, open dialogue, and public debate at board meetings only adds to the growing frustration among constituents.  Your refusal to address the public’s concerns and your lack of accountability are deeply disappointing. It is vital that this board demonstrate a commitment to transparency, community engagement, and responsiveness. I insist that you publicly commit to keeping Gillson's South Beach free of any future fencing and fees. The people of Wilmette are watching closely, and we plan to hold you accountable for your decisions.  I expect a timely and substantive response from each board member and hope to see you take meaningful steps toward a more open, transparent, and inclusive approach in managing our community resources.