Friends Of The Parks Group Withholding Opinion On McCormick Place Site For Lucas Museum
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The "Friends of the Parks" seem to be holding off on any public opinion about Mayor Rahm Emanuel's latest proposal for a George Lucas Museum, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
The Friends of the Parks group already has a lawsuit blocking the city from going ahead with building the Lucas Museum on the site of a Soldier Field parking lot but the organization hasn't said whether it will oppose a plan for another lakefront site where McCormick Place East now exists.
Juanita Irizarry, executive director of Friends of the Parks, said in a statement, "We are pleased that the mayor and the City recently opened the door to Friends of the Parks for more direct conversation about the Lucas Museum. Our intent, as it always has been, is to protect, preserve and promote parks and to ensure that everyone has the best possible access to lakefront land, while encouraging the City to find the right spot for the Lucas Museum. We continue to seek more information and clarification as we engage in discussions with the City."
Mayor Emanuel points out the new site would yield 12 acres of new park land.
"I would say the right thing to do is invest in the future," he said.
So far, Friends of the Parks hasn't publicly said no.