Ban Large Concerts from Montrose

Target:

Chicago Park District

Signatures:

6,710

7,500

We've got 6,710 signatures, help us get to 7,500

Petition

Montrose Beach Dunes and Montrose Point are the highest quality parcels in the Chicago Park District. This 40-acre greenspace offers a refuge from the pressures of urban life, habitat for nesting and migratory birds, and a “living classroom” for students, photographers, and nature lovers. The Dunes contain many state-listed plant and bird species and a globally imperiled wetland type.

These beautiful natural areas peacefully coexist with a large public beach, a popular dog beach, vol...

These beautiful natural areas peacefully coexist with a large public beach, a popular dog beach, volleyball, soccer, fishing, concessions, and seasonal special events. Concerts have occurred there, but they were of a size and duration that never interfered with public use or the natural areas and their inhabitants. MAMBY ON THE BEACH IS DIFFERENT. The mega concert will add 50,000 users over a 2-day period and would tip the balance for both wildlife, including the endangered piping plovers now attempting to nest, and for people who will be denied access to the public beach and nearby roads. The continuous loud noise, trampling, habitat damage, and litter produced by such a massive event directly threatens the endangered Piping Plovers and fragile dune ecosystems.

Chicago Ornithological Society and Chicago Audubon Society request that CPD find another location for the Mamby concert and convene a group of stakeholders to develop a policy about appropriate uses for Montrose Beach, natural areas, and the nearby recreational area.

Petition background

Thanks to the efforts of stewards, volunteers, and the local bird conservation community, Montrose has developed into a nationally-known showplace for urban bird conservation. Landbirds, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl all use its habitats: 340 species have been recorded there, the largest species list of any site in Illinois, and it is an Important Bird Area.

In June of 2019, a pair of federally-endangered Piping Plovers made several nests and laid eggs on the beach. These birds recognize what we ask the park district to recognize as well: that the primary importance of the site is as a beach habitat, home to rare and endangered plants and animals and a refuge from city life.

Monty and Rose, Chicago’s very own pair of Piping Plovers, have taken up residence on Montrose Beach. There are only about 70 pairs remaining in the Great Lakes population. The pair have established a nest which volunteers are guarding in shifts during daylight. The first set of eggs was removed for off- site incubation due to imminent flooding. As of this writing, they are attempting to renest on higher ground. UPDATE: they are incubating 4 eggs.

The music festival, Mamby on the Beach, has applied for a permit to bring tens of thousands of people to the beach or adjacent park in late August. CAS, COS and Illinois Ornithological Society request that it be moved.

More info here: https://news.wttw.com/2019/06/14/mamby-music-festival-chicago-prompts-pushback-over-endangered-birds

We signed: Ban Large Concerts from Montrose

James

WAKARUSA, IN

Fri, 2019-08-16 21:40

#6710

Daniel

Chicago, IL

Fri, 2019-08-16 10:22

#6709

Emily

Oak Park, IL

Thu, 2019-08-15 16:10

#6708

Cindy Lou

Chicago, IL

Wed, 2019-08-14 12:04

#6707

Debra

Chicago, IL

Wed, 2019-08-14 00:46

#6706

Karen

North Barrington, IL

Sun, 2019-08-11 16:34

#6705

Rebekah

Indianapolis, IN

Fri, 2019-08-09 18:14

#6704

Bruce

Chicago, IL

Fri, 2019-08-09 11:00

#6703

Dianne

Wheeling, IL

Thu, 2019-08-08 21:29

#6702

Paul

Chicago, IL

Thu, 2019-08-08 18:29

#6701

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