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Volunteers, Sierra Club and staff plan shoreline and boardwalk fixes at Prospect Heights parks
Summary
Commissioners reported volunteer turnout of 20–30 for regular workdays and over 80 participants at a Sierra Club Earth Day event; the commission is planning shoreline restoration at Hillcrest Lake and Heron Pond, and debated boardwalk stabilization methods and ComEd prairie maintenance options.
Commissioners reported strong volunteer engagement at recent work days and described a mix of partner and city projects that will require coordinated effort this summer.
An NRC presenter said that regular Sunday work days frequently attract more than 20 volunteers and occasionally 30. The commission noted one Sierra Club–organized Earth Day work day at River Trails drew "over 80 people," cleared three burn piles and substantially advanced the site work. East Leyden High School was scheduled to assist with a May 24 shoreline restoration workday, though attendance from the school was lower than expected (about 25 students rather than the 40–60 originally anticipated) because of earlier heavy rains.
Commissioners reviewed technical approaches for a soggy boardwalk stabilization project. One proposal — cutting 16-inch 'scabs' from spare treads and screwing long sections together so the boardwalk would act as a single unit — was criticized as likely to fail under flood movement; other commissioners favored first putting in bolts and leveling sections as a lower-risk solution. The meeting record captures the practical trade-offs: longer, continuous spans may stay level longer but could "pull apart" or create stress points during seasonal flooding, while bolting and sectional fixes allow movement with less structural risk.
The commission also discussed three sites that fall under ComEd management (a remnant prairie, a sedge meadow and a ComEd prairie). Commissioners said ComEd has not provided resources for maintenance and that options include applying for a Green Regions grant to hire Stantec for a controlled burn or returning the remnant prairie to a twice-yearly mowing regimen under ComEd’s vegetative-management schedule until the commission can marshal more volunteer capacity.
Why it matters: The projects affect public access to natural areas and require coordination with school groups, volunteer teams and utilities. Commissioners emphasized scheduling trade-offs (including shifting a Fathers Day workday) and the need to notify volunteers early when dates change.
Next steps: Staff will circulate the Hey and Associates study for Kiwanis Park, notify volunteers about schedule changes, order materials for the boardwalk work and pursue conversations with ComEd about vegetation management; no formal motions were recorded beyond routine approvals.
