Duetch, McGuane Park Advisory Council empower community
By April Galarza
Patrons of McGuane Park may have noticed the new track lighting along the sidewalk on Halsted Street that leads all the way to the field house or that the old shuffle board courts have been phased out and replaced with modern volleyball courts, but they may not realize that because of the McGuane Park Advisory Council, they have an opportunity to participate in decisions that affect the park and its services.
Although two years ago this important park advisory group was all but dead, Kal Moy, McGuane Park supervisor, realized the need for a community forum and thought it would be best served in the form of a reinvigorated advisory council. He envisioned a partnership between the patrons of the park and park leaders, so he and Robert Steel, a coordinator of the advisory council, reactivated the defunct group and empowered it to make changes.
After 14 years as the head of the McGuane Park Baseball League, John Deutch seemed the natural pick for the head of the advisory council. Deutch was elected last year and since then, McGuane Park has seen many improvements.
Deutch's qualifications include his long-term devotion to the park and its activities, his participation in park events, and his family’s own patronage of the park. Even before his son was old enough to play baseball, Deutch was a regular park enthusiast. He long has frequented the park for long relaxing walks and takes great pleasure watching the ball players. Deutch is a retired banker and believes that his sense as a businessman was just what the park needed to manage its financial resources for the greater good.
The main responsibility of the advisory council is to maintain park functions and activities and, when possible, find and facilitate ways to improve them. The head of the advisory council chairs the monthly meeting, which is a community forum. Neighbors can meet with Moy, Deutch, Steel and others on the park staff to discuss park issues.
These meetings have proven to be most productive. It was discovered, for instance, that volleyball is much more popular than shuffle board. Consequently, new volleyball nets were ordered, instead of shuffleboard equipment. Deutch says his main job is to discover what patrons want, and try to find a way to make it happen.
“My role is to actively share with the community to improve the quality of the park and its programs," Deutch said. "I’m there to be an aid to the park district—improving the park the best I can”
Under the care of the advisory council, the play lot has been upgraded to include new cinderblock foundations for the play equipment. The concrete pedestals holding up the baseball bleachers have been replaced so they will be more stable. Last spring, using a grant given to them by Friends of the Parks, the council was able to install new floral boxes in front and on the sides of the main park building.
In addition to the neighborhood forums, Deutch also attends the yearly capital budget meetings. Due to his participation in this process, funding for new lockers in both the ladies’ and mens’ locker rooms was obtained and the aforementioned track lighting has been installed. Educational programs also have been initiated thanks to the actions of the advisory council. Last year, for instance, a ham radio club hosted an event at McGuane to introduce patrons to ham radio and demonstrate how it is used. Deutch recalls the event as being fun and informational.
The advisory council also is eagerly awaiting the response of a grant application it submitted in order to fund the hosting of “Movies in the Park” this summer.
Although Deutch’s term ends in August, he is proud to have had a chance to give back to the community and thinks that the advisory council, no matter who’s leading it, is an excellent asset for the park and it’s patrons. According to Deutch, so long as there is communication between the neighbors and the advisory council, the community can look forward to many future improvements.
