August 4, 2008
John Therriault, Assistant Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 11-500
Chicago, Illinois 60601
RE: Rule Making R08-009
Dear
Illinois Pollution Control Board:
7-
REC
CLERK'S
EIVED
OFFICE
AUG 0 6 2008
S
TATE OF ILLINOIS
Pollution Control Board
25 East Washingto
Suite 1670
Chicago, IL 60602
312.431.9406 p
312.427.6251 f
www.nei: hbor-space.org
My name is Ben Helphand, I am the Executive Director of NeighborSpace, Chicago's land trust
for community managed open space. In the interest of restoring the shoreline ecosystem for
future generations and to protect the health of community members who steward restoration
projects along the Chicago and Lower Des Plaines Rivers, 'I would like to express our support for
the strong water quality standards proposed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
(IEPA) for the Chicago Area Waterways System (CAWS) and Lower Des Plaines River (LDPR).
NeighborSpace is dedicated to preserving community established and managed gardens, small
neighborhood parks, and scenic river ways for recreation, gardening, education and enjoyment.
Since 1998, NeighborSpace has leased a mile long stretch of land along the eastern edge of the
north branch of the Chicago River between Montrose and Berteau Avenues on behalf of the
community. This stretch of land has been restored by the Riverside Neighbors, the community
stewards,,as a natural river edge. This group has established walking trails along the river edge
and has restored the riverside with native flora and fauna. It is used intensively for recreation,
peaceful enjoyment, bird watching, access to the Chicago River, and by the Waters Elementary
School for their outdoor education and water quality program. The stewards note that since their
restoration work began thousands of people have been able to use the paths and river access and
many have been moved to join as stewards and advocates for healthy river ecology.
"For so many people in the neighborhood
the river is an anomaly M a big city. It's
a magic place. For them, they find quiet,
solitude, beauty, and hope of a more
wholesome life in a big city. They are
hoping for the day that they can dip their
feet in and splash instead of worrying
about the dangers of current use
Pete Leki,
NeighborSpace Garden Leader
NeighborSpace is a nonprofit "urban land trust" dedicated to preserving community gardens
in Chicago
as locally
managed
assets available for all to eniov.
Submitted by: /1
Bin I
elphand
Executive Director
NeighborSpace
25 E. Washington, Suite1670
Chicago, IL 60602
Community managed open spaces provide a unique social and environmental connection for
communities and provide an opportunity to safely enjoy the natural environment within Chicago.
With a healthier river system we hope we will be able to expand community interaction with our
rivers and river edges. NeighborSpace firmly supports the IEPA rulemaking water quality
standards because the health of our water system, river edge habitats, and tie communities who
enjoy them are crucial to our work.