The Journal Star has an editorial in today’s print edition (I haven’t been able to find it online to link to it), headlined “Historic or not, parks are province of Park Board,” that criticizes citizens’ attempts to declare Glen Oak Park an historic site, thus making it subject to oversight by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. They state:

Any move by Peoria’s Historic Preservation Commission to landmark Glen Oak Park as a historic site worthy of city-enforced restrictions on its use should be considered as an assault on the sovereignty of the Peoria Park District.

This may surprise (and dismay) some readers, but I actually agree with them on that. It would set a dangerous precedent if one municipal body (the city) — whether through elected (council) or unelected (commission) representatives — tried to exert authority over another municipal body.

If the city agreed to make Glen Oak Park an historic site, that means that any and all changes to the park would have to be approved by a city commission. That would make the city the de facto governing body over Glen Oak Park. I think that would be a huge overstepping of bounds.

I have to admit that I have somewhat reluctantly come to that conclusion, because I agree with the sentiment behind the effort, which is to preserve the remaining historic structures in Glen Oak Park (e.g., the parapet) and to keep the park land itself from being reduced by encroachments by the zoo and currently-defunct school siting projects. But the proper place for redress of those grievances is the Park Board, not a city commission. If the Park Board is unresponsive, then those trustees should be replaced at the earliest opportunity.

After all, what if the tables were turned? Should the Park Board be allowed to exert its control unilaterally over all greenspace in the city, not just park land it owns? Should they claim to have jurisdiction over what you plant in your backyard or whether you cover part of your backyard to put in a deck? Sounds silly, doesn’t it?

However, I disagree with the editorial writers when they say this:

The petition has everything to do with District 150’s attempt to partner with the Park District in building a new school on a corner of upper Glen Oak Park.

I think that’s an oversimplification at best. Certainly the school siting attempt lit the fire, but I don’t believe the historic designation attempt is based solely on trying to stop the school. Rather, as a result of the spotlight placed on Glen Oak Park because of the school issue, many people are gaining a new appreciation for the value of the park and realizing the extent of its poor repair. That the parapet and foot bridge have been allowed to deteriorate so badly through neglect is reprehensible. But again, these are things for which the Park Board and its staff — specifically Bonnie Noble — should be held accountable, not usurped by the City.

We need to preserve Glen Oak Park, but we also need to preserve the separation of powers between the City and Park District.