I read with dismay the article about Sunday Parkways [“Where Would Jesus Park?”by Tasneem Paghdiwala, June 22]. The tone of the article and the headline of the article leave the impression that the campaign is in conflict with local community churches. This is simply not true.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Healthy Streets Campaign has been working with local churches since the beginning of our local organizing efforts. The partnership that we have begun with these churches has been fruitful and will build a stronger Sunday Parkways that works for the entire community.
The involvement of churches in the planning and design of the program is essential for its success and we have always welcomed their suggestions and have worked to address the concerns brought to our attention by the congregations. We are developing traffic management and parking plans with the churches and other businesses to ensure that there is a minimum impact on the ability of parishion-ers and customers to travel to and from their destinations.
We are grateful for the effort and involvement of churches such as Armitage Baptist Church and New Life Covenant Church to open their arms and embrace this exciting strategy to reclaim streets for public health and welfare.
Rob Sadowsky
Executive Director
Chicagoland Bicycle Federation
Healthy Streets Campaign