Maybe It Ain't Easy Being Green?

The Park Ridge Country Club, zoned for single-family residential use under Park Ridge's old zoning code, is now zoned as "open space".

Of course, once a property is zoned as "open space", the logical thing to do is build on it - Country Club plans terrace, dining room improvements

Club respresentative and architect Andy Koglin, of PRC/Uptown Redevelopment infamy, said that the terrace would offer club members the opportunity to enjoy warm weather. "So many times we're doing weddings and events where people like to enjoy the outside," he said.

We're guessing the club's cigar aficionados will get some enjoyment out of the new 1800 square foot terrace too.

The club, according to Koglin, will be making a "sizable investment" in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for the improvements. All of which will be done under the new zoning code without requiring the club to get a special use permit, endure a hearing process, or notify neighbors.

According to the article, Carrie Davis, city planner for Park Ridge, said the new zoning is more appropriate for the club...the "open space" zoning is reserved for the club and the city's park areas.

Fine.

But.

If the Park Ridge Country Club isn't just paying lip service to being "open space", we'd suggest they invest some time and effort in The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses

We note the Park Ridge Country Club is absent from the List of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Golf Courses.pdf, while quite a number of local area clubs are listed, along with those in other states and around the world.

Interestingly, on the list we found Raptor Bay Golf Club, about a 20 minute drive from Mayor Frimark's "home away from home" in Bonita Springs Florida.

The Audubon program is vigorously promoted by the USGA, which says about the program: Audubon International helps golf courses enhance and protect habitat for birds and other wildlife species, reduce water and chemical use, and educate the public about the benefits of environmentally managed golf courses.

We are pretty sure participation wouldn't require a "sizable investment" in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars" - just a real committment to being not merely "open space" but truly "green space".