Parents who worry about pesticides say there isn’t enough notice when park districts spray. They say the chemicals can have harmful effects on children’s health.
Kim Stone and Michelle Kramer, from Highland Park, say park districts should tell people before fertilizers or pesticides are used. The notice would have to be personal and in writing — a bulletin board wouldn’t do. Those interested would sign up to receive written notice.
But Democratic Representative Mary Flowers, from Chicago, says the system that’s already in place provides plenty notice. Park districts have to put up flags in areas they have sprayed.
FLOWERS: “Doesn’t it just make more sense to have the flags, because everyone who’s going in that direction would see the flags?”
But Stone says that’s not good enough.
STONE: “Currently the flags go up usually 24 hours I think before the product is applied and then they stay up 24 to 48 hours, but that doesn’t work if you are playing on the field, maybe you’ve got a game on Friday and they sprayed on Monday, you don’t know that they’ve sprayed.” Stone says pesticides have one purpose, and it doesn’t mix with kids.
STONE: “They’re all designed to kill. You know they might be targeting a grass or a pest, but the biological processes are not different often than biological processes in our own bodies.”
Representative Flowers is not the only legislator who questions the need for a new law. Representative Chapin Rose, a Republican from Mahomet, says the request is ill-conceived. He sits on the Illinois House committee that considers legislation related to environmental health.
ROSE: “I honestly can’t believe we’ve just wasted 45 minutes of time on this topic.”
The sponsor of the measure, Democratic Representative Karen May from Highland Park, says she’s working on negotiations with park districts. The measure is still under consideration.
-Rachel Otwell
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