October 2025 JPAC Meeting

Monday, October 6, 2025
7 – 8pm
Jackson Park Field House
6401 S. Stony Island Ave.

This meeting will be the nominating meeting for JPAC officers, as our election will take place at the November meeting. 

We were expecting an update from Tanera Adams of CDOT following up on their presentation about the Darrow Bridge at our June meeting, but unfortunately she is no longer able to attend. We have asked for a written response to submitted questions.

We will also hear from William J. Bradley, Chief of Security at the Obama Presidential Center.

We will consider a request from Sharla Paul, a local entrepreneur, for JPAC to support her application to operate a sauna at 57th Street Beach. She provided a draft resolution for our consideration at the meeting:

Be it resolved that the Jackson Park Advisory Council formally supports the Chicago Sauna Co. and its owner, longtime Hyde Park resident Sharla Paul, in her application for a concession permit to operate a fall/winter/spring sauna concession at 57th Street Beach. 

Be it further resolved, that the Jackson Park Advisory Council directs the Secretary to forward this resolution to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, the Park Supervisor, Alderman Desmon Yancey, and the Chicago Sauna Co. as a testament to our support. 

Chicago Sauna Co. is owned by Sharla Paul, a serial entrepreneur, wellness professional, and longtime Hyde Parker. For 17 years Sharla was sole proprietor of  a successful yoga business in Hyde Park (2002-19), offering small group classes and one-on-one sessions, with a speciality in elderly and health-compromised clients. She is a writer and former editor of the University of Chicago Magazine. From 2009 to 2024, she was co-founder and Head of School of Urban Prairie Waldorf School, wellness-integrated, nonprofit pre-K to 8th elementary school located on the Near West Side, serving a diverse urban student population. 

Additionally, we received a response from the Chicago Park District to our resolution concerning the 63rd Street Drummers – this document can be found below.