>> YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A TIME WHEN THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NATE NATIVE NARRATIVE ART WAS PREPARING TO COME TO CHICAGO ONLY TO EVENTUALLY FIND A HOME IN CALIFORNIA.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MANY BATTLES TAKEN ON BY FRIENDS OF THE PARK, A LOCAL GROUP THAT ADVOCATES FOR THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC GREEN SPACES AND THE ORGANIZATION'S LONG-TIME LEADER ANNOUNCES THIS WEEK THAT SHE'S STEPPING DOWN.

SO JOINING US NOW TO REFLECT ON HER TIME WITH THE GROUP IS PLENTY THAT EVEN SATURDAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF THE PARKS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US NOW.

I HAVE TO ASK GOING INTO THIS 8 YEARS, DID YOU EXPECT TO BE PART OF SUCH MAJOR BATTLES?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW AS I WAS STARTING THAT THE LAWSUIT MUSEUM WAS ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

AND THAT I SURE KNOW ABOUT.

FOLLOWING THAT.

WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, STRUGGLED THROUGH SOME CONTENTIOUS YEARS WITH OBAMA FOUNDATION AROUND DETAILS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CENTER AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LAWSUIT GOING AGAINST THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

SO I DO SAY A LOT MORE BACK-TO-BACK BATTLES THAT MAYBE EXPECTED.

>> AND WHY STEP DOWN AWAY NOW?

>> I HONESTLY, BIT TIRED.

KIND OF.

>> COMPARE IT 100 YEAR STORMS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO ONLY HAPPEN ONCE EVERY 100 YEARS.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT 100 YEAR STORMS BACK TO BACK IT IN TERMS OF THAT I JUST AND SO IT'S INTENSE AND IT'S REALLY TIME TO MOVE >> SEEMS THAT YOU'VE DONE A LOT NOW.

WE HAVE TO MENTION THE LUCAS MUSEUM AND HOW FRIENDS OF THE PARK LET THE FIGHT AGAINST IT.

AT THE TIME YOU SAID HE WARNED AGAINST THE MUSEUM BUT RATHER THE LOCATION IN THE END, THE MUSEUM ENDED UP IN LOS ANGELES.

ARE YOU STILL HAPPY WITH THAT RESULT?

>> YES, FRIENDS OF THE PARKS IS HISTORICALLY POSITIONED ITSELF AS A WOMAN PROTECTORS OF CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT.

IT REALLY ISN'T ANOTHER GROUP THAT WILL ALWAYS PUT NOT THE LINE TO PROTECT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE LAKEFRONT TO THAT IS NOT PUBLIC BENEFIT PRIVATE INTERESTS.

AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT.

>> AND BEFORE FRIENDS OF THE PARKING WERE ACTUALLY INVOLVED WITH POLITICS, POLITICS FOR A BIT.

EVEN RUNNING FOR 26 WARD ALDERWOMAN AT ONE TIME.

DID THAT EXPERIENCE INFORMED THE WORK YOU DID AT FRIENDS OF THE PARKS?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN FIGHTING GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WHETHER IT BE THROUGH NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

SO ALL OF RELATIONSHIPS AND SKILL SETS THAT I BUILT ALONG THE WAY CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN USEFUL IN MY ROLE THE PARKS.

>> AND YOU GREW UP IN HUMBLE PARK NEAR WHAT IS NOW THE 606 TRAIL A PROJECT.

YOU'VE KEPT AN EYE ON AND YOU HAVE ALSO FOUGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA.

NOW, AS YOU WATCH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE, WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THE CHANGE?

>> FOR ME, ONE OF THE THINGS BECAME REALLY CLEAR WHEN I BECAME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF THE PARKS WAS THE WAY THAT THE GREEN SPACE IN MY COMMUNITY HAD BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO MY MY LIFE IN PARK?

I GREW UP JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM WHAT WE MY FROM THE PARK ITSELF AND SO LAND GENTRIFICATION.

PUSH FURTHER LAST AND WE NO LONGER WE'RE IN AREA OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE COULD JUST WALK TO THE PARK.

I REALLY WAS ABLE TO FEEL THE DIFFERENCE MY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL OF NOT HAVING THAT REGULAR ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE AND PARK.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH MY MY HOUSING AROUND AND MY GREEN INTEREST HAVE CONNECTED OVER THE YEARS.

BUT IN FRONT OF THE PARK'S ROLE.

WE'VE ALSO LOOKED WHEN THERE ARE MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN PARKS LIKE AT THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

WHAT HAPPENS COMMUNITY FOLKS WHO MAY GET PRICED OUT BECAUSE OF RISING PRICES.

AND SO FOR THAT REASON, FRIENDS OF THE PARTICIPATED WITH BULLISH TO FIGHT FOR A COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

AGREEMENTS.

SO THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME PORTABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP RESIDENTS STAY ENJOY THE INVESTMENTS.

IN PART, OF COURSE, AND >> WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE STILL IN THOSE FIGHTS OR LOOKING TO GO UP AGAINST POWERFUL GROUPS LIKE THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY TAKES A LOT OF SUN ASK CITY READINESS TO NOT BACK DOWN.

YOU JUST FOR THE PARTY PUT OUT A STATEMENT, BUT OUR WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT AGAIN IF WE HAVE TO, AS WE HEAR THAT, THE BEARS ARE LOOKING AT THAT SCENE PARKING LOT LUCAS WANTED TO BUILD AS A POSSIBLE SITE.

AND ALREADY TODAY, YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED OUR FACEBOOK PAGE RIGHT?

THE REALITY IS THAT CONTROVERSY, A MAN AND IT TAKES A LOT OF WILLINGNESS HAVE TO RECEIVED THE ARROWS IN THE BUT YOU KNOW, TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

>> AND AS ONE THAT THE NETS, ONE OTHER LET YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD TO OVERCOME MANY CHALLENGES THING SAY YOU PROBABLY STILL THINK ABOUT IS WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF YOURSELF OR?

>> YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY SEE MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY OR 2 TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO INVESTED IN IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION.

EARLY ON IN MY LIFE.

AND SO I REALLY SEE MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHAT POSITION GIVE BACK A TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED FOR I GUESS I RIGHT IS THE RIGHT WORD.

BUT I JUST FEEL GOOD ABOUT LIVING LIKE THIS CONSISTENT TO SERVICE GIVING BACK TO WHETHER IT'S FIGHTING AGAINST FROM MANUAL OR DOING THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN FRONT OF THE PRESS TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE INVESTMENT ACROSS THE PARTS YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK FROM WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IT'S REALLY MY >> AND LAST QUESTION HERE, CAN WE EXPECT MORE FIGHTS IN IN YOUR FUTURE?

>> WELL, USUALLY GETTING INTO GOOD TROUBLE PRETTY MUCH A REGULAR BASIS.

I DO HOPE SEE THEM IN NEED TO MEDICAL LITTLE BIT OF TIME OFF TO BUT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GETTING INVOLVED IN THE YOU KNOW, GOOD PUBLIC POLICY, GOOD GOVERNMENT.

AND WAS MONTH.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND BEST OF LUCK