West Cook News

The River Forest Park District recently held an in-person wine tasting despite not allowing parents to watch their kids' recreational league basketball games. 

The River Forest Park District held a "Galentine's Day" wine tasting on Feb. 10. The $62 wine tasting provided featured ‘3 different varietals."

Meanwhile, the district will not allow parents into the gym to see their children play recreation league basketball. 

Ad featuring River Forest Park District's wine tasting.

River Forest Park District barred the parents of Roosevelt Junior High entry into the gym for basketball games. 

A viral photo published by West Cook News shows a group of bundled up River Forest District 90 parents standing on ladders watching their kids play through the gym’s windows.

One parent on Facebook said, "How is this possible when we as parents can not attend our kids' Park District basketball games? Please respond to the 110 parents who have signed the email asking the park district to change the direction on this ASAP." 

Parents report that River Forest Parks District Administrative Assistant Jenn Snow turned off commenting on the Facebook post after the question arose. 

The River Forest Park District voicemail was full and could not receive messages and a directory of employees had been disabled on the phone menu.  

River Forest District 90 school system is the target of a change.org petition to do away with masking as well.

An email to Executive Director Michael Sletten asking about the disparity in the way the events have been treated was not returned by publication time.

110 River Forest parents signed the letter below to Michael Sletten:



Dear Mr. Sletten and the River Forest Park District Board,

Thank you for your communications regarding the ‘no spectators’ policy for the Winter 2022 PD Basketball league.

After extensive consultation, we believe that the park district may have misinterpreted IDPH's Illinois All-Sports Policy.

While in 2020, in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the policy recommended masking AND 6-ft distancing amongst different households spectating children's sports, that policy has been updated to account for more recent public health developments (better understanding of Covid spread as well as consideration of widespread vaccine availability).

The most recent update was from Dec. 7, 2021 (8 weeks ago). This policy clearly states that it supersedes all prior IL All-Sports Policies, and merely requires spectators of indoor sports to be masked - no distancing required. (This updated guidance was also reflected in the previous All-Sports Policy released last November.)

We fully acknowledge the complexities of navigating rapidly shifting Covid-19 guidance, but now that this misunderstanding has come to light, we urge the Park District to immediately revise its misinformed policy to align with the latest IPDH guidance, and allow our children to have parents present at their basketball games, both for their physical safety as well as for their mental-health.

Thank you to the Park District for continuing to offer our children safe and healthy recreation options.

Sincerely,

Families Supporting River Forest Children.