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What is DPN?
Established in February 2006, Deer Park Neighbors is a community education and community action group. Our detractors say we're political, but in fact, all we ever hoped for was to know our neighbors better, have our neighbors know what was happenng in the village and strenghthen the ties between our neighbors and local businesses. We are supported by Subscribers, Sponsors and Advertiser. Join them!
The issues that are top of mind for 2008 are, as they were in 2007 (see below, "Who decides...":
- Balanced Budget
- Infrastructure (Roads and Drainage)
- Economic Development (Enhancing the Village's Bottom Line)
- ADDITIONAL ISSUE Full financial accounting of Vehe Farm project and putting an end to all public funding for that project (exclusing basic maintenance)
How did DPN begin?
What if you took the time to attend a public meeting? Deer Park Neighbors is the result. You move to your dream home, in a nice sleepy community. You unpack your boxes. When you want to borrow a cup of sugar or an ounce of gin, you actually put on your clothes, because you can't exactly dash to the kitchen door next door — it's a schlep on these lovely big lots.
Then one day, your neighbor says, "Hey, why not come to the board meeting with me?" And the next thing you know, we have a community action organization. DPN is different from homeowners' associations and the like, because we draw from every area of the village. It would be nice to have regularly scheduled meetings, but people's schedules being what they are, we have used email and telephone to communicate in addition to getting together in small groups every few months.
 Drive safely on our adopted highway
In 2007, DPN officially adopted the 1.5 miles of Long Grove Road between Rand Road and Deerpath Road. This stretch passes through the heart of Deer Park high-end shopping district, an attraction and destination for residents and visitors from miles around. Join us at Deer Park Town Center and Town Center Promenade for the finest in retail shopping and casual and fine dining. Twice a year, you are welcome to join us for our roadside clean up…yes, it's fun and gives back to the community.
Who decides DPN's issues?
Funny you should ask! You do. Really. For example, shortly after we began our email blasts, we had a letter from a resident who wanted to know how she would go about having the street sign in her subdivision repaired. Another email was came in about the village's fence ordinance. Other emails have asked for guidance to learn more about occupancy permits, building inspections, traffic concerns, health and safety issues. No, we are not here to do the Village's work, but we have — it seems to us — opened up lines of communication and created a virtual forum. This web site expands that forum.
Almost since our inception, we have worked with an amazing organization called Citizen Advocacy Center. Check them out. We consulted CAC on some initial challenges, and after our first half-year or so, we asked CAC to facilitate a focus group, in order to establish a consensus agenda. A number of DPN members who had been particularly active were invited to attend, and we brainstormed on three dimensions: issues, activities and resources. The issues that are top of mind for 2008 are, as they were in 2007:
- Balanced Budget
- Infrastructure (Roads and Drainage)
- Economic Development (Enhancing the Village's Bottom Line)
- ADDITIONAL ISSUE Full financial accounting of Vehe Farm project and putting an end to all public funding for that project (exclusing basic maintenance)
 What's with the lime green ribbons?
As with any new organization, we are eager for recognition and to get our name out there. The ribbon campaign is an easy, inexpensive way for us to create a mini-billboard. When you tie a lime green ribbon in your front yard, yes, it expresses interest or appreciation in DPN's community education. It's also a lovely way to say, "Hello, Deer Park." Try one, it's really quite fun. People walking or driving by are likely to smile or wave or say hello, even if you've never met. We believe that these ribbons pull the Village residents together, making us feel closer.
By the way, this past winter was hard on our ribbons, we'll be walking around replacing them — just ask!
What you can do
Our most radical suggestion for residents is this: attend three village meetings. That's really all (even more than) it takes to get a sense of what's happening in town. This isn't rocket science, this IS what affects your daily life. So let's say you really don't have any idea what's being bulldozed at the corner of Long Grove and Quentin. Or maybe you're really tired of asking for some approach to speeding cut-throughs on Deerpath Road. Maybe you're just sick of bad drainage. We'll tell you what we know about the subject and where the village is on the matter.
You might want to speak at a public meeting, but don't have experience with municipal bodies. We can help you research your issue, formulate your questions or suggestions, make sure you know the right people at Village Hall or other governments. It's simply about community education and community action.
You'll almost always find DPN leadership at commission meetings and public hearings…you can really learn a lot by seeing how a project is developed, step by step. We've even been known to go to meetings in other communities or Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) to get a sense of how other towns handle certain subjects. The most fanatic of us go to Village Hall or arrive early at the meeting to review "the Packet," that pile of photocopies that all trustees receive, which are the documents on which their decisions are based.
See the movie!
We also videotape all public meetings. Frankly, it's a lot of work — but when we're done, we're able to provide copies of the meetings tapes to the library and to any individual or business that needs them. Many of our residents have young children or elderly parents or demanding careers that make it difficult for them to come to public meetings in the evening. Unlike some other towns, Deer Park meetings are not broadcast on cable television — yet. Sadly, it looks like this won't happen in 2008, either.
So with dogged determination, we will pursue this public service until the Village is able to do so on its own.
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