Elmhurst Rapper's Yard Won't Blend In

ELMHURST, IL – Don't expect Elmhurst resident Jim Hodapp's front yard to blend in with the others in his cul-de-sac.

He has let the grass grow long enough to be fined for it.

A few times, he has made his case for letting his grass grow to the City Council, sometimes rapping his message.

On Monday, the 79-year-old Hodapp returned to the City Council to urge residents to stop cutting their lawns so short and spraying. It's bad for the environment, killing bees and ultimately humans, he said.

He said he wanted his house at 739 Stuart Court to become the newest national park, calling it Wildflower Lawn National Park. He said he would donate his yard for the park, but would like to stay in the two-story house.

"It would be the smallest national park in America," Hodapp said. "I have a beautiful yard, which has a lot of prairie plants in it and wildflowers, and I'd like to save it."

Yard by yard, he said, it could become the largest national park in the United States.

In the meantime, Hodapp has created a GoFundMe page to help him pay his property taxes and home insurance, saying he receives a small pension and is running out of money. He also said he would use the money to hire a lawyer to set up the park.

When he was called to speak during public comments, Hodapp took a moment to figure out which podium to use. That prompted Mayor Scott Levin to quip, "A rapper that doesn't see a microphone."

Hodapp did not disappoint, rapping at the end of his comments. He said he would like to heal the gap between black and white.

"That's why I taught myself to rap. Why I'm on top. I rap better than Pac. And I do be a shocked with verbal Glock. So I'll see you later, alligator, after a while, crocodile. Just tried to make the kings and queens who run Elmhurst smile. Peace."

Last year, Hodapp said he wanted his yard declared a natural preserve. This was the first time he brought up the idea of a national park to the council.

Hodapp's yard would be the smallest national park by far. Now, the smallest is Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, which is 192 acres.