City Council approved several financial measures today that Mayor Richard M. Daley said will lead to important open space improvements in their respective communities.

"Park projects like these are essential to the livability of local neighborhoods because they directly serve the needs of local families," Mayor Daley said.

A new playground and soccer field will be built in historic Humboldt Park through $800,000 in assistance from the Division/Homan Tax Increment Financing district (TIF). Nearly 75 percent of the funds will be used for the playground's construction on the 1300 block of North California Avenue. Most of the remaining funds will be used to construct the soccer field on the 1300 block of North Marin Drive. Featuring lighting and synthetic turf, the field will accommodate public demand for more soccer space within the 206-acre park, one of the largest and oldest in the Chicago Park District system.

TIF is a City of Chicago funding tool that's used to promote infrastructure and other improvements in designated districts across the city.

City Council also approved the expenditure of $530,000 from the 35th/Halsted TIF district to upgrade the playground at Wilson Park, 1122 W. 34th Place. The work will include new walking paths, play surfaces, landscaping, and climbing equipment. The Wilson Park Advisory Council will contribute $70,000 to the project.

In a separate City Council action, Ujima Garden, at 545 N. Central Park Ave., will receive $100,000 in environmental cleanup assistance, new growing beds, a compost bin and storage shed. Once complete, the 5,900-square-foot site will be maintained as a public garden by neighborhood residents. The work will be funded through Open Space Impact Fees, which are collected by the City of Chicago from new residential developments to help expand the amount of open space in each of the city's 77 community areas.

Open Space Impact Fees will also provide water access to "Jelly Bean Garden" at 2125 W. Adams St. The 2,350-square-foot site is managed by the Neighbor's Development Network, a group of 150 area families. It was acquired by the City in 1982 through a tax foreclosure and will be sold to the NeighborSpace land trust for $1 as part of the $40,000 project.