Two park improvement projects will be made possible through financial measures approved today by City Council.

Steelworkers Park, 3891 E. 87th St.
Steelworkers Park in South Chicago will be improved with a rock climbing wall, new utilities, signage and fencing through $676,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance to the Chicago Park District. Still in the design phase, the 16.5-acre lakefront park is planned as a tribute to workers from the USX steel plant that occupied the site from the late 1800s to 1992. The climbing facility will be constructed on ore walls that were previously used to store iron ore, limestone and coal for the plant.

Eugene Field Park, 5100 N. Ridgeway Ave.
Eugene Field Park in Albany Park will be expanded onto three adjacent City-owned lots along the North Branch of the Chicago River through $136,000 in Open Space Impact Fees. The funds will be used by the Chicago Park District to create naturalized landscaping, fencing and lighting along the river. Consisting of .3 acres, the lots will be purchased by the Park District for $1 each. The 12-acre park honors nationally-renowned children's author Eugene Field. The Open Space Impact Fee program allocates fees that are applied to new residential developments to pay for land acquisition and park improvements in each of Chicago's 77 community areas.

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