Six neighborhood park and open space projects will be made possible through financial plans approved today by City Council.

Near North Park, 1450 N. Larrabee St.
TIF assistance in the amount of $3.2 million will be used to construct a new, 3.5-acre park on the Near North Side. Located near the former Near North High School, the site will be redeveloped to include a large open lawn, walking paths, a playground, plaza, and a dog area. Currently owned by the Chicago Housing Authority, the land will be transferred to the Park District. The work will be entirely funded by TIF.

Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine Ave.
TIF assistance in the amount of $3.2 million will support the construction of an artificial turf field and eight-lane running track at Ogden Park in West Englewood. The improvements will be used for high school meets and other events. The work will be entirely funded by TIF.

Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Ave.
TIF assistance in the amount of $1.1 million will support improvements to the field house and football field at Douglas Park in North Lawndale. The funds will be used for concrete and masonry restoration, window and door renovations, a new roofing system, plumbing upgrades, new interior finishes, and new pool filter system, and a new surface for a turf football field. The balance of the $3.1 million project will be financed by the Park District.

Skate Park 423, 830 & 838-42 N. Christiana Ave.
A land transfer agreement will support the development of a skate park in Humboldt Park. Under the proposal, the Salvation Army will provide a 9,450-square-foot lot near Christiana Avenue and Rice Street to the City for the park. In exchange for the land, the Salvation Army will receive three City-owned lots along Christiana, which will be used for a future Salvation Army housing project. The Salvation Army will pay the City $8,000 for the difference in the appraised values of the properties.

6013 S. Calumet Ave., 6034 & 6048 S. King Dr.
The City will acquire three privately owned lots consisting of 0.83 acres to help create a planned four-acre park in Washington Park. Once the parcels are combined with existing City-owned land and transferred to the Park District, park design features will be determined through a community engagement process. The purchase price of the parcels has not been determined.

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