Eight park improvement projects will move forward on the North, South and West Sides through financial measures approved by City Council today. These projects include:

Big Marsh Park, 11555 S. Stony Island Ave.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance in the amount of $1.5 million will support new visitor facilities at Big Marsh Park in South Deering, including 12 new camping platforms and an approximately three-mile-long, multi-use trail. Opened in 2016, Big Marsh is a 280-acre former industrial site that was converted by the Chicago Park District into an ecological wetland park. The balance of the $2.4 million project will be funded by a $900,000 grant from the State of Illinois.

Ridge Park, 1817 W. 96th St.
TIF assistance in the amount of $1 million will support improvements to the field house at Ridge Park in Beverly. The funds will be used for concrete and masonry repairs, window replacements, auditorium improvements, ADA-compliant entrances, and restroom upgrades. The balance of the $1.5 million project will be financed by an Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant.

Peter Fosco Park, 1312 S. Racine Ave.
TIF assistance in the amount of $1.5 million will support renovations to the Fosco Park field house on the Near West Side. Improvements will include concrete and masonry repairs, foundation improvements, roof and door upgrades, and the installation of a pool dehumidification system. The TIF assistance will finance the cost of the entire project.

Hermosa Park, 2240 N. Kilbourn Ave.
TIF assistance in the amount of $650,000 will support improvements to the field house at Hermosa Park in Hermosa. The funds will be used for a new roof, interior wall and ceiling repairs, and new ball field lighting. TIF will finance the entire cost of the project.

Theodore Roosevelt Park, 62 W. Roosevelt Road
TIF assistance in the amount of $400,000 will support improvements to Roosevelt Park in the South Loop. Enhancements will include the resurfacing of tennis courts and walking paths, upgrades to the play area and fitness station, and new benches and pathway lighting. The work will be entirely funded by TIF.

John Clark Park, 4615 W. Jackson Blvd.
TIF assistance in the amount of $500,000 will support improvements to the swimming pool at Clark Park in Austin. The funds will be used for repairs to the pool deck, the addition of a new filtration system, and drain, gutter and piping replacement. The work will be entirely funded by TIF.

Jacob Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton Ave.
TIF assistance in the amount of $10 million will support improvements to the Riis Park field house in Belmont Cragin. The funds will be used by the Chicago Park District for a new roof, HVAC system, ADA-compliant entrances, and other interior and exterior improvements. The work will coincide with the construction of a 90,000-square-foot addition that will serve as a Chicago Public Schools elementary school.

John Donovan Park, 3620 S. Lituanica Ave.
Open Space Impact Fees in the amount of $394,000 will reimburse the Chicago Park District for the recent expansion of Bridgeport’s Donovan Park onto 0.50 acres of nearby land. The balance of the $1.05 million project will be supported by $173,000 in 11th Ward aldermanic funds, $483,000 from the Park District and $850,000 in TIF.

The Open Space Impact Fee program allocates development fees paid by residential construction projects to park spaces in each of Chicago’s 77 community areas.

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