BRIGHTON PARK — Moving the Chicago Park District’s headquarters from Downtown to Brighton Park will add “much-need” amenities to the neighborhood, including new fields and a spray pool, officials said Friday.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel was joined by Chicago Park District Supt. Michael Kelly and Ald. Edward Burke (14th) Friday to announce the proposed relocation of the headquarters.
The plan for a 17-acre headquarters at 4800 S. Western Ave. would bring office space along with a field house, playground, spray pool and three artificial turf fields.
“Moving the Chicago Park District headquarters to Brighton Park will bring jobs, energy and open space to a great Chicago community,” Emanuel said in a press release. “Chicago is famous for our world-class park system, and this timely relocation will help ensure a strong future for the Chicago Park District in a great new neighborhood home.”
City officials said the relocation would move 200 existing Park District jobs to Brighton Park, along with “much needed recreational assets to the neighborhood.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that the relocation of hundreds of city jobs and the addition of much-needed recreational spaces will spur economic development in Brighton Park,” Burke said.
The Chicago Park District sold its headquarters to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for $22.5 million in 2015. The agency is looking to acquire the Brighton Park site for $8.65 million.
“The development of the Brighton Park site for the Chicago Park District headquarters is a win-win situation for the District and the community,” Kelly said.
“In addition to the efficiencies of owning our headquarters, we are bringing much-needed parkland and amenities to the children and families of this community,” he added.
The Park District board of commissioners is expected to approve the purchase next week.
Do stories like this matter to you? Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Comments are closed.