- Credibility:
CHICAGO — Construction has officially started on the Park District’s headquarters in Brighton Park.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other officials held a groundbreaking at the site, 4800 S. Western Ave., on Thursday morning. They hope moving the agency’s headquarters from its current spot in Streeterville to Brighton Park can provide a needed boost to the Southwest Side community, helping nearby businesses.
In all, the campus will take up 17 acres.
The campus will have a 58,100-square-foot administrative office, as well as a 20,000-square-foot field house with a gym, fitness center and multi-purpose rooms, according to a city news release.
Outside, there will be artificial turf fields, a playground, a spray pool and natural area. There will be 200 parking spaces, parks CEO Mike Kelly said at a news conference.
In all, the campus will take up 17 acres.
More than 200 full-time Park District employees will relocate to the campus once it’s open, Kelly said. There will soon be a job fair to “enlist the talents of the local residents,” he said.
Kelly said the Park District will host a virtual community meeting 6-9 p.m. Aug. 4 so locals can share their thoughts.
In all, the campus will cost $65 million, according to the city. Kelly said construction will be complete by winter 2023.
The Park District has been headquartered at the time-Life Building in Streeterville since 2001.
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