Washington Heights is set to score a home run with the upcoming construction of a new field house at Jackie Robinson Park, city officials have confirmed. With a $15 million grant from the State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the project aims to knock it out of the park by providing a full-size gymnasium, fitness center, teen room, and other amenities for the community. The Chicago Park District shared plans for demolition of the vacant Chicago Public Schools annex building and relocation of the basketball and volleyball courts, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Meanwhile, Rosa Escareño, general superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, is mapping the district's financial game plan featuring $574.4 million in the 2024 Budget, and a strategic focus on equity, accessibility, and increased job opportunities across the city, a presentation to the Board of Commissioners revealed significant investments and community-centric initiatives. With input funneling in from six community meetings—both in-person and virtual, the revised budget reflects the priorities and needs of residents and promises programming that is affordable, accessible, and equitable, the district's official announcement highlighted.
Escareño stated, "The 2024 budget invests in a new strategic plan that will guide the next phase of the District's future,” positioning Chicago parks as “essential cornerstones of the quality of life in the City of Chicago." Investments will also connect residents with park resources like free public Wi-Fi, particularly in underserved areas, while the addition of 82 full-time positions will strengthen park services and community engagement.
In strides to keep up with the bustling city dynamics, the Chicago Park District outlines plans to introduce 200 pickleball courts, enhance public Wi-Fi, and boost lifeguard recruitment with stipends for training and certification aiming to make the parks more welcoming, sustainable, and community-oriented, with Escareño emphasizing, "From investments in families to neighborhood capital projects, each priority proposed in the 2024 financial plan targets a critical area of need that was identified by park users and community stakeholders during a comprehensive community engagement process." Alongside improvements to fieldhouses and cultural centers, the budget nods to a greener future, with a focus on tree care and remediation of lead service lines, as reported by the Chicago Park District.
The budget proposals also spotlight fresh capital investments such as the Park Project Fund and Park Enhancement Fund, designed to refine park infrastructure and increase minority and women business enterprises. These funds bring financial sustenance to smaller projects and accentuate the commitment to breaking down architectural barriers for increased accessibility and participation of Chicagoans of all stripes.
