In a move that is sure to have Chicago's park lovers heaving a sigh of relief, Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced the upcoming reinstatement of park programming and operations at five Chicago Park District facilities that have been serving as emergency shelters. Slated to kick off on March 30, 2024, the transition marks the end of the facilities' temporary use as part of the city's New Arrivals Mission, according to a statement released by the Mayor's Office.
The affected parks, Gage Park, the Broadway Armory Park, Brands Park, Leone Park, and Piotrowski Park will see their current shelter residents moved to nearby locations to lessen any possible upset in their daily routines after such the Park District will take stock, and do the necessary fix-ups for returning these community hubs to their pre-shelter glory. "I am proud of the efforts of my administration, our partners, and the many Chicagoans who stepped up to welcome new arrivals by providing shelter in our Park District field houses at a time when this was clearly needed," Mayor Johnson stated, highlighting the community spirit and pragmatic cohort he's helmed.
The decommissioned shelters, which started their service run in May of 2023, have been assessed every six months to ascertain the continued need for the Park District spaces. With a nod to the original intent of these communal spaces, alderpersons from the respective wards have been instrumental in the initial rollout of the sites, and now the alderpersons are optimistic about returning these sites to their original community roles. Alderman Mike Rodriguez of the 22nd Ward expressed gratitude for the collective effort and enthusiasm about the programs resuming at Piotrowski Park, while Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth of the 48th Ward echoed the sentiment for the Broadway Armory Park.
Coordinated by several city departments, the transition strategy for shelter residents is all about minimizing disarray, ensuring that kids won't have to switch schools and that the relocation happens as close to smoothly as possible, then the Chicago Park District will follow up swiftly to spruce up the facilities for public use. Alderman Raymond Lopez of the 15th Ward lauded the Mayor for hearing the community's call to reopen the Gage Park Fieldhouse, "Gage Park is a proud immigrant community with hardworking families who immigrated to this country for a better life, Gage Park stepped up and opened the Gage Park Fieldhouse for new arrivals living on the floors of police stations because it was the right thing to do," he told officials.
More details on the transition process are expected to be forthcoming, but for now, Chicagoans can look forward to enjoying their local parks with full summer programming in effect, a return to some semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy that has been long-awaited by many.
