Chicago municipal officials have announced $26 million in improvements to 20 aging Park District facilities.
“Some of our field houses are more than 100 years old,“ Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a news release.
The program will be paid for by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) grant funding and Park District capital funds. The state grant funding had been frozen since 2015, but is now available after being released by the state.
While the scope of each project varies, planned work involves major rehabilitation, including roof restoration, masonry improvements and ADA accessibility.
Work is planned at these locations: Archer Park, Austin Town Hall Park, Columbus Park, Douglas Park, Dvorak Park, Eckhart Park, Fosco Park, Hamilton Park, Harrison Park, Hostein Park, La Follette Park, Lincoln Cultural Park. Mann Natatorium, McKinley Park, Palmer Park, Ridge Park, River Park, Robichaux Park, South Side Cultural Center and West Pullman Park.
The city says, in an effort to expedite construction, the Public Building Commission will deliver the capital improvements for many of the projects.
Construction will begin this year at some locations, with the expected completion of all projects by the end of 2019.
