Open Space Enhancements Proposed for Six Chicago Neighborhoods

September 11, 2013

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Financial measures approved today by City Council will help expand and improve four community gardens and two park spaces on the North, Northwest and Southwest Sides.

Bucktown Community Garden
Vacant, City-owned land at 1724 N. Wilmot and 1716 N. Hoyne avenues in West Town will be redeveloped as the Bucktown Community Garden through a proposed sale to the NeighborSpace land trust, which will own and insure the property for community use.  The proposed sale price is $1. The 7,200-square-foot site will also receive $90,000 in Open Space Impact Fees to complete environmental work and site preparation. Open Space Impact Fees are collected by the City of Chicago from new residential developments to help expand the amount of open space in each of the city's 77 community areas.

King Lockhart Park
King Lockhart Park at 10615 S. Western Ave. in Beverly will receive a memorial sculpture to honor fallen firefighters through $62,000 in Open Space Impact Fees.  The fees will help pay for the design and construction of the monument, which will feature concrete columns with fire ladders over the park’s entranceway.  The balance of the $87,000 project will be paid by the Chicago Park District.  The .5-acre park honors Chicago firefighters Anthony Lockhart and Patrick King who lost their lives battling a fire at a former tire repair shop on the site.

Hartigan Beach Park
Hartigan Beach Park along the Rogers Park lakefront will receive $275,000 in Open Space Impact Fees to support its expansion onto adjacent Chicago Park District land at 1031 W. Albion Ave. The funding will be used to add landscaping, lighting, a pergola, seating and fencing to the .5-acre site.  The park is named in honor of David L. Hartigan, a former alderman of the 49th Ward.

Dunning Community Garden
The Dunning Community Garden at 6532 W. Burteau Ave. will receive $240,000 in Open Space Impact Fees for environmental work, a new fence, storage shed, water access, raised beds and related construction costs.  Owned by the NeighborSpace land trust, the .6-acre site is maintained as a public garden by Dunning neighborhood residents.

Xochiquetzal Peace Garden
Xochiquetzal Peace Garden at 1901 W. 23rd St. in Little Village will receive $45,000 in Open Space Impact Fees for environmental work and the demolition and removal of a unused garage.  The garden is maintained by Friends of Whittier School.  “Xochiquetzal” means place of the Quetzal, a bird found in western Mexico and Central America.

Burley School
Burley School at 1630 W. Barry Ave. in Lake View will receive $128,000 in Open Space Impact Fees for the construction of a new school garden by Openlands conservation agency.  The project will transform a .02-acre asphalt lot into green space with native plants, artwork, outdoor classroom seating and other amenities. The garden will be maintained by students, teachers and parents.

Open Space Impact Fees are collected by the City of Chicago from new residential developments to help expand the amount of open space in each of the city's 77 community areas

 

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