New upgrades have been announced for the Global Garden Refugee Training Farm at 2902 W Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park. Located on the intersection with N Sacramento Avenue, the urban farm is connected to the adjacent Ronan Park along the north branch of the Chicago River. Now the Chicago Park District is leading the park’s improvements which will include the farm itself.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been held for the new headquarters of the Chicago Park District and its adjoining park at 4830 S Western Avenue in Brighton Park. Bounded by W 48th Street to the north, the CTA Orange Line to the south, and S Rockwell Street to the west, the expansive multi-block site used to be vacant land after holding multiple manufacturing businesses before. Now the Park District will move its nearly 200 employees from its current offices at 541 N Fairbanks Court in Streeterville.
A construction permit has been granted for a new community roller rink and plaza located at 4012 W Madison Street in West Garfield Park. This public space will be managed by the Chicago Park District and will be replacing a vacant lot that had been used as a temporary rink and plaza. The landscape architect for the project is Site Design Group.
The Chicago Plan Commission has approved new improvements to the east end of the Midway Plaisance at 5950 S Stony Island Avenue in Hyde Park. This small portion of the park is now within Jackson Park due to the Obama Center construction, with the redesigned Women’s Garden on the east and the Metra Electric line elevated tracks to the west. The project is being led by the Chicago Park District with Site Design Group serving as the designers, with five community meetings leading to the current proposal.
The Chicago Plan Commission has approved the construction and renovation of new baseball diamonds at 1987 E Hayes Drive within Jackson Park. Located towards the east side of the park across Wooded Island and near the Statue of the Republic, the project continues the vision of the park’s 2018 framework plan. The plan is being brought forward by the Chicago Park District as it continues to construct a better public green space for locals and visitors alike as the construction of the Obama Presidential Center.
