Chicago Parks District charts course for new Southside headquarters
by Andrew Manns | 17 Sep 2018
A rendering of the Chicago Parks District's future headquarters / courtesy of JGMA
The Chicago Parks District has announced plans to relocate its Streeterville office to 4800 S. Western Ave in Brighton Park on the city’s southside.
The proposed 17-acre facility, which will include several wellness features, such as three public sports fields, a playground, pool, and a field house, is also slated to bring 200 existing jobs to what Mayor Rahm Emanuel has called one of Chicago’s “park deficient communities”.
In addition to adding more green space to the city, the move is designed to benefit job-seekers and increase the well being of local residents.
Alderman Edward Burke said: "There is no doubt in my mind that the relocation of hundreds of city jobs and the addition of much-needed recreational spaces will spur economic development in Brighton Park. Mayor Emanuel understands that strong neighbourhoods make for a stronger Chicago, and today's announcement is consistent with his track record of bringing economic and recreational opportunity to all of Chicago's residents."
The £38m project will be led by JGMA, one of the Windy City’s own architectural design studios.
Founded in 2010, the wellness-focused company, which in 2016 won first place in the Institutional Building Category of the Rethinking the Future Awards, has stated that its mission is to “support community-based not-for-profit organisations to develop spaces and programs which are vital to the development of our communities”.
Chicago Parks District JGMA Rahm Emanuel Chicago
The Chicago Parks District has announced plans to relocate its Streeterville office to 4800 S. Western Ave in Brighton Park on the city’s southside. The proposed 17-acre facility, which will include several wellness features, such as three public sports fields, a playground, pool, and a field house, is also slated to bring 200 existing jobs to what Mayor Rahm Emanuel has called one of Chicago’s “park deficient communities”. In addition
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"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
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