Neighbors Vie for Emanuel’s Park Upgrade Dollars

Although new playground equipment is already planned for Telscer Park and a complete overhaul is slated for Merryman Park, neighbors are planning to compete for funds to bring new equipment to Kenmore Park.

The playlot at 3141 N. Kenmore Ave. near the Belmont CTA station features a wooden playground, and through Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s “Chicago Plays!” program, neighbors want an upgrade.

The program aims to replace 35 playgrounds around Chicago this year based on a competitive application process. With the alderman’s support, neighborhood organizations can sponsor a park to be upgraded, and the more signatures on the petition, the more likely they’ll be chosen.

“There are 523 playgrounds located within the Chicago Park District. 250 of these parks have been identified as more than 15 years old and in need of replacement,” the Chicago Plays! website reads. “In a partnership with the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Parks will launch a community application to select 35 parks in 2013 to replace the playground equipment in these parks.”

“It’s free money, and it’d be a great value added to the neighborhood. That park—it’s just sketchy.”

If the application doesn’t have 50 supportive signatures, it won’t even be considered.

Residents with the Hawthorne Neighbors Association say they’ll partner with Central Lake View Neighbors to fight for the run-down park in desperate need of new equipment. They plan to vigorously gather signatures on multiple petitions in hopes of snagging as many as possible by the April 15 deadline.

“It’s free money, and it’d be a great value added to the neighborhood,” said Jackie Earley, president of the School Street Park Advisory Council. “That park—it’s just sketchy.”

Earley is also behind the new School Street Park, the upcoming million-dollar park that will be the largest playlot in Lake View. 

For more information on the petition, email Hawthorne Neighbors at HawthorneNeighbor@gmail.com. 

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