CHICAGO — Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Park District leadership and Exelon President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Crane announced today $25 million in diversified funding to provide for the construction of the indoor athletic facility and adjacent outdoor field improvements at Addams Park. The park is located at 1301 W. 14th St., near Chicago’s Pilsen, University Village and Little Italy neighborhoods.
“The new facility and outdoor improvements at Addams Park will provide Near West Side residents with a community anchor for recreation and leisure,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Significant investments across the public, private and non-profit sectors enable us to build on Burnham’s vision for the City of Chicago and provide our communities with invaluable resources to enjoy.”
The new 100,000 square foot multi-purpose indoor facility, named the Exelon Student Recreation Center, will house an indoor track, artificial turf field, basketball courts and several multi-purpose community rooms. The facility will support a broad range of activities and events, including athletic league programs and regional competitive events for community youth and young adults.
Outdoor improvements will also be made on the existing 9.24-acre Addams Park. Investments include the addition of a natural turf baseball field; an artificial turf combination field for baseball, football, lacrosse and soccer; and a walking path around the park.
“The Chicago Park District is grateful to have public and private support from those who advocate and understand that our neighborhood parks are pillars of communities across Chicago,” said Chicago Park District Superintendent & CEO Michael P. Kelly. “The investments to Addams Park will improve the physical and mental health of the residents that it serves.”
The cost of the Addams Recreation Center construction project includes $20 million for the building, and $5 million for field improvements, parking, walking paths, landscape and lighting. Contributions from the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Housing Authority, as well a generous $5 million donation from The Inner City Education and Recreation Foundation and a generous $3 million donation from Exelon will bring the project to fruition by December 2019.
“Service to our community is a core value at Exelon – and that goes beyond delivering the power that supports our economy and drives our everyday life,” said Exelon President and CEO Chris Crane. “We are committed to working with Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Park District on developments like these at Addams Park that establish safe spaces in the community.”
The park is expected to serve an estimated 7,500 new residents moving into the adjacent 120-acre mixed-income Roosevelt Square development. Recent investments at Roosevelt Square include the development of a new library branch expected to open in winter 2018. The joint effort with Chicago Public Library and Chicago Housing Authority will include both a library and mixed-income housing with a total of 40 to 50 units.
Park investments are a key component in Building on Burnham, the Mayor's comprehensive plan to invest in the Lakefront, the Chicago River, natural areas and recreational opportunities in neighborhoods across the city. This plan follows the Mayor’s successful expansion of Chicago’s park system in his first mayoral term, which has already added 750 acres of new parkland, 327 new playgrounds and more than $800 million in capital investment from neighborhoods and private sources.
Fortune recently named Exelon to its 2017 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, which, in part, recognized the company for social responsibility initiatives such as charitable giving to organizations like the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Public Library. Last year, Exelon employees contributed more than 170,000 hours of community service, and Exelon companies and the Exelon Foundation donated more than $46 million to nonprofits – the largest amount ever for the company.
