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Sheil Park Playground Renovation

Welcome to the Sheil Park Advisory Council website.  Please feel free to post comments.  We look forward to and welcome your feedback and ideas. 

Sheil Park is located at 3505 N Southport Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood.  Currently, the outdoor space supports a small playground for young children ages 2-5.  Since July 2007, more than 1,000 residents have signed a petition supporting SPAC’s plans to renovate the park. 

The Sheil Park Advisory Council is working with the Chicago Park District to renovate the 18+ year old playground.  Based on the size of the space, the addition of a soft surface and new equipment, the Chicago Park District determines the amount of money the Advisory Council needs to raise.   A typical Park District playground costs between $600,000 to $1,000,000.  Because Sheil is smaller than a typical play ground, we have been challenged to raise $250,000 with the Chicago Park District fulfilling the remaining $100,000 that will be necessary to complete the space.

Vision

Our objective is to transform the Sheil Park outdoor space in several ways:

  1. Introduce several new, state-of-the-art play-scapes that address the developmental needs of 0-5 year olds and 5-12 year olds

  2. Design a clever chalkboard to provide an additional creative outlet for our children and a dynamic utilization of the brick wall of our community center

  3. Provide a soft surface for the playground

  4. Develop an interesting and inspiring landscape design that flows with the character of Southport Avenue

  5. Provide a welcoming space for neighbors and visitors of all ages utilizing the area situated in front of the playground

Impact

The community will be positively impacted in the following ways:

  1. The new playground will provide children and families a high quality playground that will offer recreation, exercise, exploration and a social outlet in a safe, urban environment.

  2. Re-development of the landscaping design will facilitate a warm, inviting outdoor space for all ages of our community to gather and socialize.

  3. To the extent possible, the space will promote environmentally responsible design, construction and maintenance techniques supported by the City of Chicago Green Initiative.

Timeline

There is a sense of urgency related to our efforts.  We are optimistic that we will be selected as a renovation project by the Chicago Park District (CPD) and placed in their capital budget plans for 2009. To date, the CPD has been extremely supportive of our efforts. 

  • Goal: $250,000 by Fall 2008

  • Break ground: Spring 2009

  • Open for play: Summer 2009

Contact

The SPAC is comprised of a dedicated group of volunteers who live in the neighborhood.  With strong community support we will diligently continue our efforts to improve this much needed play-space.  Please contact Jill Heise: jillprojectimagine@yahoo.com if you have any questions, would like to volunteer or would like to make a donation.

Donations can be made to Friends of the Parks/Sheil Park Advisory Council and mailed to

 

Sheil Park Advisory Council

3501 N. Southport Ave #188

Chicago, Illinois 60657.

 

Thank you for your support,
 

Sheil Park Advisory Council