Mayor Daley Dedicates New Park Fieldhouse for Community

Mayor Richard M. Daley this weekend joined Logan Square Community leaders to celebrate construction of the new Haas Park field house, 2402 N. Washtenaw Av., which will open in the fall.

“Our parks and open spaces are among our greatest treasures. When we invest in parks and playgrounds and field houses, we are helping keep our neighborhoods strong,” Daley said in a news conference at the park.

Daley said that it has been important to him that the City’s parks offer new and renovated facilities to meet the changing desires of residents.

In the last 22 years, he said, the Chicago Park District has acquired 501 additional acres of parkland, added 73 new parks, built 18 new field houses and built or refurbished 70 fitness centers. In that time, Chicago has added 1,500 acres of open space.

Today’s parks system now includes: 537 baseball fields, 218 soccer fields, 520 playgrounds, 86 swimming pools, 18 dog parks, 9 skate parks, 9 ice skating rinks, 6 golf courses and 89 community gardens.

The new Haas park field house will include a gymnasium with bleachers, a multi-purpose room, club rooms, an exercise room and many program offerings by the Chicago Park District.

It is designed to achieve minimum LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and includes an energy-efficient mechanical system and landscaping with native plants.

The school dedication also represented another stop on the “Neighborhood Appreciation Tour” the Mayor will make in communities all over the city before he leaves office in May to thank Chicagoans for their collaboration in helping the City move forward.

“Today I want to thank the residents of the 1st ward for their hard work and dedication.  Working together, we’ve brought Chicago into the 21st century, and given it a bright future,” he said.

The Mayor said the construction of the new field house is just one of the projects that have helped to make this part of the City a better place.

“So I’m here today to thank every resident, every community organization, every business, every not-for-profit for their advice, support and cooperation on all these projects,” Daley said.

“Thank you for participating in the process. Thank you for your ideas, your input and your time. That’s what our system of government is based on – the people.

“It’s been a joy and an honor to be your Mayor,” he said.