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Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago has launched the Chicago Plays initiative to improve the condition of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout the city. Parks with trails, playgrounds, and athletic facilities can increase the amount of physical activity that people participate in. A recent study found that 81 percent of Hispanic neighborhoods lacked recreational facilities. Through the Chicago Plays initiative, Mayor Emanuel hopes to provide at least one park within a 10-minute walking distance of every Chicagoan.
Chicago Plays is a five year playground renovation project that aims to improve the quality of 300 parks and playgrounds throughout Chicago. According to a press release from the office of the mayor, Mayor Emanuel hopes to complete the first upgrades to 50 playgrounds by November 2013. Improvements will be made at Maggie Daley Park, The Northerly Island project, The Little Village Park, Bloomingdale Trail, and the West Ridge Nature Preserve.
Slam Dunk & Take the Field projects, which are artificial turf units, will also see improvements. New park developments will be created and the city plans to acquire another 200 acres of park land in 2013.
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Read more about this story from the National League of Cities article “Chicago Announces Strategy to Improve 300 Parks and Playgrounds”
Press Release: Mayor Emanuel Announces Hundreds of Playgrounds to Be Rebuilt
By The Numbers
33
percent
of Latinos live within walking distance (<1 mile) of a park
