Park District Commits $2.6 Million to Haas Park

The long-sought expansion of a small park at Fullerton and Fairfield Avenues took a big step forward in August when the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners approved the $2.6 million purchase of the Worldwide Distributors warehouse just west of Haas Park.

Families make heavy use of the Haas Park playground; the Worldwide Distributors building (in background) will be demolished to expand the park.

Photo: Patrick Barry

The Logan Square Neighborhood Assn. (LSNA) played a pivotal role in the deal by learning last spring that the building was for sale. Working with the Haas Park Advisory Council and Logan Square Parks Alliance, LSNA alerted local officials to the opportunity and lined up the Trust for Public Land to purchase the property and hold it until the Park District could assemble funding.

Advisory council president Phil Jones and others in the community have advocated park expansion for 10 years. But despite many promises and plans by political leaders, including a 1999 attempt to acquire land east of the park, the efforts led to nothing but frustration.

The Haas Park playground, ball field and small field house are heavily used because the neighborhood has the second-lowest park acreage per capita of all 77 Chicago community areas.

LISC/Chicago contributed a $35,000 loan to initiate the project and $25,000 more to match local contributions. Ald. Manny Flores contributed $10,000. The park district's short-term plan is to demolish the warehouse building to create open space. Full development, including a new field house, could cost $10 million.

Contact: John McDermott, LSNA, 773-384-4370, x38