There is a New WACA Bell Park to provide a safe haven for children. Community leaders that are part of the Westside Association for Community Action work together to provide a new park in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. The park formerly known as IBT Play Lot is located on 1921 South Drake Avenue.
WACA Bell Park opened on Saturday, June 24, 2023. The new improvements consist of a new basketball court and hoops. The additions include beautiful ground murals, a performance stage, and picnic tables. The park received new trees and landscaping as well. New installations that are to come in the fall are solar-power lights and shade areas.
Residents are happy to have such a positive space in their neighborhood. Citizens gathered at the new park as Mayor Brandon Johnson, Ald. Monique Scott (24th), and other community leaders cut the opening red veil.
The total cost of the new park is $1.5 million. The current work done is worth half a million. It will be worth $1.5 million after the additional installations that are coming in the fall.
Logistics and Funding
“Trust For Public Land, Nike, and the Chicago Recovery Grant funded this project. Other partners include Under the Grid, Open Architecture Chicago, Freedom House Studios, New Covenant, and The Firehouse Community Arts Center,” according to Block Club Chicago,
The prime purpose for renovating the park is to bring light into a community where gun violence is a constant issue.
“There’s good evidence that green spaces can deter violence,” according to the University of Michigan School of Public Health,
The plans for renovating this particular project have been in the works since 2020, right before the pandemic. The organizations that funded this project are on a mission to revitalize open land in people of color neighborhoods. There are 4,000 empty lots that need repurposing.
Repurposing Land
The city of Chicago has acquired $87 million dollars to revitalize the vacant lots. There is evidence to suggest that repurposing vacant lots reduce violence and crime.
First, the city has to verify that it owns the vacant lots before any next steps. Once that is done, officials have to make sure that the land is not already going to be used to build something else. The lots that have priority are lots that Aldermen’s market first.
The vacant lots are found using the Chi Block Builder. This site can also be used for Single-Families to receive affordable housing on city-owned land.
By Brynn Walker
Sources:
Block Club Chicago: North Lawndale Gets $1.5 Million Park, Replacing Play Lot In Disrepair
Bloomberg: Chicago Plans to Speed Up Vacant Lot Sales in Bid to Curb
Chicago City Scape: Chicago launches new map to consolidate vacant land sale programs
Featured image courtesy of Jonathan‘s Flickr page – Creative Commons License
Inset image courtesy of Semetrius Holmes