WEST ENGLEWOOD — A $2 million tax-increment financing package is expected to be approved at a Wednesday City Council meeting that would pay for the construction of a new athletic field.
The artificial turf field would be a combination soccer and football field and would replace two baseball fields at the north end of the 17-acre park, according to the mayor's office.
The park at 6054 S. Damen Ave. is named for Chicago businessman and philanthropist Robert Lindblom.
In a statement, Mayor Rahm Emanuel hailed the improvements to the park.
“The future soccer and football field at Lindblom Park is part of my ongoing commitment to bring world-class facilities to neighborhoods throughout Chicago,” Emanuel said. “It is my mission to ensure that the new addition will be a staple in the West Englewood community and will serve as a recreation hub for residents and students of Lindblom Math & Science Academy.”
Robert Lindblom Math and Science Academy is a selective enrollment high school in West Englewood that reopened in 2005 after being closed two years for renovations. But Lindblom is not the only local school that regularly uses the park.
Earle STEM Elementary School, 2040 W. 62nd St., is adjacent to the park and is using it for recess until it builds a playground, Principal Ketesha Melendez said.
