UPTOWN — The Chicago Park District said Thursday it has no plans to ban parties for children older than 10 at an Uptown field house after a rowdy group of teenagers leaving a 15-year-old girl's birthday party wreaked havoc on Leland Avenue this week.
The park district's comments come two days after Ald. James Cappleman (46th) said in a Facebook post, "I've been told that Chase Park will now limit room rentals for birthday parties to children 10 and under to prevent this type of thing from happening again in the future."
But park district spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Faulker wrote in an email Thursday that the park district "will not prohibit room rentals for teen use," including for parties.
"The Chicago Park District's mission to provide quality recreation opportunities to all Chicagoans includes a commitment to our city's teen population," she said in a statement. "Whether it's targeted programs and events, open gym or a place to hang out with friends, our doors are always open to teens."
Employees at the park, 4701 N. Ashland Ave., said Wednesday they hadn't heard of any room rental changes in light of the chaos after the party. Some of the the teens who left, about 50 or so, allegedly harassed motorists and damaged parked cars Monday on Leland from Clark Street to Racine Avenue.
Asked Thursday to clarify where Cappleman heard about the supposed ban, since the park district denies it, Cappleman's office said the ban came up in conversation with police in the Town Hall District.
Town Hall Cmdr. Elias Voulgaris, however, couldn't confirm that and said the park district, being a separate government entity, would have to decide on such a ban "on their own."
"We don't have any authority over the park district, so we can't tell them who to ban and who to allow," Voulgaris said.
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