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Obama Library on City Parkland Supported by Area Residents, New Poll Says

By Sam Cholke | February 26, 2015 9:46am | Updated on February 27, 2015 9:00am
 A section of Washington Park is considered the favored spot for the Barack Obama Presidential Library by many South Siders.
A section of Washington Park is considered the favored spot for the Barack Obama Presidential Library by many South Siders.
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DNAinfo/Sam Cholke

HYDE PARK — The Obama Foundation says a poll shows that South Siders support using parkland for the proposed presidential library.

Reporters were briefed on the poll, but not provided access to the full data that Obama Foundation officials said showed 90 percent of 603 voters in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 20th wards supported the library coming to the South Side.

Support dropped to 70 percent in favor and 24 percent opposed when residents were advised that about 20 acres of parkland in Jackson or Washington parks might be used for the library.

The study, conducted by Brillant Corners Research & Strategy, only asked about the two sites proposed by the University of Chicago, which could suggest the foundation is leaning toward the South Side or that the sites are the only two still viewed to have unresolved issues.

Recent surveys by the University of Chicago and the Tribune showed a similar level of support among South Siders.

Without full access to the poll, it is unclear what questions were asked of residents.

The University of Chicago poll was criticized after it was released because it did not ask about using Washington Park for the library, but limiting buildings to a 10-acre parcel outside the park owned by the university and city. That position was first promoted by Friends of the Parks co-founder Vicky Ranney and broadly supported by parks advocates and a portion of residents.

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