MAYFAIR — A long-abandoned house could be reinvented as recreation space for Mayfair families if Chicago Park District commissioners follow through on a request from Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th) to buy the property and turn the land into a park.
Laurino made the pitch at Wednesday's Park District board meeting, where she asked commissioners to consider purchasing a vacant home at 4546 N. Kedvale Ave., near Mayfair's border with Old Irving Park and Portage Park.
The 12,500-square-foot property sits in the middle of an area bounded by Lawrence, Elston and Pulaski — home to 4,000 people, including 1,000 children, who aren't well served in terms of green space, Laurino told the commissioners.
The new park would serve families in a triangular area bounded by Lawrence, Elston and Pulaski. [Google Maps]
The nearest park, Mayfair Park, is three miles away, and families have to cross the highly trafficked Elston Avenue to reach it, the alderman said.
"We have a very fine facility and programming at Mayfair Park," but the only option for recreation east of Elston is Spikings Farm, added Ron Duplack, president of the Mayfair Civic Association, who also spoke at the board meeting in support of the new park.
Despite a name that would seem to imply acres of room, Spikings Farm is described by the Park District itself as a "tiny playground," and sits immediately north of the Albany Park Police District headquarters on Pulaski Road.
A park on Kedvale "would fill an important need for the community," said Manuel Galvan, a spokesman for Laurino.
The four-lot triangular property is listed for $198,750. The land went on the market in October for $1 million, only to see its price drop approximately 78 percent.
The house is "no longer habitable" and the property is being marketed solely for its teardown potential, Laurino told the commissioners.
It is unclear whether the land would be used by the Park District as open space or whether a playground or other amenities would be added, Galvan said.
"Step one is to get the land," he said.
The commissioners did not respond at Wednesday's meeting, but according to Galvan, board members agreed to take Laurino's request under advisement.
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