Friends of the Parks Calls on the South Works Redevelopment to invest at least $50 Million in park improvements for the Southeast Chicago community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2025
Media Contact: Hannah Williams, (312) 854-3850, Hannahw@fotp.org
Friends of the Parks Calls on the South Works Redevelopment to invest at least $50 Million in park improvements for the Southeast Chicago community.
Chicago, IL -- Friends of the Parks (FOTP) is calling on Related Midwest, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois to commit $50 million (about .05% of the total development cost) for park benefits and protections as part of the proposed $9 billion redevelopment of the former U.S. Steel South Works site at 8080 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
FOTP’s Southeast Side Parks Benefits & Commitments focus on safeguarding the public’s right to safe, accessible, and healthy parks and lakefront spaces.
These commitments include: (1) Investing in a community-led Southeast Side community fund with a $50 million commitment for park investments; (2) Co-developing a community-driven Southeast lakefront framework plan to guide long-term, coordinated park and lakefront planning; (3) Fully remediating contaminated land and conducting ongoing environmental monitoring; (4) Guaranteeing public access to parks and the lakefront while prohibiting surveillance and enforcement practices that deter public use of these spaces.
For the full description of FOTP’s Benefits & Commitments see attached or see this link.
“For generations, Southeast Side communities have endured environmental contamination, disinvestment, and barriers to accessing the lakefront,” said Brian Gladstein, Executive Director of Friends of the Parks. “A project of this scale must deliver real, enforceable benefits. A $50 million commitment - which is about ⅕ of one percent of the total development cost - for Southeast Side parks is a necessary investment to protect and enhance public parks, restore environmental health, and ensure community leadership is shaping the future of the Southeast Side lakefront.”
The proposed $50 million investment would support community-prioritized improvements for Southeast Side parks, such as restrooms, shaded seating and gathering areas, access improvements, and amenities that support community needs. These investments would be administered through a community-governed fund to ensure transparency, accountability, and lasting public benefits for Southeast Side residents.
FOTP is advancing these demands as part of the broader call from the Coalition for a South Works CBA which seeks a legally binding agreement between Southeast Side residents, the developers, and public agencies.
“FOTP invites community members, partner organizations, and allies citywide to sign in support of the Southeast Side Parks Benefits & Commitments. The sign-on effort aims to demonstrate collective public support for investments into the Southeast Side’s parks, environmental protections and guaranteed public access as part of the South Works redevelopment,” says FOTP’s Advocacy & Policy Manager, Hannah Williams.
Community members and supporters are urged to sign on to FOTP’s Proposed Benefits & Commitments here. For more information contact Hannah Williams, (312) 854-3850, Hannahw@fotp.org.
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