Friends of the Parks statement regarding the Supreme Court rejection of Protect Our Parks’ petition to stop construction of Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park

8/20/2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, August 20, 2021

Contact: Abigail Johnston
Friends of the Parks
Policy and Communications Associate
(312) 857-2757 ext. 4
johnstona@fotp.org

Friends of the Parks statement regarding the Supreme Court rejection of Protect Our Parks’ petition
to stop construction of Obama Presidential Center
in Jackson Park

On this occasion of the Supreme Court declining to hear Protect Our Parks’ (POP) petition to stop construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Friends of the Parks feels compelled to note that our organization never has been involved with this litigation. POP is a completely separate non-profit entity, and we have disagreed with their legal analysis and strategy from the beginning.

Though we have consistently stated our preference for building the OPC on vacant lots across the street from Washington Park rather than on existing green space in Jackson Park, we have spent our energy over these years conferring with the community at various tables, not the least of which is the Obama Library Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Coalition of which we have been an Ally Member, and working behind the scenes with the Obama Foundation to seek the best possible outcome for area parks and the people that use them, even while some members of the media and neighbors confused us with POP.

Friends of the Parks looks forward to moving past this state of confusion so that we can all focus on what has always been our purpose and stance: improving and increasing parkland and park amenities in and around Jackson Park and the connected Midway Plaisance and Washington Park.

We continue to stand ready to work with any and all Chicagoans who care about our parks as key to healthy neighborhoods and a healthy Chicago in alignment with our mission: “to inspire, equip, and mobilize a diverse Chicago to ensure an equitable park system for a healthy Chicago.”

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