The Chicago Park District will be joined by hundreds of Chicago-area children, a consortium of public-private donors and elected officials to celebrate the Grand Openings of three new artificial turf athletic fields Saturday, Oct. 15.
The "Take the Field" initiative joins public and private resources to build 10 artificial turf athletic fields throughout the City of Chicago, three of which open on Saturday. Partners for those include the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation, Allstate (Humboldt Park), Finnegan Family/Teach for America (Cornell Square Park) and Bears Care (Jackson Park). The celebrations will include soccer clinics hosted by the Urban Initiatives soccer program at Humboldt and Cornell Square Parks, and scrimmage flag football games coached by Chicago Bears players at Jackson Park Field.
* 12:30 p.m.    Humboldt Park, Allstate Field, 1400 N. Sacramento Ave.
*        1:45 p.m. Cornell Square Park, Teach for America Field, 1809 W. 50th St.
Over the next three years "Take the Field" will result in the construction of 10 public artificial turf athletic fields located in underserved and geographically diverse Chicago parks. Supported through private and foundation funds, the initiative will enable all fields to be built privately. Recognizing the importance of these fields to local communities, the Chicago Park District will waive permit fees for during specific times throughout the week for youth and community groups that meet eligibility requirements.
The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation has committed to donate up to $5 million on a 1:1 matching basis. To date, $7.9 million has been dedicated to the program thanks to its partners.
Planning for phase two sites will begin in 2012 and includes Abbott Park, 49 E. 95th St.; Davis Square Park, 4430 S. Marshfield Ave.; Dunbar Park, 300 E. 31st St.; and Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L.