Hours for Martin Luther King Day: View facility hours, including fieldhouses & pools for Monday, January 19, 2026.
Authorizes Agreements to Further the District’s Greening Commitment and Approves Land Transfer for the Historic Red Line Extension;
Board hears a presentation highlighting adaptive sports, accessibility and inclusion
Today, during its final monthly meeting of the year, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners approved the District’s 2026 budget, a $637 million plan that supports the city’s youth and families and strengthens neighborhoods by investing in vital youth opportunities, accessibility and inclusion, community safety and building sustainable communities. The 2026 budget makes targeted investments that advance the District’s Strategic Plan’s six goals and invest in youth and teens, accessibility and special recreation, sustainability, public safety and community wellbeing.
“Thank you to the Board for their support and approving the District’s 2026 budget as well as the residents who provided valuable input,” said Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. “This financial plan reflects the Park District’s commitment to protect our core values and aligns with our commitment to invest in youth and teens, strengthen communities, support sustainability and create exceptional park experiences for all Chicagoans in every neighborhood.”
The $637.6 million budget is a fiscally responsible plan that reflects a 6.5% increase from the previous year to address. Highlights of the proposed budget include targeted use of the $46 million anticipated TIF surplus to invest in the District’s pension and capital funds, including a $5 million capital investment to create Chicago Grows Together, a new fund that directs resources to deferred maintenance and equitable infrastructure solutions for parks on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
The proposed budget also invests $1.75 million in the Special Recreation Fund to expand adaptive sports, inclusion support, and ADA accessibility improvements including an elevator modernization. Moreover, the 2026 expands Young Cultural Stewards Teen programming, Lifeguard Explorers Training Program, allocates $250 thousand to replace lost Night Out in the Parks grant funding. The budget also increases staffing by nearly 15 full-time equivalent positions, supports technological and sustainability upgrades, and strengthens partnerships with sister agencies to increase public safety and community wellness. Residents can view the Chicago Park District’s 2026 The Chicago Park District’s 2025 adopted recommendations can be viewed online here.
Also today, the Board authorized two agreements to support the maintenance of park green spaces and natural resources. The Board approved a contract with Christy Webber and Company for District-wide planting and landscape services, including turf and athletic field installation and repair. The amount of the two-year contract is not to exceed $3 million annually. Christy Webber is a Chicago certified Women Owned Enterprise. Participation for the $1.3 million agreement is 25% MBE and 10% WBE, exceeding the District’s compliance goals.
The Board also authorized an agreement with Arbor Pro Incorporated for the completion of a district-wide tree inventory and the development of an urban forest management plan. The Chicago Park District manages roughly 200K to 250K trees citywide. In addition to contributing to the aesthetic beauty of its surroundings, these natural resources also perform important environmental functions including absorbing stormwater, mitigating air pollution, and reducing the urban heat island impact. The inventory and management plan will provide data on the number, species composition and condition of trees throughout the park system. This information will help guide species selection for future plantings and maintenance to preserve the health of the urban forest. The inventory and management plan is funded by a US Forest Service grant secured by the Morton Arboretum. Participation is 25% MBE and 15% WBE, meeting the District’s compliance goals.
The Board authorized the District to enter into a land exchange with the Chicago Transit Authority to make way for construction for the historic Red Line Extension project. The District will accept a minimum 0.071-acres of property for parks from the Chicago Transit Authority and to adopt a resolution authorizing the transfer of a 0.071 acre portion of Wendell Smith Park (272) to the Chicago Transit Authority for three years to support construction of the transformational Red Line Extension Project. The Authority has committed to the full restoration of Smith Park in addition to allocating $250,000 to the District for additional capital investment to the park.
In order to provide cellular based wireless communications that is vital to Park District operations, the Board authorized the District to enter into an agreement with Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless. The Park District currently maintains 650 cell phones and network data devices for remote sites that cannot be reached by a wired internet service provider. These services support reliable, strong and consistent 4G LTE and 5G coverage to ensure connectivity. The contract also provides an option to use a private network for the devices to directly connect to the Chicago Park District and dedicated 24/7 technical support including on demand emergency assistance during crisis situations. Participation for the $1.3 million contract is 25% MBE and 5% WBE meeting the Park District’s compliance goals.
The Board and Park District heard a video presentation on adaptive sports and the importance of accessibility and inclusion in parks. The Park District’s 2026 budget invests $1.75 million in investments in special recreation and accessibility-focused capital improvements.