District will open 18 parks with limited hours of operation
In preparation of a work stoppage on October 17th by 2,400 SEIU Local 73 employees, the Chicago Park District announced plans to open a limited number of fieldhouses with limited hours of operation, to provide resources to families. Due to the severe workforce shortage a work stoppage would create – most regularly scheduled classes, programs and events will be cancelled until further notice. The District remains hopeful that an agreement with the union will be reached and a disruption of park services can be avoided.
Should a work stoppage occur, it will impact Chicago Park District facility hours, program schedules, landscape maintenance, waste removal and security. The Chicago Park District will open 18 fieldhouses on weekdays, from 2 pm to 6 pm. Patrons will be able to engage in drop-in and low-organized activities including open gym and fitness center use. Non-staffed parks, the Chicago lakefront, playgrounds and outdoor nature areas will be open, as usual. All park fieldhouses will be closed on weekends. In addition, all pools, room rentals and specialty programs including Junior Bears, Windy City Hoops, gymnastics centers, boxing centers and special recreation/Special Olympics programming will be closed or cancelled during the duration of the strike.
“This contingency plan is the Chicago Park District’s best effort to provide resources in the event of a work stoppage by SEIU Local 73 employees,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent Michael Kelly. “The Park District remains committed to the communities we serve and putting Chicago’s children first."
The Chicago Park District has been negotiating in good faith with SEIU Local 73 since January of this year. The Park District’s most recent proposal, made on August 28th, would give the union’s lowest-paid workers the highest wage increase in Park District history.
Below is a list of the 18 Chicago Park District locations that will open for drop-in activities, weekdays from 2 pm to 6 pm, if a SEIU Local 73 work-stoppage occurs.
NORTH
- Rosedale Park, 6312 W. Rosedale Ave.
- Margate Park, 4321 N. Marine Dr.
- Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton Ave.
- Gompers Park, 4222 W. Foster Ave.
- Hamlin Park, 3035 N. Hoyne Ave.
- Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
CENTRAL
- Taylor Park, 39 W. 47th St.
- Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St.
- Columbus Park, 500 S. Central Ave.
- McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd.
- Archer Park, 4901 S. Kilbourn Ave.
- Humboldt Park, 1400 N. Humboldt Dr.
SOUTH
- Washington Park, 5531 S. MLK Dr.
- Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St.
- Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Dr.
- West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St.
- Trumbull Park, 2400 E. 105th St.
- South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.
*Exceptions include Maggie Daley Park, McFetridge Sports Center, Morgan Park Sports Center as well as Lincoln Park and Garfield Park Conservatories. These facilities are managed and operated by outside contractors or non-SEIU staff and will remain open during regularly scheduled hours for the duration of the work stoppage.
The Chicago Park District has reached agreements with 24 of the 25 unions represented in its workforce. Updates related to the strike and fieldhouse sites that will open during the strike, will be available at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.