Our New Strategic Plan 

Your Parks, Pictured.  

 

We asked Chicago how you #PictureYourParks—and you shared your vision for the future of our city’s public park spaces. At over 100 hours of town halls, focus groups and community meetings and through interviews and surveys, more than 10,000 Chicagoans let us know what they’d like to see in their Chicago Park District.

We used public feedback, along with Parks staff input, to craft a new strategic plan that will act as our North Star for the next five years, 2025-2030, guiding the decisions we will make to advance our mission.

The strategic plan consists of a new Mission and Vision, along with refreshed Values and Goals. Our revamped Mission and Vision statements affirm why we exist and our ideal future state. A new set of Values articulates our priorities. We’ve also adopted new Goals for the next five years—and strategies of how we’ll get there.  

 

About the Planning Process

 

 

 

Mission, Vision, Values & Goals

Our Mission is to give people of all ages, identities, and abilities access to quality recreation, wellness opportunities, and sustainable green spaces in every neighborhood.

Our Vision is to build a healthier city through an inclusive park district that connects communities with recreation and their fellow Chicagoans.

 

Values

Community Anchor

Connecting Chicagoans by maintaining thriving public spaces and affordable and accessible programs and services that strengthen our communities. 

Foster Belonging

Providing safe and inclusive spaces where our diverse community is embraced, valued, and treated with respect. 

Promote Innovation  

Building a culture that welcomes change and embraces new ideas that prioritize the experiences of community members and employees. 

Thoughtful Stewardship

Managing resources responsibly and transparently to ensure the long-term sustainability of parks. 

Health & Wellness

Providing opportunities for leisure, fitness, and recreation activities that enrich community wellbeing, support active living, and promote a healthy food environment. 

 

Goals

Elevated Experiences

Enhance local engagement and expand park user base through tailored neighborhood programming. 

Community Wellbeing

Promote a thriving community by advancing wellbeing, offering opportunities to improve health outcomes, and enhancing quality of life.

Parks for All

Foster and cultivate belonging to ensure inclusivity for people of all identities and abilities. 

A Greener City

Responsibly manage resources for long-term environmental and financial resiliency. 

Effective Operations

Enhance and strengthen operational effectiveness.

Leading Employer

Support a healthy work environment that promotes teamwork, wellness, and professional growth. 

 

 

Read the Full Plan 

Want to learn more about the Chicago Park District’s strategic plan for the next five years?  Read the full plan.

View the Complete Strategic Plan


You can view our previous strategic plans here: