Whitney Young’s Sports Complex Was Supposed To Be For The Public. But West Loop Neighbors Are Locked Out
WEST LOOP — A fee-based reservation system and padlocked amenities has residents questioning whether or not Whitney Younger Magnet Excessive Faculty’s publicly funded fields and facilities at Skinner Park are actually for the neighborhood.
The distinguished public highschool unveiled its $4.3 million athletic complex in 2019, named after alumna and former first girl Michelle Obama. Funded utterly with tax-increment financing, the state-of-the-art, multi-purpose subject can host a number of forms of sports activities, and the ability has a coaching space for monitor and subject occasions, scoreboards, batting cages and extra.
Throughout its unveiling, the advanced was hailed as a facility for “everyone.” Whereas college students would have precedence to the sector, it was to be open to the general public — except for the turf subject, which might require a allow, Principal Joyce Kenner beforehand mentioned.
However in latest months, residents have complained about arriving to the sector throughout its public-use hours solely to seek out it padlocked, mentioned Could Toy, head of the Skinner Park Advisory Council.
“I don’t assume that that the neighborhood ought to should scale a 10-foot fence in an effort to use that monitor,” Toy mentioned.
Whitney Younger’s tennis courts additionally lately reopened after resurfacing made potential by a successful donation campaign, which included grant and neighborhood funding. Some locally had been shocked when the college unveiled a brand new fee-based reservation system, charging $15 per hour to make use of the courts.
This isn’t what the college agreed to, mentioned Toy, who had beforehand negotiated with Kenner that “at the least half of these tennis courts would stay open for neighborhood use with out a payment.”
Kenner was not instantly accessible to remark. Athletic Director Chris Cassidy didn’t return calls.
Toy has enlisted the assistance of Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (twenty seventh), who mentioned he’s been in touch with Chicago Public Faculties to resolve the problem.
Burnett, who supported the addition of the Michelle Obama Sports activities Complicated to the neighborhood, mentioned he didn’t help the restricted entry and charges Toy has described.
“All people is on the hustle due to finances constraints, which is comprehensible, however it shouldn’t be on the expense of individuals locally,” Burnett mentioned. “Public house, public park, public cash, we wish to make it possible for everyone will get a justifiable share of what’s accessible.”
A Chicago Public Faculties spokesperson mentioned in a press release the district is “dedicated to creating secure and welcoming college environments.”
“The district is wanting into these allegations and complaints and can work to treatment any conflicts,” CPS officers mentioned.
‘Each Time I Would Name The Reply Was All the time “No”‘
Milos Bajic has run the West Loop Soccer Membership since 2015 to supply a enjoyable, aggressive youth soccer program at an reasonably priced value. The membership practices at Skinner Park and hosts summer season camps and aggressive leagues for teenagers.
When Bajic realized of the turf fields being constructed at Whitney Younger, he reached out to highschool officers to see if he would find a way entry them, however he acquired no concrete response, he mentioned. When the fields opened, he tried a number of occasions to safe a allow, however he was persistently informed the fields weren’t accessible in the course of the day, he mentioned. The occasions that had been supplied had been 8 p.m. or later, a lot too late for a children soccer camp, Bajic mentioned.
So, the membership continues to observe and play at Skinner Park whereas Bajic watches different teams use the sector he’s been attempting to entry since 2019.
“Each time I’d name, the reply was all the time ‘no,’ however then we see on these days any individual else [using them], and it’s like, how can this occur?” Bajic mentioned. “It’s not like we wouldn’t pay.”
Credit score: Melody Mercado, Block Membership Chicago Darshan Desai, who lives close to Skinner Park, mentioned Whitney Younger leaders have to work extra intently with the neighborhood.
As an avid tennis participant, Desai donated $200 to the college’s marketing campaign to resurface its tennis courts. Desai thought he might contribute to the trigger as somebody who would wish to use the renovated courts, not realizing that entry would change after they reopened.
“I feel lots of people would agree that, at the least with the tennis courts and perhaps another issues, that … it was very clear that updates had been going out as a FYI,” Desai mentioned. “I don’t assume I’ve ever seen any response to a query a resident has requested. No matter they needed to speak … it’s been one-way.”
Desai mentioned he doesn’t oppose a payment construction as a result of it helps with higher administration of the courts, however he does assume the worth is a bit steep in comparison with different amenities. For instance, at XS Tennis, a facility on the South Facet, Desai pays $16 an hour for its courts.
“I totally acknowledge that I’m going to be prepared to spend greater than perhaps the common individual in relation to tennis as a result of it’s my ardour,” Desai mentioned. “But when I needed to put a quantity on the market, I assumed, in all probability $10 an hour. So $5 an individual is a bit bit extra affordable.”
Faculty officers didn’t reply to questions asking why they determined to implement a fee-based reservation system.
Reservations for the tennis courts are solely accessible throughout evenings on weekdays and all day on weekends. That availability ought to broaden because the courts usually go unused in the course of the day, Desai mentioned.
Desai mentioned he reached out to the college to ask about increasing the courtroom’s availability. Officers informed him availability would possibly broaden this summer season — if the courts will not be already reserved by different camps and occasions, he mentioned.
Take heed to “It’s All Good: A Block Membership Chicago Podcast”:
