Lease Agreements Proposed for Community Plazas on City-Owned Land

In a significant move to enhance community spaces, Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed three new lease agreements for public open spaces in Chicago's Grand Boulevard, Englewood, and North Lawndale neighborhoods. These agreements are part of the Department of Planning and Development’s Public Outdoor Plaza (POP! ) program, designed to promote community engagement and revitalization. Teamwork Englewood will manage the Englewood Breakroom, which opened in July 2023 and includes flexible lawn space, play equipment, and an ice-skating rink in the winter. Meanwhile, IAYV, Inc.

will oversee the newly opened South Side Sanctuary, which transformed a vacant lot into a vibrant space with performance areas and local vendor markets. The Steans Family Foundation is set to manage plaza spaces on Roosevelt Road, which are currently under construction and will feature walking paths, landscaping, and public art. Each of these initiatives is supported by grants from the Department of Planning and Development, totaling over $1. 2 million. The POP!

program, launched in 2022, aims to revitalize underused land at strategic locations throughout the city. As of summer 2024, the program has successfully completed 11 plazas with more than $5 million in city financial assistance, demonstrating a commitment to community development and sustainability.