Parkways Foundation

Last updated October 29, 2019

Founded in 1994, Parkways Foundation was the non-profit, philanthropic partner of the Chicago Park District.^[1] Parkways sought private investment to enrich the physical and cultural landscape of Chicago's neighborhood parks.^[2] The foundation was led by its board of directors and supported by over 200 board members including Chicago's corporate and philanthropic leaders. Parkways invested in capital projects, youth cultural^[3] and sports programs, and historic preservation in Chicago's neighborhood parks. Parkways projects focused on underserved neighborhoods for the enrichment of the lives of children and families.

Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States. With an estimated population of 2,705,994 (2018), it is also the most populous city in the Midwestern United States. Chicago is the county seat of Cook County, the second most populous county in the US, with portions of the northwest side of the city extending into DuPage County near O'Hare Airport. Chicago is the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area, often referred to as Chicagoland. At nearly 10 million people, the metropolitan area is the third most populous in the nation.

The Chicago Park District is the oldest and one of the largest park districts in the United States. As of 2016, there are over 600 parks included in the Chicago Park District as well as 27 beaches, several boat harbors, two botanic conservatories, a zoo, and 11 museums. The Chicago Park District also has more than over 230 field houses, 78 public pools, and dozens of sports and recreational facilities, with year-round programming. The district is an independent taxing authority as defined by Illinois State Statute and is considered a separate agency of the City of Chicago. The district's general superintendent and CEO, Michael P. Kelly, was appointed by the mayor of Chicago and confirmed by the board of commissioners in 2011. The district's headquarters are located in the Time-Life Building in the Streeterville neighborhood.

Projects included:

Washington Park Playground
Columbus Park Playground- Chicago's first Boundless Playground for children of all abilities
Inferno Mobile Recording Studio
Alvin Ailey Dance Camp
2 adaptive camps for children with disabilities
Day Camp and after school scholarships
Community Garden Grant^[4]

Washington Park (Chicago park) United States historic place

Washington Park is a 372-acre (1.5 km²) park between Cottage Grove Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive, located at 5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr. in the Washington Park community area on the South Side of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. It was named for President George Washington in 1880. Washington Park is the largest of four Chicago Park District parks named after persons surnamed Washington. Located in the park is the DuSable Museum of African American History. This park was the proposed site of the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic swimming venue for Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Washington Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 2004.

Columbus Park is a 135-acre (55 ha) park located on the far West Side of Chicago, Illinois in the Austin neighborhood. It is considered the finest work by landscape architect Jens Jensen and was consequently named a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

Alvin Ailey was an African-American dancer, director, choreographer, and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the most successful dance companies in the world. He created AAADT and its affiliated Ailey School as havens for nurturing black artists and expressing the universality of the African-American experience through dance. His work fused theatre, modern dance, ballet, and jazz with black vernacular, creating hope-fueled choreography that continues to spread global awareness of black life in America. Ailey's choreographic masterpiece Revelations is recognized as one of the most popular and most performed ballets in the world. On July 15, 2008, the United States Congress passed a resolution designating AAADT a “vital American Cultural Ambassador to the World.” That same year, in recognition of AAADT's 50th year anniversary, then Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared December 4 "Alvin Ailey Day" in New York City while then Governor David Paterson honoured the organization on behalf of New York State.

Parkways closed on August 31, 2012.

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References

↑ Frey, Mary Cameron (2003-06-25). "Hope flourishes thanks to Parkways Foundation". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
↑ Braiker, Brian (2005-07-08). "A Beautiful Party". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
↑ "Festival to rock Chicago a second time". Public Works. 2006-04-01. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
↑ Frey, Mary Cameron (2000-09-28). "Bringing greenery to kids". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-17.

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[1] Frey, Mary Cameron (2003-06-25). "Hope flourishes thanks to Parkways Foundation". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-17.

[2] Braiker, Brian (2005-07-08). "A Beautiful Party". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-01-17.

[3] "Festival to rock Chicago a second time". Public Works. 2006-04-01. Retrieved 2008-01-17.

[4] Frey, Mary Cameron (2000-09-28). "Bringing greenery to kids". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-17.