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The City of Chicago and the University of Chicago own 60% of the vacant land in Washington Park. For decades this community has been overlooked and undervalued. Though our population has decreased, the resilience of our residents has not.

The Obama Presidential Center will allow the world to see the beauty of Washington Park and its residents. That said, there is no reason that our community should be inundated with a community center proposed by the Woodlawn-based nonprofit Sunshine Gospel Ministries and its economic entities: Sunshine Enterprises and the Sunshine Community Development Corp. At a community meeting in the Washington Park field house, Sunshine executives detailed the desired programming that would be offered at their proposed community center at 60th and King Drive, diagonally from Washington Park.



Basketball courts, fitness areas, exercises classes, indoor and outdoor recreation, programs for youth and seniors as well as indoor and outdoor activity spaces were among their desired programming. The $38.1 million proposed center will be constructed with earmarked funds: $13.

5 million from the state, $5 million from the Chicago Recovery Grant and $2 million in TIF funds, plus other sources. Why use taxpayer dollars when we have the 345-acre Washington Park for outdoor activities, a field house with trained staff and basketball courts, two fitness centers (one for adults and one for youth), spaces for indoor and outdoor recreation and activities for families? Why .

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