Third Ward Ald. Dowell Wants Area Park Named in Honor of Hadiya Pendleton

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Hadiya Pendleton
Hadiya Pendleton

Third Ward Ald. Pat Dowell and the Chicago Park District are moving forward on the planned expansion of Buckhorn Park located at 4347 S. Calumet St, with a proposal to rename the park in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed last year while standing with friends in nearby Harsh Park, 4458-70 S. Oakenwald after taking her final exams. Hadiya was only 15-years old.

“A lot of different things came together,” said Dowell. “They (the Park District) had money for the park’s expansion back in 2007 but because it was near Calumet Food & Liquor, (315 E. 43rd St.) they didn’t want to expand the park with the liquor store there and the issues that stemmed from it. The city has now acquired the liquor store property and other properties nearby.”

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3rd Ward Ald. Pat Dowell would like to have Buckhorn Park named in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, who's death last year, placed national spotlight on Chicago's gun violence.

Dowell said she felt it would be a good idea to name the park in Hadiya’s honor.

“At the time Hadiya was murdered, she lived in the third ward,” Dowell said. “I thought it was fitting to honor her life with the park named after her. Her death focused a national spotlight on gun violence.”

A Community meeting was held March 26. Feedback from residents in terms of the design and what they would like to see included in the new 2.07-acre expansion included a new playground, a water feature for kids, a dog park, a walking path and exercise equipment, new lighting and fencing and new landscaping.

Erika Sellke, a project manager at the Chicago Park District said the City has been acquiring parcels and properties along 43rd Street and Calumet Avenue and just need to transfer those parcels to the Park District.

“Ald. Dowell is working on doing that right now,” said Sellke. “We haven’t received the name change proposal in writing as yet but we expect to receive it soon. We’re asking for $1.2 million from Open Space Impact Fees, part of the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Construction cost is expected to be about $900,000 but could change up or down.”

When asked if there is a stipulation to hire people who live in the area, Sellke said the Park District is not required to hire from the neighborhood, however, there is a 25 percent MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) and WBE (Women Business Enterprise) Park District requirement.

The renaming process will be managed by the Park District.

“Once we receive a support letter from the Ald. for the renaming, the letter will go to the Chicago Park District Board and then there is a 45-day comment period and it will then go back to the board who will then vote on it. The process can take a few months,” Sellke said.

Turnout for the community involvement portion of the park’s new design was well attended, according to Sellke. The Park District is still seeking community input on the park’s design.

To add your comments, please go to www.improvechiparks.com and look for Buckhorn Park and leave your comments.

No date has been set for the groundbreaking. When work does start, possibly sometime next year, street closures will include Calumet between 43rd and 44th Street.

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