TITLE
REQUEST TO INITIATE 45-DAY NOTICE PERIOD TO NAME PARK 559 AS EDGEWATER TO PRAIRIE PARK
BODY
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District
I. Recommendation
Pursuant to Chapter VII, Section E of the Code of the Chicago Park District (the “Code”), the General Superintendent recommends that the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District (the “Board”) approve the initiation of a forty-five (45) day notice period to solicit public input to name Park 559 Edgewater Prairie Park.
II. Information; Authorization
Park: Park 559
Location: 6151 N. Sheridan Rd.
Community Area: Edgewater
Ward: 48
Proposed Name: Edgewater Prairie Park
Authorization: The Board hereby authorizes and directs the Secretary to perform, or cause to be performed, all such acts to effectuate this notice of solicitation for public input for this proposed naming, including, without limitation the initiation of the forty-five (45) day notice period, the posting of the notice at the subject park’s fieldhouse (or if there is no fieldhouse in that park then at the nearest fieldhouse) and sending the notice to advisory councils of parks within a one (1) mile radius of Park 559.
III. Park Naming Procedures and Criteria for Naming of a Park
The General Superintendent or their designee (“General Superintendent”) accepts written requests to name a park. Upon receipt, such written requests are forwarded to the Secretary and designated Chicago Park District (“Park District”) staff. The designated Park District staff conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the request to ascertain if the request meets the criteria set forth in Chapter VII, E.2 of the Code for naming a park. Park Staff then present their analysis and review to the General Superintendent.
In considering a proposed name of a park, the General Superintendent shall consider the extent of public support for, and public opposition to, the proposed name. There shall be a general presumption in favor of names reflecting historical or physical features of neighborhoods, rather than names honoring persons or organizations. If a proposed name honors a person, (i) the person shall have been deceased for a least one (1) year prior to consideration; and (ii) the person shall have demonstrated a continued commitment and made an extraordinary contribution to civic betterment, locally, nationally or internationally. If the proposed name is of an organization, the organization shall have demonstrated a continued commitment and made an extraordinary contribution to civic betterment, locally, nationally or internationally. If the proposed name is of an event, then (i) the event shall have occurred at least one year prior to consideration; and (ii) the event shall have local, national or international significance. No proposed park name shall: (i) duplicate the name of another park or park feature within the City of Chicago; (ii) endorse or advocate religion or a specific religious belief; (iii) have obscene connotations; or (iv) malevolently portray, demean or intimidate any racial or ethnic group.
Upon a finding that the criteria for naming the park has been met, the General Superintendent may make a recommendation to the Board for initiation of a notice period of at least forty-five (45) days to provide notice of and to solicit public input on the proposed naming. If the Board initiates the notice period, the General Superintendent may recommend the proposed naming of the park to the Board at the conclusion of the notice period.
IV. Explanation
In 2026, representatives of the Edgewater Environmental Coalition requested in writing that the Park District name the currently unnamed Park 559 located at 6151 N Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois, to Edgewater Prairie Park. This proposed name is in recognition of the park’s evolving character as a space showcasing and fostering the growth of native plants and the efforts of those in the community to steward that growth and evolution. The naming request is supported by the Berger Park Advisory Council and supported by a petition of area residents.
Since 2024, volunteers, residents, community organizations and other local partners have worked together to restore native habitat within Park 559, which had previously been primarily an area of open turf grass. Today it has become an emerging pollinator habitat with environmental opportunities and on-going community protection.
Park District staff conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of the criteria for naming and presented their review and analysis to the General Superintendent. The General Superintendent considered the proposed name of the park and found that the criteria set forth in Chapter VII, Section E.2 of the Code had been met as follows: (1) the proposed name has substantial public support; and (2) the proposed name reflects the ongoing ecological restoration of the park and while it recognizes the volunteerism and stewardship of local stakeholders, it is a name that reflects a physical feature of the neighborhood rather than a name honoring a person or an organization. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the Park District to initiate a forty-five (45) day notice period to solicit public input to name the currently unnamed park.