TITLE
REQUEST TO INITIATE THE 45-DAY NOTICE PERIOD TO NAME THE UNNAMED PLAYGROUND AT 53RD STREET AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DRIVE WITHIN WASHINGTON (GEORGE) PARK TO RONALD “RONNIEMAN” JOHNSON PLAYGROUND
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 (the “Board”) approve the initiation of a forty-five (45) day notice period to solicit public input to name the playground at 53rd Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (“King Drive”) within Washington (George) Park to Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson Playground.
Proposed Park or Park Feature: Playground within Washington (George) Park
Location: 53rd St. and King Drive
Community Area: Washington Park
Ward: 20
Proposed Name: Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson Playground
II. Authorization
The Board hereby authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Board (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 a forty-five (45) day notice period, the posting of the notice at the nearest fieldhouse and on the Chicago Park District website, and sharing the notice with advisory councils within a one (1) mile radius of Washingon (George) Park (“Washington Park”).
III. Explanation
The Chicago Park District has numerous park features within its parks. The General Superintendent proposesThe Superintendent proposes that the Board initiate a forty-five (45) day notice period to solicit public input to name the currently unnamed playground at 53rd Street and King Drive within Washington Park to Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson Playground.
Playground at 53rd St. and King Dr., Washington Park
Located in the Washington Park neighborhood, Washington Park totals 345.67 acres and contains numerous park features, including a lagoon, three playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and baseball, football, soccer, cricket, and softball fields. The playground at 53rd Street and King Drive is located in the northwest side of the park.
Washington Park is one of Chicago’s most significant historic landscapes. Originally considered the “western division”-a 345-acre portion of the enormous 1,055-acre South Park-it was connected to the park’s “eastern division” via a grand boulevard called the Midway Plaisance. The South Park District acquired land for South Park from 1868-1885. In 1881, the South Park Commissioners named the western division in honor of George Washington (1732-1799), the first president of the United States.
Proposed Name: Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson Playground
The proposed name of Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson Playground recognizes the extraordinary contribution Ronald Johnson made to civic betterment locally, including posthumous contributions made in his name through advocacy and charitable efforts.
Ronald "RonnieMan" Johnson was a beloved son, father, and community member whose life was tragically cut short on October 12, 2014 after he was shot in the back by police while running towards Washington Park. The naming of this playground, which was near where Mr. Johnson was shot, highlights his contributions to his community and serves as a broader acknowledgment of lives lost to police and state violence.
The requestors of this playground naming, Mr. Johnson’s mother - Dorothy Holmes - and the Executive Director of the Chicago Torture Justice Center - Aislinn Pulley, recognize that this playground that is a symbol of tragedy that can be transformed into a space of hope and remembrance by honoring Mr. Johnson and reclaiming the land as a place of healing for the community. Simultaneously, the naming highlights the broader issue of lives lost to police violence, the urgency to address systemic injustices, and the hope that communities can build a better future for everyone.
Since Mr. Johnson’s death, Ms. Holmes launched the RonnieMan Foundation in honor of her son and continues to give back to her community. She hosts annual toy, winter clothing, and back-to-school drives in the Washington Park neighborhood. She also organizes Easter giveaways near 53rd Street and King Drive, and has helped maintain a food box nearby. Through the foundation, Mr. Johnson has impacted the lives of hundreds of young people through donations, advocacy, celebrations, and healing.
This request to officially name the playground at 53rd Street and King Drive within Washington Park has the support of Alderperson Jeannette Taylor, community members, and the Chicago Torture Justice Center. The Chicago Torture Justice Center seeks to address the traumas of police violence and institutionalized racism through access to healing and wellness services, trauma-informed resources, and community connection. The Chicago Torture Justice Center is a part of and supports a movement to end all forms of police violence.
Pursuant to the Code, this request to name the playground was forwarded to designated Chicago Park District staff (“Park District staff”) who conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of the request to ascertain if it met the criteria for naming a park feature. Park District staff found that the criteria had been met. Also pursuant to the Code, this request to name the playground was forwarded to Secretary.
IV. Park Feature Naming Procedures and Criteria for Naming of a Park Feature
As set forth in Chapter VII, Section E.1 of the Code, the General Superintendent or their designee accepts written requests to name features within parks. Upon receipt, such written requests are forwarded to the Secretary and Park District staff who conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the request to ascertain if it meets the criteria. Upon a finding that the criteria have been met, a recommendation may be made to the Board that the Board shall initiate a notice period of at least forty-five (45) days to provide notice and to solicit public imput. If the Board initiates the notice period, the General Superintendent or their designee may recommend the proposed naming of the park feature to the Board at the conclusion of the notice period.
As set forth in Chapter VII, Section E.2 of the Code, in considering a proposed name of a park feature, the General Superintendent or their designee shall consider the extent of public support for, and public opposition to, the proposed name. If a proposed name of a a park feature honors a person, the (i) 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. No proposed park feature 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.