McKinley Park Development Council

05/25/2026

🏫Workshop for CASL's new Community Hub!🏫

The Chinese American Service League is planning The Community Hub at 3000 S. Pitney Court, right on the line between McKinley Park and Bridgeport. It is a 5.3-acre riverfront site set to become a welcoming space for connection, growth, and opportunity.

This workshop will help determine what's on the new campus, which could include housing, services, education, and more. Come to the workshop to be a part of it!

📅Thursday, May 28
⏰5:30 - 7:30pm
🌎Horizon Science Academy IN BRIDGEPORT - 1040 W 32nd Place

05/24/2026

🖍Public Meeting on Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center's Future 🖍
When Velma Thomas's current building was sold last year, measures were put in place ensure the school could stay in its current location. That has not changed.

At the same time, a working group of parents, school staff, and neighbors was formed to determine the school's needs for physical space and explore options to fulfill those needs.

At this meeting, the working group will present its work so far and seek input from families and community members about what factors are most important in making decisions about the school's physical space.

📅Thurs, May 28
⏰5-7pm
🌎Evergreen Academy Middle School
3537 S. Paulina
RSVP for Childcare at https://bit.ly/vt26may

05/22/2026

We're kicking off a new series on storefront design 👀
Did you know Chicago has citywide storefront design guidelines? These recommendations focus on making commercial corridors more welcoming, active, and people-centered.

As improvements continue along 35th Street and around the neighborhood, these ideas can help us think about what creates a stronger neighborhood commercial corridor. In this series, we'll take a closer look at specific topics like signage, windows, public space, and design details.

To read the city guidelines, see link in comments.
What McKinley Park storefront catches your eye?

05/21/2026

We had a full house at the library last night for our Speakers Series. If you missed it, check out the video link below to learn about art coming to Canalport Riverwalk, Missing Middle housing planned near Western Ave, and updates on a variety of other opportunities re 35th Street, Park 571, the proposed CASL Community Hub, Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center, and a proposed strip mall.

05/18/2026

🎬Join us this Wednesday, May 20th, for a Speakers Series double feature! 🎥

1) Urbanism LLC will share their designs for two flats on city property near Western Ave. and 34th Pl. as part of the Department of Planning and Development’s Missing Middle Program.

2) McKinley Park’s own Delilah Salgado will discuss new artwork coming to Canalport Riverwalk through E(art)h Art Chicago.

📅 Wednesday, May 20, 2026
⏰ 6:30-8:00pm
📍McKinley Park Library | 1915 W. 35th St.

Learn more about Chicago's Missing Middle program at link in comments

Snacks served, kids welcome!

05/16/2026

MPDC had a busy day helping businesses on 35th Street meet today’s application deadline for over $1M in Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation grants that go directly to the business + meeting with city officials to discuss bringing similar opportunities to the entire Archer corridor.

We’ll learn about application results later this summer. In the meantime, keep showing your love for our our neighborhood spots!

05/14/2026

🌺 New plants coming to the Damen Island!🌿
The Chicago Park District is partnering with the Chicago Botanic Gardens and the University of Michigan-Flint to study native plants in McKinley Park. 15 different types of native plants including grasses, sedges, and flowers are coming to the plots pictured below. The plots are being prepared today and planted tomorrow.

The object of the 2-year study is to see which types of plants are happiest here given our weather and soil conditions, as well as the variety of activities that happen in this spot. The Park District will use the results of the study to make decisions about which plants to use in our park and others.

05/11/2026

Coming to the library on Wednesday, May 20!

Meet Missing Middle housing developer Urbanism LLC at a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 hosted by the McKinley Park Development Council with DPD and Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th).

05/11/2026

What a turnout! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Department of Planning and Development (DPD)'s Pilsen Industrial Corridor Open House last week. Neighbors responded to a wide range of questions, from infrastructure and transportation to riverfront and small businesses, and shared what they think the future of Planned Manufacturing District (PMD)-11 and the rest of the corridor should look like.

This event was a kickoff for DPD’s study of the Pilsen Industrial Corridor, which will be ongoing. Find more information on the city’s website (link in comments), where you can also sign up to receive email updates about the study.

05/08/2026

🎉 Community space by neighbors, for neighbors at Marshfield Courts! 🎉
City Council recently voted to approve the transfer of the City-owned lot at 1644 W. 35th St - also known as Marshfield Courts - to nonprofit land trust NeighborSpace.

This site, cared for by the Marshfield Courts Collective already serves neighbors as a garden, skate park, art space, and free little library. With NeighborSpace holding the land in trust and MPDC as the park’s sponsoring organization, the site
will be managed and operated by neighbors, and will remain protected as community space for years to come.

Listen to skater Alex Quiroz explain why this space is so important to the community.

05/08/2026

💧This River Day, help design a new park!💧

On River Day this Saturday, 2 big things are happening:
1) Friends of the Chicago River sponsors cleanups at more than 80 locations throughout the city. Sign up at link in the comments to help keep our community clean!

2)During the event, MPDC will host a table at Park 571, with activities and conversation about the proposed Park 571 expansion onto the lot next door. You don't need to cleanup to participate in our activities. See the second image for a picture of the lot, currently being remediated by Peoples Gas. Come share your vision for the future of Park 571!

📅 Saturday, May 9, 2026
🕒 Cleanup 9:00am - 12:00pm | Activities 10:00am - 1:00pm
📍 Park 571 | 2828 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL 60608