Recreation Space on Lower West Side Proposed for City Support

A new garden and public space would be created on the Lower West Side through a $455,000 Open Space Impact Fee (OSIF) allocation proposed to City Council today by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Located at 947 W. Cullerton St., the half-acre site is planned to include a play area, dog run, landscaping and public art.

The property was occupied by Lowenthal Metals before being environmentally remediated by the U.S. EPA in 2013 and acquired by the City. It has been owned by the NeighborSpace land trust since 2022.

The project would be funded entirely through OSIF. The OSIF program allocates fees paid by residential construction projects for open space improvements that offset the impact of new residents on community parks and related resources.

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