Chicago Park District, Beverly Community to Cut Ribbon on Fieldhouse Upgrades, Accessibility Improvements at Ridge Park

Chicago Park District General Superintendent Rosa Escareño and Alderman Matt O'Shea will join members of the Beverly community to cut the ribbon on major fieldhouse investments at Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Drive, on August 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Fieldhouse Improvements include a new ADA complaint elevator that provides unprecedented access to all four floors of the historic fieldhouse, a new wheelchair lift to the auditorium stage and an accessible sound/control booth. These investments underscore the Park District's commitment to addressing architectural barriers, that exist in older park facilities.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of these vital investments in the historic Ridge Park fieldhouse and the Beverly community," said Rosa Escareño, General Superintendent and CEO. "One of the core values of the Chicago Park District is to provide safe, inviting, and beautifully maintained parks and facilities. All visitors deserve the right to enjoy our breathtaking parks and facilities to the fullest. These $2.6 million in improvements to the fieldhouse ensure more people in the Beverly community and beyond will be able to do that more than ever before."

Other improvements include gymnasium lobby rehabilitation with a new all-gender washroom, structural repairs, new lighting and electrical service to the building. New finishes and signage were upgraded throughout.

"This project is much more than a mechanism to provide physical access to rooms, programs and services," said Dr. Robert Szyman, Professor Emeritus, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (HPERD) at Chicago State University. "It is a vivid, definitive symbol that this City is enthusiastically committed to provide equal opportunities to our neighbors with congenital or acquired disabilities or who are experiencing age-related physical obstacles to access our neighborhood's varied and historic recreational and arts resources, and its cordiality.

Ridge Park is a vital asset in the Beverly community. Totaling ten acres, the park features a gymnasium, auditorium, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, woodshop, and multi-purpose rooms. The park offers three baseball fields, playground, tennis courts and walking path. Park patrons can enjoy a variety of programs, including seasonal sports, cheerleading, aquatics, lacrosse, summer camp and cultural opportunities.