CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward), and the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (CDC) joined community members to break ground on La Placita at Belmont Cragin, a new public plaza space at Grand and Fullerton Avenues that will transform an underutilized lot into a vibrant neighborhood gathering space. It marks the first of three new plaza improvement projects CDOT will begin construction on this year as part of efforts to expand and enhance public spaces across the city. 
 
"Since 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic, we have worked to activate La Placita as a vibrant hub for our community. With City Light Church hosting our very first meeting, and with the continued partnership of Northwest Community Development Corporation and Funtastic Chicago, we’ve brought this space to life for small vendors and community events every summer and holiday season for the past four years—including our annual tree lighting celebration,” said Alderman Villegas. “Grand and Fullerton serve as the welcoming gateway to the 36th Ward, and I’m excited to see all the great things that will continue to come to the Grand Gateway." 
 
"We’re thrilled to be creating this new public plaza in partnership with Alderman Villegas’ office and CDOT,” said Jason Estremera, Executive Director of the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation. “This space will serve as a home for culturally relevant programming, vibrant street vendors, and neighborhood markets—bringing people together at the intersection of culture and commerce." 

 
The Northwest Side CDC worked closely with Alderman Villegas’s office to identify the site and develop a vision to activate and maintain it as a gateway to the Belmont Cragin community. CDOT allocated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to design and construct the plaza, incorporating the community’s priorities. The space will include: 

• A performance space with festoon lighting
• Seating areas with umbrellas, shade structures, and decorative benches
• A walking path, central lawn, and public art display area
• Trees, landscaping, bike racks, and trash receptacles
• A perimeter fence with gateway entry columns reflecting neighborhood branding and Latin American culture
   

La Placita at Belmont Cragin is expected to be complete in Spring 2026. 
 
“This project reflects CDOT’s commitment to working hand in hand with communities to deliver meaningful projects,” said CDOT Acting Commissioner Craig Turner. “La Placita is the first of three new plazas we are building this year to invest in vibrant public spaces that strengthen neighborhood life across Chicago.” 
 
In addition to La Placita, this year CDOT will begin construction on the following plaza improvements:  

• 18th and Leavitt Plaza (Pilsen) — Refurbishing an existing plaza space adjacent to Ann School with new seating, landscaping, and a butterfly garden for educational use.
• Jose De Diego Academy Plaza (Wicker Park) — Transforming a closed roadway into a flexible community space between the school and Roberto Clemente Park, with new landscaping, seating, play mounds, and decorative paving.