Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined the Chicago Park District, Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation, Luczo family, 4th Ward Alderman Will Burns, Chicago Public School children and members of the community to celebrate the opening of a new state-of-the-art, all-weather athletic turf field at Mandrake Park, 900 E. Pershing Rd., in the Kenwood community today. 

Mandrake Park field will be used for soccer, football and track. The field was dedicated to Tom Luczo, who lived on the South Side of Chicago.  After studying labor law and the U.S. labor movement, he became a champion for workers’ rights.

“Today’s dedication of the Tom Luczo athletic field as one of the Take the Field investments, will give our children and families a chance to develop athletically and artistically among neighbors and friends,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I am grateful for all these investments in our neighborhoods so our kids have a brighter future where they can work together, play together, learn together and grow together.”

The new artificial turf soccer field is part of the Take the Field initiative, which combines public and private resources to build 12 artificial turf athletic fields throughout the City of Chicago. Mandrake Park is the penultimate field to open as part of the Take the Field initiative, which will result in the construction of 12 public artificial turf athletic fields located in underserved and geographically diverse Chicago parks.  Supported through private and foundation funds, the goal of the initiative is to promote sports and healthy activities by building a state-of-the-art resource in communities in which field use is in high demand.  Recognizing the importance of these fields to local communities, the Chicago Park District has installed field lights and will waive permit fees during specific times throughout the week for youth and community groups that meet eligibility requirements.

# # #

Photo Caption: Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Chicago Park District and Chicago Public School children and members of the community to celebrate the opening of a new athletic field at Mandrake Park. 

Photo Credit: Patrick Pyszka // City of Chicago