Chicago Park District (CPD) officials recently joined Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), DePaul University officials, and community members to break ground on renovating Margaret Hie Ding Lin Park to upgrade existing facilities for active recreation and play.
The public park, located at 1735 S. State St., features a basketball court, which CPD will renovate fully to provide additional community basketball programming in partnership with DePaul University.
“This project underscores the Chicago Park District’s commitment to providing diverse, accessible opportunities that support Chicago’s children and teens,” said Chicago Park District general superintendent and CEO Michael Kelly. “Upon completion, this park will be an invaluable resource for families in the community with children who aspire to learn and excel at basketball.”
Besides the revamped basketball court, the renovation will provide a new half court facility and drinking fountain as well as bleachers, benches, and lighting. It also will update landscaping and improve Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility.
CPD expects to complete the park in spring 2022, creating a destination sports play area for current athletes and future generations.
“Lin Park has been an indispensable resource in the South Loop neighborhood for many years,” Dowell said. “This facility has hosted basketball games, community events, and it has been the backdrop for commercials and films.
“It was time for a facelift, and I am happy to join the Chicago Park District, DePaul University, and members of the South Loop and Chinatown neighborhood in working together to bring Lin Park into the 21st century.”
DePaul is investing in the Lin Park project as part of its upcoming 125th anniversary celebrations in 2022-2023 and its commitment to the South Loop community. The public park sits half a mile from Wintrust Arena, and DePaul envisions that park offering neighborhood children and adults a place for pickup games and to connect through play with DePaul Blue Demon men’s and women’s basketball teams. University personnel intend to serve as ongoing stewards for the park and will include park cleanup as part of DePaul’s Vincentian Service Day.
“DePaul is committed to Chicago,” said A. Gabriel Esteban, university president. “We want children in Chicago to dream big, from the basketball court to the classroom. We look forward to Lin Park becoming a place where the Chicago community and DePaul Blue Demons meet to play, learn, and grow.”
The 0.27-acre park opened in 1970. In 2004, the City named it for Margaret Hie Ding Lin, MD, a Chinese immigrant and physician in the nearby Chinatown neighborhood. City officials wanted to honor Lin’s memory through creating opportunities in the park that exemplify commitment to serving and supporting the Chinese-American community’s recreational and health needs. The facility forms part of CPD’s network of 325 outdoor basketball courts located in more than 200 parks throughout Chicago.
For more information, call (312) 742-4786.