This project story started with the Friends of Pritzker wanting to resurface some existing basketball courts on the asphalt playground. BURHANIDESIGN was delighted to present some Master Plan options that aligned with the overall vision of the school and local community. We offered advice and pro-bono services to assist the parent organization of the school to redevelop the unsuitable parking lot into essentially an Urban Oasis.
The existing south facing asphalt parking lot formed an L-shaped recreation area which was not only unsafe but also inefficient as a layout for a school playground. The area flooded frequently and with the lack of landscape or pervious surfaces, it was essentially an urban heat island.
We created a master plan and generated rough project costs, including a more holistic plan to revamp all existing spaces into more efficient, safe, sustainable area for the school. The plan reconfigured the parking area to be more efficient but to also create a safe buffer space between the children and the street.
An outdoor art wall and mural created a lively point of interest for the community and showcased the school’s Fine Arts program. In addition, the design of the multi-use turf field, running track, basketball courts and accessible playground allows for a variety of users to engage in different activities simultaneously.
Stormwater management features included eliminating 40% of asphalt from site and converting to artificial turf, landscaping and play space, providing detention to slow the release into the city system, eliminating one of the two connections to the city system and providing vegetated filter strips to minimize storm sewer pipes.
The fundraising for this project was not easy, considering CPS was not funding projects of this nature. A committee of dedicated parents and professionals came together to ensure this plan was executed. They raised a total of $1.4 Million by October 2018 which led to the ground breaking in the summer of 2019 for Phase-1.
The project successfully brought together a diverse school community, local neighborhood and elected officials in an effort to improve the space for all. This transformative community project has impacted thousands of children and families not only at the public school, but also benefits the greater Wicker Park neighborhood and the city at large. It provides opportunities for the whole community to live a happier and healthier lifestyle for generations to come.
Year:
2019