Science & Nature
Chicago Park District CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa on Riot Fest, Homeless Encampments and Top Priorities
After 10 years as the 35th Ward alderperson, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is moving to a different office: general superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District.
The district is the nation’s third-largest park system; it includes more than 600 parks, 230 fieldhouses and 26 miles of lakefront.
Ramirez-Rosa joined WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” to discuss his new role and his vision for the district’s future.
On his top priorities:
“We need equitable infrastructure improvements. There’s a lot of need for deferred maintenance across the system. We have fieldhouses that are in disrepair. We also want to make sure that we’re providing our youth with opportunities. The Park District is the largest employer of young people. However, I know that we can do more and at the same time address sustainability and make sure that the Park District continues to be a leader in environmental justice and ultimately supporting our workforce.”
On Riot Fest:
“For the first time ever, we’re going to do a pre-event walk-through with community advocates. The Park District always does a walk-through with the festival organizers. We’re going to invite the community along so we can have greater accountability, so we can make sure that the event is keeping the park up to the same level that they found it at. The Park District previously created a 10% give-back policy where 10% of the money generated from an event would go back into the local park.”
On homeless encampments:
“We need to make sure that all stakeholders are at the table. We are working to convene a working group with the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, with Friends of the Parks, with various other stakeholders, so that we can have a holistic conversation about what it’s going to take to address homelessness in the Chicago parks. We need to make sure that people that are experiencing homelessness are connected with housing, and we also need to make sure that programming and that planned capital improvement projects can move.”
On his love of Chicago parks:
“It’s where I would hang out with my family, it’s where I would play sports. It’s where I would cool down in a splash pad. Chicago parks are at the nexus of a greener, healthier, safer city. We all benefit tremendously from our park system. It is truly a jewel and a gem in this city.”
Note: This article has been updated to correct a quote from Ramirez-Rosa. He said the Park District always does a walk-through with festival organizers.
