President Barack Obama and the first lady said in a statement they are “thrilled” that his presidential library will go up in Jackson Park, “in the heart of Chicago’s South Side, a community we call home and that means the world to us”.
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It’s been announced the Obama Presidential Center will be located in Jackson Park, in the heart of South Side, Chicago.
Officials from the Obama Foundation, the city and the University of Chicago will discuss the announcement at a press conference at the Museum of Science and Industry Wednesday.
The foundation says Obama believed Jackson Park would have the greatest long-term impact.
The official statement comes two days after a source familiar with the situation leaked that the OPC would be placed in Jackson Park over Washington Park.
The presidential library’s future location in Jackson Park has received much praise, but the Chicago Tribune is reporting on some concerns about potential negative impact that The Barack Obama Presidential Center may have on the lives of local residents around Jackson Park – not to mention the rest of the South Side.
Friends of the Parks said it was disappointed the Obama library would be built in Jackson Park, “rather than abundant vacant land nearby”. He also promised economic development for the entire area, not just around Jackson Park. “With its aesthetics, iconic location, and historical relevance from the World’s Fair, we believe Jackson Park will attract visitors on a national and global level that will bring significant long term benefits to the South Side”.
After each US president serves in the White House, they get a Presidential Library to commemorate their term.
In May 2015, the foundation announced Chicago had won the bid over other cities to host the complex.
“Thank God. I’m glad they are not going to sue … because this is an opportunity that you don’t want to be tangled up in the courts”, Emanuel said.
But some urban policy planners feel those ambitions would have had more room to grow in Washington Park, where the prevalence of vacant lots offer ready-made space for spinoff development ranging from souvenir stands to restaurants to hotels. Like Washington Park, it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York’s Central Park.
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Some Washington Park community leaders are quietly pleased the library will be close but not too close.
