School reveals plan to develop parks in Obama library bid

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CHICAGO (AP) — The University of Chicago has revealed details of its plan to build on one of two South Side public parks as part of its bid to bring Barack Obama's presidential library and museum to the city.

The school wants to obtain either 22 acres in Washington Park or 21 acres in Jackson Park from the Chicago Park District. The school selected those sites to fulfill a requirement of the Chicago-based Barack Obama Foundation that the facility be located in an area in need of economic revitalization, the Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/1BJMv8V ) reported.

Locating on Chicago's South Side "offers a rare chance to reinvigorate the economy of nearby communities and make improvements for the area's infrastructure and park," said Susan Sher, a senior adviser to University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer. She called the presidential complex a "new jewel" for the area.

Drawings released by the school Tuesday show the Barack Obama Presidential Center in the Washington Park scenario would stretch from the west side of the park to the Garfield Boulevard CTA station. The drawings show the Jackson Park site would place the presidential center near the Museum of Science and Industry. Under both scenarios the university promises to create more green space.

Putting the Obama library and museum on park land would require the park district's sign-off. David Spielfogel, a senior adviser to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has said the city will work with the Barack Obama Foundation to make sure the city's bids remain competitive.

Two public hearings regarding the parks will be held next week.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/index