A proposal to expand the footprint of Francis W. Parker School and add athletic field lighting is generating controversy — the latest chapter in the fractious history between the private school and its Lincoln Park neighbors.
The conflict centers around a plan to add athletic field lighting, a pedestrian overpass and a new building to Parker’s campus. While the school has said the additions are needed to reach more students, some community members say the school continues to overstep, as it has for years.
Multiple organizations have taken issue with the proposal, writing letters and submitting petitions to city officials opposing it. Earlier this month, the Mid-North Association, an organization aimed at preserving the historic character of the mid-north neighborhood in Lincoln Park, penned an open letter of opposition to Ald. Timmy Knudsen, 43rd, charging that the overall development plans would diminish the neighborhood’s historic character, residents, property tax base and affordable housing.
Another group, StopParker.com, describes the school as “expansionist” and questions Parker’s need for more land given its enrollment of 940 students. The website also includes a petition against the development, signed by 1,500 people at press time, according to the East Lincoln Park Neighbors Organizing Committee.
“Parker’s WANTS should not be prioritized over our community’s and city’s NEEDS.” the petition states. “Parker does not contribute to our community, but regularly relies on our resources.”
However, Parker’s leadership and city officials maintain that the plans are years in the making and a result of conversations with community members.
A major part of the plan includes transforming a 15-unit residential building at 327-335 W. Belden Ave. into a classroom and multipurpose space, according to Parker’s website. The addition is expected to expand access to around 125 more students and 30 employees over seven years. Construction on the new academic building would begin no sooner than 2028, possibly later, according to a presentation shared with the community. The proposal must be approved by the Chicago Plan Commission
Parker pledged to keep the property acquired in 2020 at 317-325 W. Belden as a multi-family residential for 30 years, a spokesperson told the Tribune.
Building, lighting plans draw criticism from community
Parker’s campus currently sprawls six acres and has a 6-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The proposal includes a walkway from the planned reconstructed building to the main campus, and the installation of DarkSky-certified athletic field lighting, which the school’s website states would have “minimal light spillover and environmental impact.”
The lighting plans have drawn the ire of some neighbors concerned about light pollution and its effects on nearby native animal habitats.
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On its website, Parker addresses these concerns, stating that the “DarkSky” certification is designed to protect against light pollution. Leadership of the Lincoln Park Zoo reviewed the plans according to the school, which said were developed with neighborhood feedback.
Parker has also floated the idea of allowing other schools and groups, such as public schools and not-for-profit youth groups, to use the fields, sparking some neighbors’ concerns about increased traffic and visitors in the area after school hours. Parker maintains, however, that the field will not be available for adult-only programming and any other usage requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The school has promised to recreate that reduction of housing space by offering up its existing administrative building at 2236 N. Clark Ave. to be converted into seven studio and/or one-bedroom units reserved for those who qualify under the affordable housing income requirements for the next 30 years.
For some people in the neighborhood, Parker’s plans for 327-335 W. Belden have carried weight and complications for years.
Community groups, including the East Lincoln Park Neighbors Organizing Committee, the Mid-North Association’s board and Preservation Chicago, strongly oppose the developments.
In a letter to Knudsen, the Mid-North Association also directly opposed the athletic lighting plan, arguing that field lights do not belong in a residential neighborhood and would disturb community members’ lives, including by increasing traffic in the area.
“Parker’s proposal will cost the Mid-North district residents affordable housing, a tax base that supports our public schools, eyes on the street, parking, light pollution and patrons to our businesses, while giving nothing to the neighborhood or broader community,” the letter said.
Members of the Mid-North Association and the East Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association reached by the Tribune did not wish to publicly comment on the issue.
In a statement to the Tribune, Knudsen said that his office is committed to conducting a review process that is transparent and community-driven as it would be for any zoning question.
“We are holding Parker accountable in these conversations, and we have made it clear that we will not consider any proposal that does not adequately address the needs of the community,” Knudsen said. “We will continue to listen to the input of our neighbors and be forthcoming and communicative as we navigate this process.”
Knudsen also recently shared feedback from an April survey of Ward 43 residents and recipients of the office’s newsletter about the expansion, which recorded both support and opposition to the developments, including specific grievances about the expansion and the potential for increased traffic in the area.
According to the newsletter, the majority of the survey’s respondents supported Parker’s plans for expansion and lighting, including a majority of responses from verified 43rd Ward residents.
“We firmly believe that Parker’s improvement proposal will not only benefit students, future students, Parker community members, staff, employees and alumni, but that the development and improvement of Belden and Clark properties will benefit the entire neighborhood and future community members,” one respondent in the 500 block of West Arlington Place wrote in support of the plans.
In a statement to the Tribune, Parker agreed.
“The community feedback received through Ald. Knudsen’s office … gives us confidence that we have collaboratively found solutions that benefit the school, neighborhood and city,” Parker’s statement said. “As always, we remain committed to transparency and open dialogue as we move forward.”
The baiduhai’s Brian J. Rogal contributed.