Last week, we took a look at 10 Chicago parks that are still in the planning stage. While it's fun to think about what might someday get built, let's now focus on a park that actually getting built now: Phase 2 of Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown. The first phase of Ping Tom, which is located along the river, just south of 18th Street, was an enormous success, and it's one of the most popular neighborhood parks in the city. Phase 2 is even more ambitious. The 11-acre second phase will be roughly double the size of Phase 1, and like the first phase, Site Design Group has been brought on to do the master plan. The riverwalk will be extended north from the first phase, passing under 18th street, and the Chinese-themed landscaping will continue in the second phase. The biggest addition to the park will be a large, 45,000-square-foot field house that is being designed by SMNG-A Architects. We stopped by 18th Street last week to find that the site has been cleared, and most of the sheet piling has been done on the shoreline, but work hasn't begun yet on the landscaping. According to a January press release from the city, construction on the field house isn't set to begin until next year.
· Top Ten Parks of the Future in Chicago [Curbed Chicago]
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