The City of Chicago is investing US$1 million to upgrade cooling infrastructure at 42 neighbourhood parks, targeting communities identified as the most vulnerable to extreme heat through a data-driven mapping tool.
Announced by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Park District, the first phase of the program will deliver air conditioning improvements and other cooling enhancements at park facilities across the city.
“For too long, communities that have faced the greatest impacts of extreme heat have also faced underinvestment in the resources needed to keep residents safe,” Johnson said.
“By strengthening our neighbourhood parks, we are ensuring that every resident, regardless of their ZIP code, has access to safe, welcoming spaces to cool down during dangerous heat events.”
The first phase of the project will focus on 42 park sites, including 19 in community areas facing the greatest health risks from extreme heat and 21 in those facing some health risks.
By the end of the northern summer, 20 sites on Chicago’s West and South sides will be equipped with upgraded air conditioning, with another ten complete by the end of 2026. Around a dozen larger projects are currently being designed to include cooling infrastructure.
The investment priorities are being driven by the Chicago Heat Vulnerability Index, a tool developed by the Northwestern University Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and its Defusing Disasters Working Group. The investment is part of a US$45 million allocation to the Park District this year.
In addition to more than 240 splash pads and water spray features, the Park District includes 22 lakefront beaches, an inland beach at Humboldt Park and 77 neighbourhood pools.
A heat wave in Chicago in July coincided with Independence Day, during which most city buildings advertised as cooling centres were closed for the holiday. Only one community service centre and four public libraries were accessible for relief at the height of the heat wave.
Chicago’s overall summer average temperatures have warmed by 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970.
