With some old-school fanfare of speeches, a Boy Scout color guard and a few brass instruments, Adams and Sangamon Park officially opened Saturday and, in doing so, added more open space to the West Loop.

The new park joins 24 others for a total of 540 acres of open space throughout the 2nd Ward. Ald. Robert Fioretti said the development of green space is a moral obligation, even during tough financial times.

“Parks make life worth living,” Fioretti said.

Following years of efforts and delay over acquisition of land that was previously warehouse space and state property, Adams and Sangamon Park hosts a dog park, a modern playground, a large water sculpture and green, green grass.

”Never in my wildest dreams did I think this park would come about,” said Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th). “It is a dream.”

When plans for the park began, the corner of Adams and Sangamon was in Burnett’s ward. Applauding the work of several neighborhood organizations credited with bringing the park to reality, Burnett said the search for more land to convert into public green space was ongoing.

Neighborhood resident and organizer Eric Sedler, vice president of the West Loop Community Organization, said the park was a much-needed amenity that added to relatively recent West Loop improvements such as new schools and other parks. It took a long time, but will be here for generations, he said.

As Saturday’s ceremonial opening progressed through the morning, well attended by those involved in the park’s creation, about 100 people were busy using the park’s amenities. Families ran circles through the misting sculpture, bathed in the afternoon sun and wore out puppies on their own enclosed playground.

Former West Loop resident Greg Jung was back in the neighborhood for a weekend wedding of a friend. Saturday, Jung played in the mist with his son, Grady, on a corner he hardly recognized.

“I was surprised by the park here,” Jung said. “It was nice to find it.”

Contact: gskinner@chicagojournal.com

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By darrel from south loop
Posted: 08/27/2010 9:55 PM

any money and land used for dog parks are resources that are at the expense of children and thats a shame. dog owners really have a sense of entitlement and are actually cruel to have an animal without a place to air it, like a backyard of their own to foul.

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By lindy from West Loop
Posted: 08/27/2010 10:26 AM

I think it's not the grass but the size of the dog park that's the problem. The private dog park next to the MOD building is grass and it held up well. But then it's HUGH compared to this one. The fake grass also gets really hot during the day.

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By Karen from New East
Posted: 08/26/2010 8:41 PM

Do owners ever realize that grass does not grow after dogs have done their business on it? I live by the Park at Lakeshore East, and the grass did not survive there after one season. Then it became a pile of mud (worse). Pea gravel was nasty after a season (plus my little dog couldn't walk on it because it got between their toes, especially when it was freezing out.) The fake grass is the best thing that happened to that dog park, and I'm glad it's in this new one.

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By Mari from Tri Taylor
Posted: 08/26/2010 7:52 PM

I was at the dog park today. To bad dog owners dont pick up the poop! Also a few of the dogs were not neutered and these dogs were big. I am talking Rotts and a Pitbull. I did not stay long. If they are not neutered then they do not have a license to be in the dog park area. As a long time dog guardian and a volunteer at Animal Care and Control I would sure pass on this dog park. My daughter loves the playground and misters!!!! Four stars for the park and Zero for the dog park

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By Charles from West Loop
Posted: 08/26/2010 12:40 PM

We tried it a couple of times but it's too hot being concrete and it's really too small. Jake is just a medium size dog and he can't get a full run. He also doesn't like the fake grass and I can't say I blame him. We still go out to the dog park in the suburbs for him to get his exercise. I also heard that there has been several incidents of dog attacks and fights already.

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By Rich from West Loop
Posted: 08/26/2010 10:15 AM

The dog park is concrete, but it isn't small compared to some others in the city. And it seems to be very popular.

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By Martin from West Loop
Posted: 08/26/2010 9:20 AM

Alas, the dog "park" is small and all concrete.