October 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 60

C h i cag o

The Broadest Shoulders in Town
Mayor Richard M. Daley
views parks and open
spaces as crucial to his
city's high quality of life
In 1989, when he won the first of his seven
terms of office as Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley saw a city being depleted by a suburban exodus.
The " livability " that made the suburbs appealing lay
long dormant in Chicago. Attention to education and
the livability characterized by parks and open space
suffered in the decline. Daley's success in battling
to improve Chicago's public schools is legendary; but just as deep and more visible were
his efforts to " beautify " the city.

" Trees, flowers, parks, attractive open spaces: These things
are contagious, " he told a conference of the Urban Parks Institute in 2001. " When people experience them, they want more
of them. And they are willing to pay for them, because they
know they are getting something for their money. "
Over Daley's 21 years in office, Chicago has seen remarkable changes that have made the city more livable, as well as
sustainable. In addition to opening dozens of neighborhood
parks and play lots and renovating older parks, Chicago now
has two new major destination-worthy parks-the $475 million
Millennium Park and Northerly Island. The city has planted
more than 300,000 trees, promoted rooftop gardens (including
one atop City Hall), and overhauled its streetscapes. His After
School Matters program linked high schools with nearby parks
and libraries in his belief that " education must extend beyond
the six-hour school day and the nine-month school year. "
The Chicago Park District administers the city's parks and
recreation system. With an annual budget of $385 million, it's
the largest park district in the country, enjoys the distinction
of being an independent taxing authority, and is considered a
separate agency of the city. The Mayor of Chicago appoints the

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CEO of the Park District, and in 2004 Daley named Tim Mitchell its chief executive.
The son of another legendary Chicago mayor, Richard J.
Daley, the younger Daley grew up in the Chicago neighborhood of Bridgeport, the fourth of seven children. After earning
a B.A. from Providence College and a law degree from DePaul
University, he entered the world of elective politics. He served
in the Illinois Senate from 1972-1980 and then as Cook County State's Attorney. Daley took office as mayor on his birthday,
April 24, 1989. In 2005, Time magazine ranked Daley numberone in its article on the top five U.S. mayors.
In looking back on his youth in the Bridgeport neighborhood, Daley sees some formative connection with his advocacy for parks and open space.
" Growing up, my siblings, friends, and I-like many children-spent countless hours playing in our neighborhood
park, " Daley says. " Today, children and families still use parks
as a primary source of community recreation. Particularly in a
big city, children need open space to run and play as well as
connect with their natural environment. Parks provide those
opportunities. "

October 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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