illi News - Chicago: Mayor Johnson, Park CEO Ramirez-Rosa Join Park Advocates And Community Stakeholders To Announce Future Plans For Park Development At Calumet Confined Disposal Facility As More Than Four Decades Of Dredging Disposal Comes To An End

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CHICAGO — Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Park District CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa joined Friends of the Parks, Alliance of the Southeast, and the Environmental Law and Policy Center joined a host of elected officials, conservation advocates, and Eastside community stakeholders at the Calumet Park fieldhouse, 9801 S. Avenue G, to announce the future closure of the Calumet Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) and plans to convert the 43-acre site into public parkland.

"For decades the Eastside community has fought for this land to be reclaimed, today we take the next step in realizing that vision of a healthier, greener, and more connected Chicago," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "I'm grateful for all of the incredible advocates who've worked tirelessly to see this site transformed into a serene, shared space that will serve the entire community. This investment has been a long-time coming, it reflects our commitment to sustainable community development and environmental justice, and I want to thank all of our partners who came together to make this project a reality."

For the past four decades, the CDF, which holds contaminated dredged material, has occupied the site on the northeastern end of Calumet Park. To move toward the future development, the Park District has earmarked $500,000 to launch the community process that will allow residents and other stakeholders an opportunity to help shape the new park. During the event, officials unveiled a newly installed sign that identifies the site as Chicago Park District property and reads, "Future Park #608," signaling the future investment and transformation of the site.

"This is a day of celebration because today we turn the corner on fulfilling the promise of turning the existing CDF site into beautiful, public parkland, said Chicago Park District

General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez -Rosa. "For generations, the residents of the Eastside community have lived alongside this vast landfill, in anticipation of this day. After years of community organizing, advocacy and support from Friends of the Parks, the Alliance of the Southeast, the Environmental Law and Policy Center and countless other organizations, elected officials and partners, we can begin the important work of developing a park that will transform the site aesthetically and create valuable, gathering space that contributes to the vitality and well-being of this community."

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Today's announcement follows the City's decision to withdraw support of the CDF vertical expansion at Calumet setting forth a path to close the facility in the coming years once the existing facility is full. Environmentalists and community advocates have long opposed the CDF expansion. In 2022, the Corps sought to vertically expand the CDF to extend its operational life; however, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) determined that such an expansion would constitute construction of a new landfill, which is prohibited under Illinois law since 2012.

In 2023, local environmental justice group, Alliance of the Southeast and park advocacy organization Friends of the Park filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), which owns and operates the CDF, challenging the expansion of the site. The Environmental and Law Policy Center provided legal representation in the case, which in conjunction with the IEPA determination, forced the Corps to reverse their plans for the vertical expansion.

"Turning this landfill that has been collecting toxic waste over the past five decades in an environmental justice community, into a new lakefront park, is a monumental achievement," said Brian Gladstein, FOTP's Executive Director. "A new park is a vital asset for the community, for all Chicago, and can serve as a model for the country on how to turn toxic land into a green space for everyone to enjoy."

The Corps has estimated there is likely room in the existing CDF to support one additional dredging event. The City and the Park District support additional dredging to fill the existing CDF, as specified in the agreement. Given the existing facility is nearing capacity and the IEPA's determination restricting the vertical expansion, this is the appropriate time for the Chicago Park District to work with the community to envision the future park space and work with the Corps and project partners to enact more sustainable, long-term solutions for the site.

"Today, we celebrate an end to a proposal to build a 25-feet high toxic landfill on our lakefront, next to Calumet Park, and in an environmental justice community," said Amalia NietoGomez, Executive Director of Alliance of the Southeast. "We've waited over 30 years for this land to become a park. We celebrate everyone who came together to make this happen- community residents, community groups, our partners, and our public officials. We look forward to working with the Chicago Park District, the Mayor's Office, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to finally transform this land into a long-promised lakefront park for the community to enjoy."

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Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1980s, the CDF was designed to safely contain contaminated sediment dredged from the Calumet River and Harbor to support navigation. The facility was constructed on submerged Park District land in Lake Michigan under an agreement that, once filled to capacity, which was projected to occur in 2022, the Corps would close, cap, and restore the site for future public park use. For over four decades, Southeast Side residents and environmental advocates have pushed for the fulfillment of the Corps' commitment. Now that the CDF is at or near full capacity and no legal path forward for expansion, the City has an opportunity to deliver that outcome.

"This is a landmark victory for everyone who believes that Chicago's lakefront should be for people and parks—not toxic waste dumps," said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. "This model coalition of community partners, public interest environmental attorneys and Illinois public officials worked together to stop the Army Corps' misguided proposed new toxic waste landfill along the Lake Michigan shoreline in the Southeast Side environmental justice community. Our coalition success paves the way for a cleaner, greener future with a new lakefront park for Southeast Side residents and all Chicagoans to enjoy. We look forward to working with Chicago Park District Superintendent Ramirez-Rosa to transform this lakefront site from a toxic waste dump to a new lakefront park connected to beautiful Calumet Park."

The Park District looks forward to engaging partners, residents and other stakeholders in 2026 on the framework plan for the new park. To learn more about the history of Calumet CDF and plans for future park development, visit the Chicago Park District's website.

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