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Reimagining a brownfield as a connected civic landscape

Brighton Park Community Campus

Location Chicago, Illinois
Client Chicago Park District and John Ronan Architects
Expertise Community Collaboration, Inclusive & Accessible Design, Resilience & Sustainability
Size 17 acres
Completion 2023

Investing in Neighborhood Recreation

The Chicago Park District's Brighton Park Community Campus transforms a former brownfield site on Chicago’s southwest side into a 17-acre public park that offers a wide range of inclusive recreational opportunities.

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Legend
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Sport Fields

Splash Pad

Playground

Nature Play

Oak Savanna

Open Lawn

The placement of the Chicago Park District’s headquarters draws inspiration from Chicago’s historic fieldhouses, which are thoughtfully sited within parks to create a civic presence and organize surrounding space. At Brighton Park, the park’s primary pathway passes through the building, widening to form two open-air courtyards that serve as welcoming spaces for meetings, gatherings, and everyday use by both staff and neighborhood residents.

The park’s design references Chicago’s historic park and boulevard system through linear pathways, framed views, and a balanced mix of active and passive spaces. This contemporary interpretation honors the city’s legacy of connected green space while addressing the recreational and ecological needs of today’s community.

Visitors entering from the north are welcomed by an interactive entry plaza, where pools fill and drain through water-activated paddles, creating a playful and engaging experience. To the south, an inclusive playground emphasizes climbing, movement, and accessibility through sculpted topography. A sculptural water feature marks the transition to a nature play area, where open-ended elements encourage exploration and imaginative play.

In the northeast corner, a native habitat serves as both an ecological resource and an educational landscape. Diverse plant communities support local birds, mammals, and pollinators, while permeable surfaces and planted areas capture and infiltrate stormwater, helping recharge local aquifers and reducing strain on the city’s sewer system.

The Brighton Park Community Campus brings together diverse landscapes, amenities, and programming in a cohesive, community-centered destination – transforming a once-contaminated site into a vibrant public asset.

Collaborators

John Ronan Architects

Architect

Terra Engineering

Civil Engineer

dbHMS

MEP Engineer

Fountain Technologies

Fountain Consultant

Thornton Tomasetti

Structural Engineer

APMonarch

Community Engagement

Awards

  • 2024 AIA Chicago Lerch Bates People's Choice Awards, Community & Civic, Finalist
  • 2024 AIA Chicago Design Excellence Award
  • 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design, 1st Place