Nov 6, 2007 6:24 pm US/Central
Salvation Army Set To Open Huge Center On S. Side
Center To Include Area's First Indoor Water Park Among Other Amenities
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Some famous names are part of a plan to bring Chicago the first indoor water park in the area. The $160 million complex would also include other recreational and educational opportunities on the South Side near 119th and Morgan Streets.
As CBS 2's Katie McCall reports, The Ray and Joan Kroc Center--named for its benefactors--will serve 2,500 people a day, offering fitness and education programs for people of all ages.
Mayor Richard M. Daley says it has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of children.
"Education and sports go hand-in-hand," Daley said. "Those who do well are always thinking whether it's on the court or off the court."
Designed by world renowned architect Helmut Jahn, the mostly glass structure will be home to Chicago's first indoor water park, an academy of the arts, a family life and education center and a 5,000-seat sports complex.
The 22,000-foot facility will sit on a 33-acre plot of land. Among the proposed services are job training and computer classes -- something people who live in the West Pullman neighborhood say they need.
"Maybe it will help kids get jobs...I'm retired but maybe it will help somebody else," said area resident Tommie Lewis.
"There are young people moving in...and they will be able to utilize the community center," said area resident Wilfred Banks. "When we were coming up we didn't have a community center and we needed one."
A sliding-scale fee will provide access to the center for people of all income levels. No one will be turned away.
"Not just for 34 but for all in the Far South region...all that circumference this area it's here for us," said 34th Ward Ald. Carrie Austin.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for fall of 2008 and the doors are set to open in 2010.
The center faces a couple of challenges. Pollution in the area requires a massive cleanup and a barrier to protect the building from contaminated soil. And the Salvation Army must also raise an additional $50 million to ensure the center can be sustained.
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