Obama chooses historic Jackson Park as library site

[Eugene]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Obama chooses historic Jackson Park as library site

By Kathy Bergen, Blair Kamin and Katherine Skiba
Cityscapes

JULY 27, 2016, 1:45 PM

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have selected historic Jackson Park, just east of the University of Chicago, as the site for the Obama Presidential Center, a source confirmed Wednesday. A formal announcement is expected next week.

Martin Nesbitt, chairman of the Obama Foundation, declined to confirm or deny that the library would go to Jackson Park. He said his staff was in the process of scheduling a day to make the announcement but would not say if it was imminent.

In choosing Jackson Park over Washington Park, the other finalist site, the Obamas have opted for the less challenging of the two options. Both gracious South Side parks were designed by legendary 19th century landscape designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, but the Jackson Park site is cloaked in a more powerful collection of assets.

Located near the Museum of Science and Industry, the lakefront and the eastern edge of the University of Chicago campus, the site allows for the creation of a museum campus in the heart of the park, accented by an existing lagoon, lush woods and greenery. The winding 543-acre park is an oasis on the South Side. The center would be a short hop to either Lake Shore Drive or to two Metra train stations, strong pulls for visitors.

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Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obamalibrary/ct-obama-library-site-jackson-park-met-20160727-story.html

[emulatorloo]

1. Great location!

[femmocrat]

2. You beat me to it!

:LOL:

[ymetca]

3. Now rename the park

Tubman Park and let's watch Republicans' heads explode!

[surrealAmerican]

8. In that neighborhood?

You will not be finding any Republicans there.

[lindysalsagal]

4. Sounds beautiful, and fitting.

Just like the Obamas to put it off the beaten track, rather than in DC or NYC or even Phili or Boston.

Nice that you'll make the trip to Chcago to see it: Something for the city to really embrace in their tourism industry.

Wonder what the building will look like? Modern? Traditional? There's a challenge for an architect.

[awoke_in_2003]

9. Well...

Reagan's is in California, Clinton's is in Arkansas, and Bush the Lesser's is in Texas. They (presidents) tend to put them in their home states.

[sheshe2]

5. A historic spot for a historic Presidency.

They could not have picked a site more perfect. What do you want to bet it will have a huge room devoted to African Americans.

Thanks so much for your post, Eugene.

[frazzled]

6. Good choice

Although I would have wanted the Washington Park community aided by such a project, this makes more sense in terms of transportation and proximity to amenities for visitors, while still helping the businesses south of the Midway on Stony Island and in Woodlawn.

And yay, I'll be able to walk there when I visit my kids, who live in Hyde Park.

[sheshe2]

7. kick!