Park District Sued Over Request for Obama Center Information

The Coalition to Save Jackson Park has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Park District for violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Coalition is an organization that aims to address South Side community members’ concerns about the Obama Presidential Center before plans are finalized. The organization filed the suit after the Chicago Park District did not respond within the time frame guaranteed by FOIA and failed to provide all the FOIA-protected information that the Coalition requested.

In their FOIA request, the Coalition requested information from the Chicago Park District and the Obama Foundation’s communications that led to the agreement to allow public parkland as the construction site of the Presidential Center. They also requested information pertaining to road closures and proposed infrastructure changes, parking garage proposals, and any considerations for potential flooding and the Center’s impact on Jackson Park’s natural ecosystem. Read more…