Program excludes Latino neighborhoods from events
Chicago’s 2025 PlayStreets program will fund events in only eight predominantly African American neighborhoods, cutting Latino communities from eligibility, prompting accusations of discrimination by Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th).
“This is an egregious decision that reeks of discrimination against Latino communities,” he said. “For over a decade, PlayStreets served over 20 diverse community areas in the West Region and 21 diverse community areas in the South Region. The decision to focus solely on eight African American community areas sends a clear message that the lives of our youth in other volatile communities do not matter to this administration.”
The 2025 PlayStreets grants that generally fund 150 street events annually, now prioritize West Garfield Park, Englewood, North Lawndale, West Pullman, Roseland, West Englewood, East Garfield Park, and Austin, he added.
According to the Healthy Chicago 2025 Strategic Plan, three of the prioritized neighborhoods with the lowest life-expectancy in years, from 2022 data, are West Garfield Park, 62, North Lawndale, 63.9 and Englewood, 64.3 years respectively.
In an email to the Southwest News-Herald, the Chicago Department of Public Health defended the program’s narrowing.
“As we look ahead, the PlayStreets 2025 pilot program has been strategically designed to prioritize Community Areas experiencing some of the lowest life expectancies in the city of Chicago as well as high rates of physical inactivity and homicide mortality,” the department said.
Mayor Brandon Johnson warned last month that cuts to city services were possible due to past mayoral budgeting decisions and federal funding uncertainties tied to Trump administration policies.
“During the 2022–2024 PlayStreets grant cycle, PlayStreets was able to expand its programming through additional funding provided by American Rescue Plan Act resources,” the CDPH said. “These funds expired in 2024, leading to a reduction of the grant funds from $400,000 to $300,000.
The department said the new focus seeks to close life-expectancy gaps using enhanced collaboration with community-based partners and increase equitable resources to better support well-being, safety and opportunities for its most vulnerable residents.
Lopez rejected that explanation.
“This has nothing to do with anything other than the mayor trying to solidify his support in the Black community by redirecting all resources, programs and dollars to the South and West sides to make up for his falling polling numbers,” he said. “We are already locked in with $3.5 billion federal dollars for this 2025 year. That’s set, that’s safe, nobody’s touching it.”
A January 2025 announcement by Sen. Dick Durbin stated Chicago received $1.9 billion for the city’s Red Line extension. Additional federal funding included $40 million for O’Hare Terminal 3 improvements, $2 million to reconnect West Side communities and $426 million for disaster relief. The amounts total approximately $2.4 billion.
Still, according to the City of Chicago’s Office of Budget and Management Grants Administration web page, funding totaling $4.6 billion allows for key city services, including senior and youth services for Chicago residents.
Lopez also questioned CDPH’s focus on life expectancy less than age 65, saying it conflicts with PlayStreets’ focus on youth programming.
He argued that life expectancy should be based on ages 10-14, citing the program’s focus on youth, families and successful past models like Back-of-the-Yards’ PlayStreets events.
The South Side’s Back-of-the-Yards 2024 program included basketball goals, sports equipment, fresh fruit, food and CDPH health and sexual awareness such as STI checks including Narcan distribution and delivery instruction and partners in the violence prevention universe, at its PlayStreets events, he said.
“We stay out there cooking, playing and doing a bunch of fun stuff for 4-5 hours,” Lopez said.
The alderman also raised concerns about oversight of city grants.
He pointed to last year’s Gage Park PlayStreets events, where he said a new organization received $25,000 for five events but failed to hold any by August. Later, a few events were held resulting from his prompting.
“We need to elevate and expand programs that we know work, both in creating safe spaces in our neighborhoods as well as helping to create healthier communities throughout the City of Chicago,” Lopez said. “For the mayor to shrink PlayStreets for his political purposes is sad, unfortunate and appalling. There’s time for him to correct this and do the right thing. We’ll see if he does it.”
While access to PlayStreet grants have been limited, other options exist to address youth and family support regarding health and employment year round.
“Youth in Chicago continue to have access to valuable resources through ongoing programs offered by the Chicago Park District during the spring and summer seasons,” the department statement added. “Additionally, the Department of Family and Support Services provides youth opportunities through initiatives such as One Summer Chicago Youth Employment and the My Chi, My Future Application for year-round resources and programming.”