Pop! Heights Park opens Saturday on Chicago's Far South Side

Originally posted on CBS News | October 29, 2022

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A new park is bringing a pop of color and vitality to the Far South Side.

POP! Heights Park on 112th and South Halsted opens Saturday

It's meant to be a gathering spot for people living in Roseland, Morgan Park, and West Pullman.

Far South Community Development Director Katanya Raby says the park will bring new opportunities for future development. 

"Hopefully, it will attract more developers to the area, more homeowners who are looking to purchase homes, Roseland and East Morgan Park, and West Pullman has a great housing stock so hopefully we'll attract more people to come and repopulate the area," she said. 

Raby says POP,  which stands for the Public Outdoor Plaza program, was meant for communities like Roseland to apply for $500,000 to develop vacant parcels.

The 22,000 square foot space will be a new home to play, work out, garden, peruse pop-up shops and enjoy performances.

One major highlight is the bright mural - created by local mural artist Amoz Wright who says it was important to bring art into the neighborhood.

"Being in the community so often I'm able to get a great first hand insight on what we need for this area and I'm really honored that everything came together tso that I was the one chosen to create this piece for this area," Wright said. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at noon.