ADA Park sits in the middle of the community of Morgan Park.
The park offers football, basketball, and wrestling teams, a cheerleading squad, After-School Matters, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool open to families, children, and others.
Anything the Chicago Park District as a whole and other parks have is extended to ADA park. This is because they are under the umbrella of the district. They have their own programs and ADA Park Action Committee (PAC) is just there to assist.
Crystal Warren, president of ADA PAC, stated: “We don’t get involved in the community politically, but as far as reinvesting in the community, supporting our businesses, and making sure that we try to get investment and revitalization in the community, that is a segue we are working on.”
Warren has been with ADA PAC for more than 10 years. Her mom, Helen Warren is the last living founding and longest acting member of the leadership team. She started the Morgan Parks Roots organization over 30 years ago.
Upcoming Events With ADA Park
“Fit & Fabulous (It’s A Family Affair)” is coming up on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park. The flyer indicates that “The event is free! Come join the most Fabulous Fitness Event Ever! With Carol Ann Jones – Stretch & Flex Warm-up, Georgia Griffin – House Music Zumba, Brenda Rivers – Line Dance Fitness, Adult & Children outdoor Roller Skate Rink – Skates Provided, Bounce House/Inflatables, DJ music, food, and a live band.”
The annual “Morgan Parks Roots Festival” is scheduled to take place on the first Saturday in August. “This tradition has been going on for over 30 years in the community so it is passed down from generation to generation,” Warren explained.
In September, at Bond Park, the event “Jazzing Up Your Health” will kick off. This event deals with the meditative melodic sounds of jazz. Most of the vendors deal with health and how people can keep themselves healthy. They will offer herbs and supplements and therapeutic literature for the mind.
They will be back at ADA Park with a pumpkin patch for the children in October. The date of the event is still to be determined.
In December, ADA PAC is going to partner with the church for “Hope for the Holidays.” They will do toy giveaways and will have winter activities for families.
ADA PAC will hold “It’s Your Park Day,” on May 21. At the event, they are partnering with the Chicago Parks Foundation. It is an event for park beautification that is throughout Chicago.
“We try to roll out a program throughout the year…we try to keep the park clean,” Warren proclaimed.
How COVID Had an Effect on ADA Park
Like most city entities, COVID shut the park down. All of the programs were on hiatus and everything was canceled for the year. In 2021, the park district let ADA PAC come back in and they were able to do the Roots Festival.
The district gave ADA PAC the thumbs up by June. They were able to set it up in a couple of months. They had a great event.
It has been slow going with the park district as it is touch and go currently. They watch the numbers for COVID-19. If the numbers go up they shy back.
The children through the parks program are the primary attendees, however, it is open to the public.
Masking is optional but encouraged. Most of the children do wear a mask inside the field house. However, the district does not demand people be vaccinated to attend.
Warren wants the community “to know and understand that the ADA Park Advisory Council and the Morgan Parks Community Roots organization is there for them. We are there to lift them up, encourage, inspire, and support. We will continue our mission to support the community, we will continue our mission to bring revitalization to the community. We are reaching out to any person who would love to volunteer with us and who would like to come along for the journey.”
“We have many activities and we have many boots on the ground.” There are activities for everyone.
Written by Marrissa Kay
Edited by Content Management Team
Source:
Interview: Crystal Warren, ADA PAC President; April 13, 2022
Images Courtesy of ADA PAC
