Jackson Bark is a community dog park named after Jackson Park, Chicago. The park is an adaptive reuse of four abandoned tennis courts.[1][2] Development began in the spring of 2014.[citation needed]

Jackson Bark stone sign created by sculptor James Lax, incorporated into an agility feature with stairs and slide
A-frame and Tunnel in foreground with Tire-Hill in the background

Accolades edit

Jackson Bark was named one of the best dog parks in the city by Chicago Reader (2016 & 2017),[3][4][5] Chicago Magazine (2017),[6] CBS News Chicago(2016),[7] Foursquare (2017),[8] TaskEasy (2017), Yelp (2017),[9] Curbed Chicago (2018) [10] and referred to as a "Woofworthy Spot" by RedEye (2017),[11] a "Pup Paradise" by Southside Weekly (2016),[12] as a "Best Dog-Friendly Vacation"[13] spot by Minitime [1], a "much loved and much needed" [14] dog park by Jackson Park Watch [2] and "Best Dog Park in Illinois" by Woof: The Dog Lover's Social and Dating App (2018),[15] and one of the "Top 10 Dog Parks in America’s Biggest Cities" by Hellowdog (2018) [16]

In 2017, the Chicago Park District endorsed the Tiger Woods Design proposal to expand a golf course in the park to include the Jackson Bark area.[17][18][19] As recently as August 2021, plans for the Tiger Woods Design South Shore Jackson Park Golf Course Restoration included the expansion of the Jackson Park Driving Range, which would eliminate Jackson Bark.[20] Originally slated for a 2020 opening,[21] the golf course redesign has encountered opposition from environmental groups and community activists.[22] In June 2022, the three 5th Ward precincts voted overwhelmingly in favor of a non-binding referendum to encourage the city, and Chicago Park District, to stop removing trees in Jackson Park.[23]

References edit

  1. ^ "Jackson Bark - documentary". Chicago Aussie 2017.
  2. ^ "Man Turns Abandoned Tennis Courts Into Flourishing Dog Park on Chicago South Side". GoodNewsNetwork.
  3. ^ "Best Dog Park". Chicago Reader 2016.
  4. ^ "Best Dog Park". Chicago Reader 2017.
  5. ^ "The summer guide for Chicago dog owners". Chicago Reader 2017.
  6. ^ "Best dog park". Chicago Magazine 2016.
  7. ^ "Best Parks For A Puppy Play Date In Chicago". CBS News Chicago 2016.
  8. ^ "The 15 Best Dog Runs in Chicago". Foursquare.
  9. ^ "The Best 10 Dog Parks in Chicago". Yelp.
  10. ^ "14 best dog parks in Chicago". Curbed Chicago. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  11. ^ "Woofworthy Spots - A Guide to Dog Parks". RedEye 2017.
  12. ^ "A Dog Meet Dog World". South Side Weekly 2017.
  13. ^ "Best Dog-Friendly Vacations in the US for Families". Minitime 2017.
  14. ^ "Jackson Bark, South Side's Only Dog Park, Scrapped In Golf Course Expansion". DNAinfo 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-09-02.
  15. ^ "America's Best Dog Parks by State". Woof : The Dog Lover’s Social and Dating App 2018.
  16. ^ "Dog Friendly Parks : Places That Allow Dogs | Hellow dog". Hellow Dog. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  17. ^ "'Jackson Bark' in Danger of Closing as Part of Golf Course Expansion Plan". NBC Chicago 2017.
  18. ^ "South Siders push for dog parks". Chicago Tribune 2017.
  19. ^ "Development threatens one of the south side's only dog-friendly areas". Chicago Reader 2017.
  20. ^ Roeder, David (2021-08-23). "As Obama Center advances, Tiger Woods golf course is stuck in the rough". The Chicago Sun Times.
  21. ^ "Unveiled: High marks for stunning design of Jackson Park-South Shore restoration". Chicago Parks Golf Alliance. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  22. ^ writer, Aaron Gettinger, staff. "'Save Jackson Park' referendum on ballot again in certain local precincts". Hyde Park Herald. Retrieved 2022-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ report, Herald staff. "Three 5th Ward precincts endorse 'Save Jackson Park' referendum". Hyde Park Herald. Retrieved 2022-11-04.

41°47′11″N 87°34′43″W / 41.7863°N 87.5785°W / 41.7863; -87.5785