Governor Quinn Announces Investment in Chicago's Lincoln Park Cultural Center

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced an investment to improve an iconic cultural center in Chicago's Lincoln Park. Supported by the Governor's Illinois Jobs Now! construction program, the project is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to increase recreational opportunities, create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"The Lincoln Park Cultural Center is an iconic structure used and enjoyed by thousands of people every year," Governor Quinn said. "It's important that we invest and maintain our historic parks. Improvements to this cultural gem will ensure that we can continue to provide quality, safe service to our residents."

The Chicago Park District will receive $937,500 to rehabilitate the exterior and interior of the Lincoln Park Cultural Center. The project focuses on restoration that will ensure safe conditions for the building to continue to provide quality services to residents. Improvements include tuck pointing, roof replacement including gutters and downspouts, improvements to exterior brick masonry and stone walls, rehabilitation of interior water damaged finishes, clearing all roof drain lines and excavating and restoring collapsed underground drain lines. The total estimated project cost is $1.25 million.

"In 2009, our Illinois Jobs Now! program proved we were serious about moving Illinois forward and putting people back to work," Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton (D-Chicago) said. "We've used that program to preserve public facilities such as this one and invest in new ones to ensure Illinois remains a great place to live, work, learn and play."

"Maintaining and upgrading our urban green spaces and related facilities is an important part of our mission to provide recreation that is safe and accessible to all," Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller said. "Chicago's parks also are an important part of the city's cultural history, and these resources will help preserve that history for future generations."

The park project is part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.