The POPF!t park is located in Chicago’s South Austin neighborhood at the corner of Madison and Central.
The outdoor space features a multipurpose field, walking track, outdoor fitness equipment, and programming catering to the community’s needs. The new park provides much-needed access to outdoor recreation and gathering space for the neighborhood.
The site is the former home of Robert Emmet School, which was shut down nearly a decade ago and has laid vacant ever since. The POPF!t park is just the first phase of a plan to redevelop the entire site into a workforce development and community center, the Aspire Center, planned to open in 2024. This project was created through a partnership between the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Westside Health Authority, LJC, Paint the City and Brown & Momen Incorporated, as a part of the POP! program.