Community-built playspace was constructed in partnership with KABOOM! and Related Affordable Foundation

Related Midwest, the Related Affordable Foundation and Related Affordable Management Company today celebrated the opening of a newly renovated playground at Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes, a 628-unit affordable housing community in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. Related partnered with KABOOM!, a national nonprofit organization focused on ending playspace inequity, to construct the new playground.

On July 23 and 24, volunteers including residents, Related team members and community partners came together to build the playground. Illinois State Sen. Lakesia Collins and State Rep. Yolonda Morris joined the volunteer effort on July 23, working alongside the community to bring the playspace to life. Its completion comes nearly two months after Related and KABOOM! hosted a design day at the community, where children and adult residents shared visions for their dream playspace. These ideas were integrated into the final playground design, ensuring it reflects the unique spirit and needs of the Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes community.

The effort culminated with a celebratory ribbon-cutting event attended by Related, residents, community members and partners, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who gathered to mark the official opening of the playspace.

“This new playground is a powerful reminder of what happens when we center community voices and invest in our children,” said State Sen. Collins. “Every child deserves safe, joyful spaces to grow — and today, the families of Marshall Field Garden have just that.”

“As a mother, legislator and advocate for equity, I know how vital it is for children to have access to safe, joyful spaces to grow and connect,” said State Rep. Morris. “The new playground at Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes is more than just a play area — it’s a reflection of this community’s voice and a symbol of investment in our children’s future. I commend Related Midwest and KABOOM! for their partnership in addressing playspace inequity and for helping create a space where kids can just be kids.”

The renovated playground at Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes marks the seventh successful collaboration between Related, Related Affordable Foundation and KABOOM! at communities across the country. The team last completed a playground build at Southern Hills Orlando, a Related Midwest property in Decatur, Ill., in fall 2022.

“At Related Midwest, our mission goes beyond providing housing — we strive to create vibrant, inclusive communities where families can thrive,” said Sarah Wick, Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing at Related Midwest. “The new playground at Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes is a space designed by residents for residents, which made this a special project for our entire team.”

Related Midwest previously led a $175 million renovation of Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes following the firm’s 2016 acquisition of the property, one of the largest affordable housing communities on Chicago’s North Side and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The rehabilitation included the modernization of residences and addition of amenities. It also preserved the affordability of the homes for an additional 30 years.

“Every child deserves a safe place to play and grow, and every family deserves to live in a community that invests in their well-being,” said Related Affordable Foundation Manager Danielle Augustine. “We are proud to partner with KABOOM! to create new playgrounds like this one, which play a vital role in building stronger, healthier neighborhoods and enriching the lives of our residents.”

The Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes playground is one of more than 17,000 KABOOM! playspaces built or improved nationwide, serving more than 12 million children. All are part of KABOOM!’s ongoing mission to end playspace inequity, a challenge that disproportionately affects children of color and those in underserved communities. Through its “25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity,” KABOOM! is accelerating efforts in 25 municipal systems across the United States, striving to ensure all children have equitable access to quality playspaces, so that every child can experience the critical development benefits of having quality places to play.

“KABOOM! is excited to celebrate our seventh playground build alongside Related,” said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!. “It’s important to ensure all kids in Chicago and nationwide have the spaces they need to experience joy and a sense of belonging. Each project, including this latest one at Marshall Field Garden Apartment Homes, brings to life our mission of creating kid-designed playspaces that give every child an opportunity to thrive. Together with Related, we’re building safe environments where generations of children can play, grow and dream.”

To learn how partners can join KABOOM! in its efforts to end playspace inequity, visit kaboom.org/25-in-5.

About Related Midwest:

Related Midwest, the Chicago office of Related Companies, is the preeminent developer of mixed-use properties, affordable housing communities, and luxury condominium and rental homes across Chicago. The company commands a portfolio of residential, mixed-use and master-planned properties, including pioneering projects like The 78, a transformational 62-acre development in the heart of downtown Chicago envisioned as the city’s next great neighborhood, and Quantum Shore Chicago, a 440-acre innovation campus in the South Chicago neighborhood anchored by the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park. Related Midwest is also the largest developer of affordable housing in the Midwest, with more than 10,000 units, and has never converted an affordable unit to market-rate.

For more than 30 years, Related Midwest has been an industry leader in community commitment and routinely leads the industry in establishing progressive standards for its business ecosystem. The company is deeply committed to improving neighborhoods, creating sustainable opportunities for small businesses and community residents, and building inspirational places and homes for all. Related Midwest’s business model is built on partnership with community-based firms as well as mentorship of small and emerging businesses as they launch and grow. The firm is a founding partner in HIRE360, a first-of-its-kind organization designed to expand professional development and employment opportunities in the trades.

About Related Affordable Foundation:

The Related Affordable Foundation (RAF) is a charitable, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization committed to enriching the lives of affordable housing residents and breaking the generational cycle of poverty. Established in 2016, the Related Affordable Foundation sponsors impactful programs and activities in the areas of education, food security, health & wellness, and workforce development. For more information on the Related Affordable Foundation, please contact relatedaffordablefoundation@related.com.

About KABOOM!:

KABOOM! is the national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity — the reality that quality places to play are not available to every child, especially in communities of color. Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with kids and communities to create or transform 17,000+ playspaces and ensure that more than 12 million kids have equitable access to the critical benefits and opportunities that playspaces offer. KABOOM! continues to make progress on its 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity through new partnerships with a goal of accelerating efforts in 25 municipal systems toward achieving their mission at scale across the United States. Learn more at kaboom.org or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Additional photos that accompany this release can be viewed here.