Chicago migrants: Judge to hold hearing about plans to turn Amundsen Park Fieldhouse into shelter

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Residents in Galewood said they will not give up the fight for their park and fieldhouse, and they are demanding a response from Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The Amundsen Park Fieldhouse is slated to eventually take in incoming migrants, but residents protested, and the plan is now in limbo.

"You are asking us as taxpayers, to step aside and allow this to happen. We say, 'No.' We see the tricks that are being played. We see that you've taken our programs out of our park. We see that you've reassigned the staff members here, because in your mind, you think we're going to grow tired, that we are going to go away," said resident Cata Truss. "That's not going to happen, mayor. We are going to stay here, and we are going to fight."

Last week, community residents said, things changed, and the park is now staffed by just one person.

"We see what's happening at police stations and everywhere migrants are being placed. We don't want that happening to our community," Truss said.

Senior programs have been moved and exercise programs have been canceled there.

"We are saying, today, 'Bring our programs back in good faith,'" said resident Donald Glover.

With a cool wet start to the week, ABC7 found folks exercising training outside on Monday at the park and field house.

Laddie Griffin said she and other retirees would typically be inside.

"I'm very upset. I'm angry. This is an outlet for us seniors," Griffin said.

"I was told to go to one of those other parks or stay home," said resident Johnnie Arps.

A local youth football team and their cheerleaders no longer have a place to practice for their upcoming competition.

"We can't use the bathrooms at all. They are putting port-a-pottys. We got 200 people, 155 kids and parents. We have over 200 people here. How are they going to use two port-a-pottys? That is horrible," said Gerald Harris, who runs the Windy City Dolphins Youth Football Team.

Harris has run the league out of Amundsen for 29 years.

"Our mission statement is discipline, responsibility, and we teach or reveal character," Harris said. "I'm bitter. I'm upset. We feel betrayed by the politicians."

Last week, the park's operating hours were also reduced.

"It is wrong what the city is doing at Amundsen and other parks, primarily in Black communities. Some say they were turned away over the weekend," said Tyrina Newkirk Sutton with the NAACP Chicago Westside Branch.

The group told ABC7 they filed a temporary restraining order to stop Amundsen from become a shelter. It will go before a Cook County judge for a hearing on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.