Two West Side organizations in Chicago have received a combined $15 million in grants from the Lohengrin Foundation to support the construction of youth-focused community centers in North Lawndale and Little Village.
The Lawndale Christian Development Corporation was awarded $10 million for its One Lawndale Recreation Center, which is planned for 3925 W. Cermak Road. The organization, which works to address health and wealth disparities in North Lawndale, expects to begin construction this fall as part of a $53 million capital campaign. The center will be 120,000 square feet and is intended to serve as a year-round hub for young people from both North Lawndale and Little Village. Planned amenities include multi-use courts, a boxing gym, wrestling room, fitness center, and event space. Programs will be provided by local groups such as New Life Centers and Enlace Chicago.
Richard Townsell, executive director of the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, emphasized the importance of the new facility: “We believe that our young people deserve to live in a world without the baggage of their forebears. One Lawndale is an opportunity to get it right,” Townsell said. “The One Lawndale Recreation Center is about bringing joy, connection, and opportunity to the West Side and creating a space that bridges North Lawndale and Little Village at a time when so many forces seek to divide communities of color.”
Erie Neighborhood House received $5 million for Floreciendo: La Villita Erie House Center at 2653 S. Kildare Ave. This five-story facility will feature a full-size gym, classrooms, community kitchen, playground, children’s garden, arts studio, counseling offices, and teen lounges. The center aims to double Erie Neighborhood House’s annual reach to more than 8,000 people by expanding programs for youth after school and during summer months.
Cristina De La Rosa, executive director at Erie Neighborhood House, described the significance of the project: “A mother from Little Village told us that she feels comfort knowing that her child will have access to afterschool programming in the community, somewhere they can walk to. She wanted something in Little Village that was close, safe and his. That’s what we’re trying to build,” De La Rosa said. “This investment carries a message that goes beyond dollars. It means that people believe that their community is important.”
Plans for the $16.4 million Little Village center were approved by City Council in October 2025; last year it also secured funding through city development grant programs.
Mark Rodriguez, CEO of the Lohengrin Foundation, explained the foundation’s perspective on these projects: “A youth and community center is more than a building — it is a community’s promise, written in brick and mortar, that every young person deserves a place to belong, to feel safe, grow and thrive.”
The grants are part of the Lohengrin Foundation’s Thriving Youth, Stronger Communities initiative aimed at supporting local impact by funding projects in neighboring communities with shared histories.
Construction on both centers is expected to begin this fall; no specific timeline has been released yet for North Lawndale.
