Students, parents, and staff at McCutcheon STEAM Elementary in Uptown called on Chicago Public Schools to build a gym for the school during a rally held last week, according to an April 14 announcement. The school, located at 4865 N. Sheridan Road, is one of the few in Chicago without its own gymnasium.
The lack of a dedicated gym has affected students’ ability to participate in physical education and indoor activities. Community members say this creates inequities compared to other schools with proper facilities.
Currently, McCutcheon students must walk down the block to use the Pedersen-McCormick Boys & Girls Club for physical education classes due to an agreement between the district and the club. However, Eric Smith, a local school council member at McCutcheon, said that not having their own space also means there is nowhere for indoor recess during bad weather or enough room for all-school gatherings such as assemblies or pep rallies. “This is a priority that our students need and deserve, and it’s all about ending and resolving an unacceptable inequity,” Smith said.
The push for a new gym follows years of unfulfilled promises from Chicago Public Schools. Previous plans were stalled after legal action by the Castlewood Terrace Homeowner’s Association over building on land next door. In late 2018, $10 million was allocated by CPS for construction south of the main building but litigation delayed progress; eventually funding was no longer available when court decisions came through in 2024.
A spokesperson from CPS stated that when the appellate court made its decision regarding ownership of potential land for construction—currently owned by the Boys & Girls Club—the Board had already approved its budget without funds earmarked for McCutcheon’s gym project. “The District’s fiscal reality remains challenging,” CPS said in a statement. “The District has shared that it faces an estimated $16.3 billion in deferred maintenance needs… Historical and current public education funding gaps… contribute to addressing all necessary maintenance and improvement projects.” Capital improvement requests can still be submitted through official channels.
At last week’s rally, Ivy—a third grader at McCutcheon—said: “For half of the year we get to run and play outside at Buttercup Park but…when weather turns cold we are forced to stay inside because we don’t have a space to safely play…. We are kids. Our bodies are meant to move.” Karen Jasinski, health and physical education teacher with more than three decades at McCutcheon added: “Our kids…deserve this gym…. They learn social skills [and] friendship skills” through access to these spaces.
