The McKinley Park Civic Association is on a tear with new programs, leadership and a quickly growing membership. At its October meeting, the group again joined Chicago's Birthday Party and heard updates from the McKinley Park Development Council. Read about it at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

We're happy to share word about a huge jump in traffic and engagement we're seeing at the McKinley Park News, with nearly 425,000 unique visitors to our website in September! Membership and newsletter are also hopping. Thanks so much to all our readers! Read more at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

Our friends at the new Horizon Science Academy - McKinley Park High School shared this very cool event 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3: The Familia Block Party at the school's new campus in Bridgeport. Head there and dance to cumbia music, and get more details at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

The property housing the Marshfield Courts DIY skate park is set for sale and development in the City of Chicago's ChiBlockBuilder program along with other McKinley Park neighborhood locations pegged for residential and commercial development. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7396-di...

Get ready for the spooky season by contributing to the McKinley Park Halloween Guide, including calendar of Halloween events, photo gallery and Trick or Treat Map for Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood. Send in your haunts, events and pictures by contributing at mckinleypark.news/about/announ...

New immigrants who want to learn English will get more help from Aquinas Literacy Center and its latest crop of tutors, who celebrated eight new volunteers graduating through training at the center, where they'll work one-on-one with adult learners. Read about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7350-ne...

A murder charge looms for 21-year-old McKinley Park neighborhood resident Aaron Zawadzki following an arrest in the fatal early morning shooting of a 26-year-old man in front of the 35th/Archer Orange Line El station, Chicago police announced. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7322-mc...

A coalition of community groups and government representatives are proposing to rename the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, removing the stigmatizing word "sanitary" from its name, planning meetings for renaming and a 125th anniversary event. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7316-co...

A blood trail remains outside the 35th/Archer Orange Line El station following a fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 7, with cops at the Beat 912 meeting saying lewd exposure preceded the homicide. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7309-le...

An early-morning shooting resulted in the homicide of a 27-year-old man who left a trail of blood to where he collapsed in front of the El station doors at the 35th/Archer stop on the Orange Line, with perpetrators fleeing on a scooter. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7305-ea...

Shootings, burglaries and robberies fell year-over-year in the first eight months of 2025 compared to 2024 in areas targeted by the Chicago Police Department's 9th District Strategic Plan, police said at the district council's August 2025 meeting. Read all about it: mckinleypark.news/news/7297-cr...

The weather this Saturday, Sept. 6, looks fantastic for a stroll down 35th Street for McKinley Community Pop-Ups, a set of activities and locations for dining, drinking, games, play, shopping and community engagement. Get all the details and the full schedule at mckinleypark.news/events/featu...

Potholes and closed lanes will persist on the South Western avenue and boulevard bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, since reconstruction funding is reliant on the currently denied expansion of the Pilsen TIF, freezing the project. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7292-ti...

The McKinley Park Civic Association hosted its monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, lining up new volunteer officers and upcoming programs like a holiday decorating contest and welcome letters sent to new neighbors. Read all about the meeting at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

We're thrilled that our members' choice The Best of McKinley Park is off to a fantastic start! We're able to confidently produce this contest because we treat our audience as people, not product. Read about our pro-user practices plus newsletter schedule updates at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

Have you voted for The Best of McKinley Park? This members' choice contest highlights the McKinley Park neighborhood's best dining, shopping, services and community features. Here's a peek at this week's leaderboard: See the list and current results, and sign up and vote at mckinleypark.news/bestof

Biodiversity gets boosted in Bubbly Creek thanks to floating wetlands added by the Shedd Aquarium and Urban Rivers, growing a project to add plant and animal habitat and increase appeal at the confluence of the South Branch of the Chicago River. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7232-fl...

The proposed Chicago Public Schools budget for the 2026 fiscal year is the best way forward for students and fiscal responsibility, including resources for McKinley Park neighborhood schools, writes Chicago School Board Elected Member Angel Gutierrez in an op/ed at mckinleypark.news/news/opinion...

Our weekly leaderboard shows hot competition and exciting developments in The Best of McKinley Park, including a tie between Alderwomen Lee and Ramirez for Best Local Elected Official. View the latest Best Of results and sign up to vote with your privacy assured at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

The swimming pool in Chicago's McKinley Park will remain open an extra three weeks through Labor Day, Mon., Sept. 1, offering family, adult, lap and open swimming sessions Mondays through Saturdays and special Labor Day sessions. See the schedule and get details at mckinleypark.news/news/7192-mc...

Ballot-stuffing in The Best of McKinley Park is obvious to our astute publication, and we've accordingly nuked accounts and votes from a single source. We only want real individuals in our online community, and there's a better way to get votes. Read about it at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

The Dead Bars of McKinley Park reveals former neighborhood taverns, disappeared along with other Public Places of Amusement that our neighborhood still deserves, writes McKinley Park News Publisher Justin Kerr. Read his Op/Ed and see McKinley Park's Dead Bars map at mckinleypark.news/news/opinion...

Are you ready to party, McKinley Park? Our excellent neighborhood is ramping up summertime events with a huge lineup for this weekend and beyond: Take a peek! Stay in the know by subscribing to our News & Events email newsletter. Sign up with your privacy assured at mckinleypark.news/info/email-n...

Over $300K in funding from the Illinois state budget is slated for the McKinley Park Development Council, to be used for riverfront improvements, traffic safety, 35th Street businesses and public events and art. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7154-de...

Who is The Best of McKinley Park? Our weekly leaderboard shows the currently favored, with voting ongoing and members sharing their comments. Here's a sneak peek that's going out in our enewsletter tomorrow. See live results of The Best of McKinley Park and vote at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

Community complaints and a prostitution bust has resulted in a revoked business license and $10,000 fine to the owner of Archer Perfect Spa at 3667 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, announced 12th Ward Alderwoman Julia Ramirez. Read all about it and the latest arrest at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

What's your favorite neighborhood hangout spot? How about your picks for dining, shopping and services? The Best of McKinley Park awards our neighborhood's favorites, and invites all residents, stakeholders, friends and fans to vote! See The Best of McKinley Park at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

We're extremely happy to announce The Best of McKinley Park, our members' choice awards for the McKinley Park neighborhood's favorite dining, shopping, services and more. Sign up and log in to vote; read all about The Best of McKinley Park in our announcement at mckinleypark.news/about/announ...

No new parking is now required for residential developments in most of McKinley Park and across vast swathes of Chicago, including major projects on Justine and 33rd and in the Pershing warehouses, adding hundreds of units to the neighborhood. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

Don't miss the great times this summer in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood at the many fantastic, free and fun events right around the corner! Our email newsletter lists them all and delivers them tomorrow and every Monday. Sign up with your privacy assured at mckinleypark.news/info/email-n...

Although we employ services like Bluesky to share our news and announcements, we use the forums, article comments and other features of the McKinley Park News website to engage with feedback about our news coverage. Get info and sign up to share your thoughts at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

Aquinas Literacy Center is one of the most well-run and impactful organizations in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood, and they need help! Volunteer as an English language tutor and provide fundamental support to adult learners, including new immigrants. More at mckinleypark.news/user/pluginc...

Take a peek inside Amazon's DHX5 warehouse in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood and see how workers and managers face challenges of double workload during Prime Day promotions, with help from new automation systems and electric delivery vehicles. Read about it at mckinleypark.news/news/7065-am...

There are a lot of trades and construction folk in our neighborhood who may be very interested in this just-listed event: a seminar about subcontractor bidding on the big Wheatland Tube overhaul on South Western Boulevard. Read all the details and how to sign up at mckinleypark.news/events/featu...

Beware the latest speed camera on South Western Avenue! This device starts issuing tickets 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Aug. 15: $35 for going 36 to 40 miles per hour, and $100 for going over 40 miles per hour, for both northbound and southbound traffic. Get the details at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

A 4-year-old-child shot during road rage at 31st and Ashland is one of the incidents examined from the two-month reporting period covered at the Chicago police meeting for the McKinley Park neighborhood's Beat 912. Read all about it and other reported crimes at mckinleypark.news/news/7050-4-...

Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood is full of fun and free events all summer long! Don't miss a thing by subscribing to our Weekly News & Events email newsletter: Here's a sneak peek showcasing some of next week's top events. Sign up with your privacy assured at mckinleypark.news/info/email-n...

The City of Chicago has approved $30 million in TIF funding for redevelopment of the city-owned historic warehouse and adjoining property in the Central Manufacturing District along West Pershing Road. Read all about the next step in this development's progress at mckinleypark.news/news/7041-ci...

The Chicago Public Library is looking for our help to inform its upcoming strategic and capital plan: feedback that will directly affect our awesome and beloved McKinley Park branch. Share your ideas and opinions by the end of July. Get survey info and access at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

Our friends at the South Side Hackerspace shared word of this very cool all-day party and cookout they're co-hosting with ACMF and other Bubbly Dynamics friends on July 4 in the Bridgeport neighborhood near McKinley Park. This looks like a blast! Get all info at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...

Are you ready for a fantastic summer of free events in the neighborhood? Here's a sneak peek at some of the events taking place next week. Subscribe to our weekly News & Events e-mail newsletter, and you won't miss a thing! Sign up with your privacy assured at mckinleypark.news/info/email-n...

Big changes are ahead in Chicago community policing, including for beat meetings and patrols, based on findings of the police department's engagement and allocation study as presented at the 9th District Police Council meeting in McKinley Park. Read all about it at mckinleypark.news/news/6995-st...

The Karis Cold food storage warehouse on South Ashland Avenue in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood is almost complete, with construction finishing up and the installation of a dozen murals of Chicago and South Side scenes by artist David Banegas. Read about it at mckinleypark.news/news/6972-ch...

Are you ready for a summer of great events in the neighborhood? Don't miss a thing with our weekly email newsletter, which shares the latest news and upcoming events in our community. (Here's a sneak peek at part of next week.) Sign up with your privacy assured at mckinleypark.news/info/email-n...

Local business owners gathered, collaborated and noshed at the June 12 professional networking event hosted by McKinley Park's Byline Bank, including many entrepreneurs from the neighborhood's 35th Street commercial corridor. Read more and check the party pics at mckinleypark.news/news/6952-bu...

Are you ready to swim? The McKinley Park pool opens next weekend for seven days a week of open, family, adult and lap swimming through August 1. Get the full McKinley Park pool schedule and all details for making a visit to the swimming pool at mckinleypark.news/news/6946-mc...

A summer of fantastic events is coming to Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood! Get our weekly email newsletter to know about every neighborhood event, plus the latest news and talk; here's a partial preview of events next week. Sign up with your privacy assured at mckinleypark.news/info/email-n...

We're honored to again be featured on Mike Stephen's Outside the Loop radio show speaking about AI in Local Journalism and our approach to it here at the McKinley Park News. If you missed the broadcast, listen to our discussion on AI and journalism online at outsidetheloopradio.com/2025/06/07/o...

The McKinley Park News is very happy to support our neighborhood's economic development through our original business coverage, including Local Business Profiles. Introduce your enterprise to the neighborhood with no costs; submit profile info about your business at mckinleypark.news/news/submit-...

Zine Prom at Marz Community Brewing Co. was very fun, meeting new publishing friends, making zines and watching the fabulous zinesters go head to head in a best-dressed contest. This event precedes Chicago Zine Fest on July 19. Read more and check the party pics at mckinleypark.news/neighborhood...