On Tuesday, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined representatives from the Chicago Park District, After School Matters®, 8th Ward Alderwoman Michelle Harris along with After School Matters Board Chair Mellody Hobson for the official opening of the new combined Indoor Track and Field and After School Matters space at Gately Park, 10201 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in the Pullman community. This much-anticipated project is the city’s first and only indoor public facility dedicated to track and field, and the third dedicated After School Matters space for Chicago’s teenagers. The nearly 140,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility offers the only hydraulically banked indoor track in Illinois and allows Chicago to compete with similar major markets, such as New York City and Boston, to host championship events.

Additionally, the Indoor Track and Field includes a 4,000-square foot warm-up area, eight sprint lanes, two long and triple jump runways and pits, two pole-vault runways, a high jump area, throws cage, and a seating capacity of 3,500. Other features of the facility are a state-of-the-art fitness center, multi-purpose rooms, a meet management control room, concessions, and locker rooms. The facility also includes four basketball courts and six volleyball courts within the track and field. After School Matters occupies 24,000 square feet on two floors in the west wing of the new structure. This new programming facility is now one of three After School Matters buildings in Chicago in which the entire space is designed for and dedicated to Chicago teens exploring their interests and developing their talents.