Wellness center called ‘transformative’ for Humboldt Park

The $24 million facility will focus on preventive medicine.

SHARE Wellness center called ‘transformative’ for Humboldt Park
Humboldt Park Wellness Center architectural rendering.

Architectural rendering of the Humboldt Park Wellness Center, now being built at Division and Richmond streets, across the street from the park.

JGMA

Humboldt Park has long been the site of some of the city’s most adverse health outcomes, with obesity, diabetes and depression all above national rates.

But the West Side community is taking steps to reverse that trend with a new wellness center.

“This facility will be the first wellness center in the Humboldt Park community and will be transformative in advancing our residents’ health equity and well-being,” said Humboldt Park Health President and CEO José R. Sanchéz.

La Voz Sidebar 2023

Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.

La_Voz_Cover_Photo_2.png

The three-story, 45,500-square-foot building is going up at Division and Richmond streets, just south of the park. It will have a swimming pool, indoor track, fitness center, rehabilitation center and community space.

According to a 2018 Sinai Urban Health Institute survey, 47% of Humboldt Park adults are obese, compared with 29.5% nationally; 13% of adults in the neighborhood have been diagnosed with diabetes, compared with 9% nationally; and 18% of adults have current symptoms of depression, compared with 7% nationally.

“Diabetes is a combination of many conditions: obesity, lack of exercise, food consumption and so forth,” Sanchéz told the Chicago Sun-Times. “A center like this will be able to offer activities that will mitigate and prevent diabetes to some extent.”

Sanchéz highlighted the impact the rehabilitation center could have for those facing hip or knee replacement surgery or for those who have experienced a stroke.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony for the center last week.

“Health equity isn’t just about hospitals and emergency care,” Pritzker said at the ceremony. “It’s about the social determinants of health, too. Today, we take another giant step forward to address health inequities in a holistic manner.”

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Humboldt Park Wellness Center on June 6, 2022, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs an architectural rendering of the project.

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Humboldt Park Wellness Center, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs an architectural rendering of the project.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Twenty million dollars of the projected $24 million cost for the center will come from the Rebuild Illinois bill Pritzker signed in 2019. An additional $2.5 million is coming from city grants, said Maurice Cox, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development.

“What we’re looking at is a Humboldt Park medical district that is now going to be anchored by this Wellness Center,” Cox said.

The facility’s modern look, with a curved green exterior and solar panels, was produced by local architectural firm JGMA.

Illinois state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, D-Chicago, also spoke at the groundbreaking.

“La comunidad cura, la cultura cura,” she said, invoking Humboldt Park’s longstanding role as a hub for the Puerto Rican and Latino community. “The community, the culture cures. This project is a manifestation of that particular phrase, and it’s more than just a phrase because it’s endemic in us.”

The wellness center is set to open in 18 months.

Michael Loria is a staff reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times via Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster the paper’s coverage of communities on the South and West sides.

The Latest
Everyone has been awed by some aspect of Bedard’s game through the first two days of camp. For Tyler Johnson, it’s Bedard’s unique shooting release. For Connor Murphy, it’s his ability to create space. For Luke Richardson, it’s his various similarities to Sidney Crosby, Mark Stone and Auston Matthews.
Avid traveler considers going without him next time.
Bet on it: Since Cody Parkey’s ill-fated missed field goal to end 2018 season, the Bears have NFL’s worst record (34.1%) against the spread, meaning fans should stop betting with their hearts
“Can’t be scared of the name. It’s just a name on a jersey,” the Bears’ rookie cornerback said. “He’s Patrick Mahomes, but at the end of the day, he goes home with his kids. I go home with my family. I can’t let the name put fear in my heart.”
President Biden created the American Climate Corps to send money to states that created green jobs programs for young people. Yet Illinois, which first inspired the idea, is sitting on the sidelines.