http://www.wbez.org/tags/chicago-parks Latest from WBEZ Chicago Public Radio en http://www.wbez.org/news/leftover-nato-funds-help-improve-chicago-parks-104737 <p><p>Chicago parks and cultural programs will get a multi-million dollar funding boost thanks to last year&#39;s NATO Summit.</p><p>Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Sunday that an additional $2 million in private funds left over from last year&#39;s meeting of world leaders will be invested in neighborhood parks and cultural programs. Chicago hosted the two-day meeting in May.</p><p>Emanuel says the money will be used to build a new park playground in North Lawndale at the Frazier schools and improve existing parks, including by upgrading lights and turf.</p><p>These funds will also double the number of performances of Circus in the Parks and extend the program to new parks and new audiences.</p><p>Emanuel says he hopes the initiative will help to ensure that every Chicagoan lives in walking distance from a park.</p></p> Sun, 06 Jan 2013 20:48:00 -0600 http://www.wbez.org/news/leftover-nato-funds-help-improve-chicago-parks-104737