Park district removes several abandoned tents from Gompers Park as part of monthly cleanup

by BRIAN NADIG

City workers on Feb. 19 removed three reportedly abandoned tents and a stovepipe from recently installed yurts at Gompers Park, 4222 W. Foster Ave., as part of a regularly scheduled cleanup of the homeless encampment.

Tents considered abandoned are tagged with a 7-day notice before they are removed. This practice has been ongoing at the park for more than a year as part of regular maintenance, city officials said. No one living at the park was removed or forced to leave, officials said. Many empty tents have been removed before by the park district.

Last week an out-of-state organization came to Gompers and installed about five yurts, which have more fortification than tents and were equipped with stoves and smokestack structures. The Chicago Park District reportedly is considering the removal of the yurts, which could occur later this month.

Alderman Samantha Nugent (39th) issued the following statement:

“The off-street cleaning that took place today was part of the scheduled monthly cleanings at Gompers Park. The cleanings remove garbage and items not in use by encampment residents. Occupied tents or items being used are not removed.

“Off-street cleanings, like the one that happened this morning, have been happening at Gompers Park for over a year. Signs are posted at least 7 days in advance of each cleaning.

“Since September 2024, Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement and opioid response teams have been visiting Gompers Park, including on cleaning dates. These teams include EMTs, social workers and recovery coaches. Department of Family and Support Services Homeless Outreach and Prevention teams have been helping people living at Gompers find housing,” Nugent said.

Three recent tent fires along with several reported attacks by pit bulls on other dogs being walked in the area has led to renewed efforts to have the city find housing for those living at the park and to start enforcing the park’s 11 p.m. curfew. The Gompers Park Athletic Association announced that it will relocate its games and practices that are scheduled for the renovated field at Little Gompers due to safety concerns.

The city had planned to hold an “Accelerated Moving Event” the last week of February, but it was delayed to Wednesday, March 5. Residents will be able to choose furniture for the housing options they are offered.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office has said that the AME should not be viewed as a closure of the encampment, as those remaining would not be forced to leave. However, the city has shut down encampments at other parks following a series of AMEs.

Housing advocates have called for the opening of homeless shelters on the Northwest Side and the construction of more affordable housing. 

At the City Council’s Feb. 19 meeting, representatives of the Restore Gompers Park Coalition and the athletic association called for increased efforts to find housing for those at the park and to increase safety there.

At the council meeting, coalition member Lisa Stringer read a statement from a resident who said that her family was victim of a violent dog attack at the park.

“Almost two weeks ago on Sunday, February 9, I was on a walk in Gompers Park with my spouse, a friend, senior dog Nala, and 3-week-old baby when we were attacked by an off-leash dog. I had read about this dog on neighborhood community forums as early as Dec. 20, when David Bentley posted the video of his similar attack on Pulaski (Road). And just the night before, I had seen a community member warn that this same dog had attacked at least three other dogs/humans, all of whom filed police reports to no avail. 

 “So, when I saw a dog matching the description near the encampment, I tensed up. Seconds later, the dog was sprinting towards us from about 100 feet away. My friend just had enough time to put herself between the dog and our infant, but I couldn’t pick up my dog Nala in time to keep the off-leash dog from latching onto her backside. It took my spouse plus three men from the encampment several minutes to pry the attacking dog off Nala. The whole time, I held Nala’s face and tried to keep her calm as she yelped in pain. 

 “When the four men eventually managed to restrain the attacking dog, I rushed Nala to the emergency vet where she received extensive treatment for her wounds. Her overnight stay and follow-up visits cost $4,469 so far—though, bottom line, we are thankful she is still with us.”

Also at the meeting, a coalition member said that ball players last year were subject to heckling from some of those at the encampment and that there was “nudity and erotic behavior” on display. 

A video of the attack from Bentley from November can be found here. The white pit bull runs across Pulaski Road at Bentley and his dog and he falls to the ground and tries to contain the pit bull from harming his dog. Eventually people from the park come to get the dog.

“I was the victim in November. CPD will do nothing. Animal control will do nothing. The alderman’s office will do nothing,” Bentley posted on the Gompers Park Advisory Council’s Facebook page earlier this month.

Cyryl Jakubowski contributed.

• 
  Police search for reported suspects after exchange of gunfire between group and security guard working at Jefferson Park CTA terminal
  A private security guard working at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., reportedly returned fire after a group of three people started harassing him and then fired their guns toward him during an incident at about 5:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, according to Chicago police. Officers reported finding 23 shell casings and
• 
  Man stabbed on CTA Blue Line near Harlem Ave.; suspects arrested in connection with car break-in on Victoria; man steals from car at gas station in Forest Glen
  A man was stabbed in his hand at about 4:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on a CTA Blue Line train near the Harlem station, 5550 N. Harlem Ave., after a man with a knife allegedly stole his belongings and attacked him, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. The 31-year-old man reported that he was
• 
  45th Ward Dems endorse S Gronkiewicz-Doran for alderperson
  by BRIAN NADIG 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt and his Dems 45 organization have endorsed Jefferson Park resident S Gronkiewicz-Doran in the ward’s aldermanic race, which will be held on Feb. 23, 2027. Incumbent Alderman James Gardiner, who is on leave from his firefighting job while he serves on the City Council, is seeking
• 
  New business in the works for former CVS site at Milwaukee & Lawrence in Jefferson Park
  by BRIAN NADIG A new business, possibly a daycare, is in the works for the former CVS Pharmacy at the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Lawrence avenues. The pharmacy closed in January of 2020, but CVS reportedly continued to pay rent for several years after the store’s closing. The site includes an approximately 10,000-square-foot building
• 
  Gunfire reported at Jefferson Park CTA Terminal on Saturday morning
  by BRIAN NADIG A possible suspect is in custody after gunfire was reported at or near the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., at about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, according to Chicago police. Officers recovered four shell casings, and detectives are reviewing area surveillance footage, according to police. It’s not clear at

This is just part of today’s coverage. Get the full story - every article, every ad, every page. Subscribe now.

The Latest From Our Community