Bateman Elementary Gets a Major Glow-Up: Albany Park Students Score a Brand-New Playground and Turf Soccer Field

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Albany Park · April 19, 2026

Albany Park families have a brand-new reason to cheer this spring. Bateman Elementary School, located near Irving Park Road and Sacramento Avenue, recently celebrated the opening of a sparkling new playground and turf soccer field — a long-awaited upgrade that's already transforming recess and after-school hours for kids across the neighborhood.

Chicago Public Schools marked the milestone with a ribbon-cutting event, welcoming students, families, and community members to experience the new space firsthand. The new playground is designed with younger children in mind and includes equipment fully accessible to students with mobility needs — a meaningful detail that ensures every Bateman kid can join in the fun. The brand-new turf field, meanwhile, gives the school's older elementary and middle school athletes a proper home to run, kick, and compete. District leaders credited the project to a joint effort between Chicago Public Schools, the Bateman school community, and local elected officials — the kind of cross-sector collaboration Albany Park has always done well.

For a neighborhood as vibrant and family-forward as Albany Park, investments like this one hit close to home. Whether your child is swinging on the new equipment or lacing up their cleats for a pickup soccer match, Bateman's upgraded campus is a win for the whole community. Stop by, take it in, and celebrate what happens when neighbors and city leaders work together to put kids first. Learn more about CPS programs and facilities at cps.edu.

Sources:
1. https://www.chicagoparent.com/local-schools/chicago-kids-get-new-places-to-play-with-cps-playground-openings-in-albany-park-and-washington-heights-93200