Sunshine Gospel Ministries' $36.9M Community Center Is on Track to Open in Washington Park — and It's Going to Be a Game-Changer
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Washington Park ·
Washington Park neighbors, mark your calendars: one of the most ambitious community investments the South Side has seen in years is closing in on its opening. Sunshine Gospel Ministries is powering ahead with plans for a brand-new, three-story, $36.9 million community center on vacant lots bounded by 60th and 61st Streets, King Drive, and Calumet Avenue — with a target opening set for late 2026 or early 2027.
The facility's planned programming reads like a neighborhood wish list come to life. Designs call for a café with a performance stage, a gym featuring a roller skating rink, a fitness area, visual and graphic arts classrooms, a recording studio, a tech room, a demonstration kitchen, and dedicated lounges for both youth and adults. Best of all? Public programs are planned to be free for neighbors from day one, with fees only applying to event space and fitness center rentals. The project has already secured significant public backing — including a $5 million city community development grant and a previously secured
For a neighborhood that has been on a remarkable upswing of investment and community-building energy, the Sunshine Community Center represents something truly transformative: a free, permanent, multi-use home for Washington Park residents of all ages. Stay connected with the Washington Park Advisory Council — which meets every third Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. — and watch this incredible space rise on King Drive.
Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/07/washington-park-community-center-project-gets-5m-boost-from-city/