Mayor Brandon Johnson Joins Project sWish, Chicago Park District for Late Night Basketball Summer Kickoff

CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with city officials, Project sWish, the Chicago Park District, and private partners, have announced the launch of Late Night Basketball 2026 at Washington Park. This program aims to provide safe spaces and free community-building opportunities for youth and adults during holiday weekends throughout the summer.

Mayor Johnson expressed his belief that every young person deserves meaningful opportunities to connect and grow in a positive environment. He stated that programs like Late Night Ball create spaces where young people can build relationships, develop confidence, and spend their time in ways that strengthen both their future and their community. By investing in these opportunities and alternatives that bring people together, the city hopes to build safer and stronger neighborhoods across Chicago.

Late Night Basketball will kick off with two events hosted at the Washington Park Fieldhouse and Homan Square Park Fieldhouse on Juneteenth and Father's Day weekend. The activations will welcome young people aged 13-18 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and residents 18 and older from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Along with organized basketball runs, each event will offer access to video games, free food, a live DJ, and police security.

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General Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Park District Carlos Ramirez-Rosa stated that summer is here and parks are in full swing with activities for all ages and abilities. Late Night Basketball will serve as the inaugural event for the summer park programming series at Homan Square Park and Washington Park. This seasonal rollout will continue next week with the official start of Summer Day Camp. He also mentioned that these flagship programs are part of a comprehensive summer schedule focused on community park activation and equitable access to affordable programming.

Late Night Basketball complements existing basketball programs such as Project sWish's free weekly leagues and the Park District's Windy City Hoops tournament played across 12 sites. McKinley Nelson, founder of Project sWish Chicago, stated that their organization is committed to engaging young people and providing a safe and supportive outlet at no cost to participants. He added that their goal is to provide a space for basketball, food, music, exercise, and connection. Project sWish has brought together over 7,000 young people through free weekly basketball leagues, community events, life readiness initiatives, and health equity programs.

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The success of the summer sports series demonstrates the strength of public-private partnerships fostered by the Johnson administration in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Community Safety, Chicago Park District, City Colleges of Chicago, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and more. Last summer, 13 Late Night Basketball events were hosted by the Mayor's Office with over 750 residents in attendance. Participants shared in surveys that these activations gave them something safe and positive to do on a weekend night and made them feel safer in their neighborhood.

Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Emmanuel Andre stated that the Summer Sports Series is a powerful example of how partners across city government can come together to make a difference in the lives of young people. By bringing together partners from various sectors such as public health, education, parks, and the private sector, opportunities for connection, wellness, and community engagement are created throughout the summer.

Residents can register to attend upcoming Late Night Ball events by visiting https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/chicagopa.... This program serves as an important initiative in promoting community building and providing safe spaces for youth and adults during holiday weekends throughout the summer.

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