West Chicago mayor highlights community park proposal in his State of the City address

Calling it “a very large milestone,” West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey is praising plans to transform the site of a notorious former factory into a public park.

Speaking during his recent State of the City address, the first-term mayor noted the future community park will be situated on 40 acres where the Kerr-McGee plant once stood.

The factory, which closed in 1973, produced non-radioactive elements known as rare earths and radioactive elements such as thorium, radium and uranium for private entities and federal atomic energy programs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The facility also made gas lantern mantles.

Bovey said it took decades of “struggle” to clean the site. The last rail shipment of soil containing radioactive contaminants left West Chicago for a permanent disposal facility in 2015.

The mayor drew applause when he said the last rail car containing material distilled from contaminated groundwater departed for a site in Texas in September 2025.

“We have an opportunity to see the end of that, the closing of that chapter of West Chicago history,” Bovey said.

“And then we have the opportunity to turn to developing a new park, which will be a 40-acre public park, connected by an under-the-rails pedestrian walkway to Pioneer Park,” Bovey added. “It will form 80 acres of continuous park land for the city of West Chicago to enjoy.”

A four-phase plan released in January by the city and created by Upland Design Ltd. would include natural areas, asphalt trails, courts for pickleball, tennis and basketball, multiuse fields, a playground, picnic shelters and other amenities.

During a recent city council meeting, Bovey said the treated property is expected to be turned over to the city “at the end of the year.”

Some other accomplishments Bovey highlighted during his hourlong speech are:

• Commitments to the city’s downtown, including the formation of a Downtown Revitalization Committee.

• The recent hiring of Viviana Ramirez as West Chicago’s new city administrator, effective April 6.

• Community activation that saw record voter turnout in 2025, the appointment of more than a dozen new members to city commissions, and informal civic open houses that drew 600 residents.

• $30 million in upcoming road work over the next three years, including the recent approval of a $9.45 million bond issue to finance the first phase of the Industrial Streets Improvement Project.

• A $7.37 million loan sought from the state is intended to cover the replacement of about half the city’s lead service lines.

• There are plans for a Fourth of July parade and a Mexican Independence Day celebration that will include a parade.

Bovey framed his speech with the story of a family of early settlers to West Chicago. He concluded by sharing their message.

“I invite you to join me in building something better for our children,” he said.