Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has introduced an ordinance that would allow the transfer of park district land to the city for use by an Obama presidential library.
Emanuel said during Wednesday's City Council meeting that the ordinance has the support of several aldermen. It is aimed at substantially improving the city's odds of hosting the library and museum, which will house President Barack Obama's presidential papers.
The University of Chicago's bid to land the library proposes using about 20 acres in Jackson or Washington parks. The ordinance will restrict the library building to about five acres, with remaining acreage maintained as park land.
The University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago are competing with schools in Honolulu and New York City to build the Obama library.
