The Progress Pride Flag was raised over the Chicago Park District headquarters on June 11, marking a visible commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion from one of the city’s largest public institutions.
The ceremony, held outside the Park District’s South Side headquarters at 4830 S. Western Ave., was the first time the commemorative flag has flown at that site—and the first year it’s also being raised at regional Park District offices across the city. It was also the first major Pride event under the leadership of Park District Supt. And CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who left City Council earlier this year to take the helm of the agency.
Reflecting on the moment ahead of the ceremony, Ramirez-Rosa said the flag’s raising would carry personal and political significance.
“I feel incredibly proud to be able to be there, not just as Park District general superintendent, but as a member of the community,” Ramirez-Rosa told Windy City Times.
A milestone flag-raising ceremony
The June 11 flag-raising followed the Park District’s monthly board meeting and brought together staff, elected officials, LGBTQ+ leaders and community members for a public affirmation of inclusive values.
Ramirez-Rosa emphasized how this year’s flag-raising goes beyond symbolic gestures by expanding visibility across the entire system.
“This is the first year that we’re going to be flying the flag at our regional offices, but also at headquarters,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “We wanted to ensure that raising the flag at headquarters was something that we highlighted and celebrated.”
While the Park District has previously flown Pride flags at parks in Lakeview, the decision to raise them more broadly affirms the agency’s commitment to equity across neighborhoods.
“Chicago’s values are values of inclusion, of ending homophobia, of addressing transphobia,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
He added that this broader visibility sends a message that “that our parks are safe and welcoming spaces for everyone, for all families, for all people of every background.”
Chicago Park District Vice President and Commissioner Modesto Tico Valle, former Center on Halsted CEO, delivered remarks at the ceremony, reflecting on the deeper purpose of the moment.
“Today, we raise the banner of Pride, not just to celebrate, but in remembrance,” Valle said. “We honor the LGBTQ+ community and those who paved the way for the rights we hold today.”
Valle invoked the history of activism in Chicago’s parks as a foundation for ongoing progress.
“From historical marches to celebrations of identity and inclusion, our park spaces stand as a testament to this city’s unwavering commitment to equality,” Valle said. “The Chicago Park District is proud to be stewards of this space, ensuring they remain welcoming, affirming and safe for all.”
Efforts to support LGBTQ+ Park District employees
Ramirez-Rosa’s focus on equity extends to the Park District’s internal policies and workforce. In 2023, the agency adopted a Gender Diversity Policy, and this month the board opened a public comment period on amendments to the Park District Code to fully align with it.
“We are updating our code—and continue to do so—to ensure that our code recognizes gender diversity and protects the gender-diverse community,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
Ramirez-Rosa said the updates are paired with education and accountability efforts to ensure follow-through.
“We’re making sure that we’re training our staff so they are aware of these policies,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “And so that the trans community and gender-diverse people have equal access to our facilities.”
In addition to policy changes, the Park District recently launched an employee resource group for LGBTQ+ staff called Flourish.
“Members of the LGBTQ+ community that are Park District staff can turn to each other as a resource and can get support from the institution, as well as support from one another,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
The Park District is also focused on LGBTQ+ visibility at public events as a way to affirm employee belonging. This year, the Park District will once again march in the Chicago Pride Parade—with Ramirez-Rosa joining the team.
“To be able to have our agency there—not just inviting people to the parks, but also going out and meeting the community at the biggest LGBTQIA+ event of the year—I think it’s incredibly important,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
LGBTQ+ inclusion in the parks
LGBTQ+ inclusion is also showing up in park programming across Chicago. Ramirez-Rosa said the Park District is continuing to make offerings more affirming and welcoming all year—not just during Pride Month.
“We also work to promote programming that celebrates and welcomes our LGBTQIA+ community year-round,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
That includes the summers’ Night Out in the Parks events, which feature queer-led circus performances, trans-centered festivals, youth fashion showcases and more.
“We do that both as a district, but also with our partners, because there’s so many wonderful community-based organizations that do free or low-cost programming in our parks,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
The Park District is also partnering with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations to host three community meetings about transfemicide, an effort he spearheaded through legislation while serving on City Council.
“When I left the Council to take this job, I promised Commissioner Nancy Andrade and the members of the working group that I would continue to support their efforts,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
That commitment is continuing through Park District-hosted meetings, which he described as vital spaces for healing and action.
“We’re very happy at the Park District to be able to support this important initiative,” he said, “and to … provide, like we do for so many other events, a space for the community to gather and to engage in an important conversation about how we protect our trans siblings.”
Ramirez-Rosa also praised broader efforts to uplift LGBTQ+ stories in public spaces, such as the recent Metropolitan Water Reclamation District resolution honoring AIDS Garden Chicago, which sits on Park District land.
“That’s a wonderful initiative,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “I’m so happy that garden has existed for a number of years now and that [MWRD] Commissioner Precious Brady-DAvis celebrated that feature alongside the Chicago Parks Foundation.”
Ramirez-Rosa also praised organizers in Logan Square who are holding the first ever PRIDE! in Unity Park celebration, happening June 29 in the former alderman’s ward.
The upcoming celebration builds on ongoing LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts in Logan Square, where Ramirez-Rosa championed visibility and representation during his time as alderman.
“I was proud to raise the Progress Pride Flag over Logan Square last year,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “That was an idea that [community leader] Robert Castillo promoted, and we were happy to see it continue this year with Ald. Anthony Quezada.”
As anti-LGBTQ+ legislation spreads in other parts of the country, Ramirez-Rosa said the Park District is determined to be part of a different narrative.
“We are always going to exist. No matter what legislation you pass, we will continue to exist, and we will continue to come together as a community to celebrate the families that we’re building and the community that we’re building,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
Other reflections on his first months as superintendent
Since leaving City Council in April—where he was succeeded by Quezada, a former Cook County commissioner—Ramirez-Rosa has stepped into a citywide leadership role at the Park District, overseeing more than 600 parks and thousands of staff. He said one of his earliest impressions was the deep experience and dedication within the agency.
“I met with 5,000 years of experience in my first weeks,” Ramirez-Rosa said. “I feel very privileged to be able to lead such an experienced team, because there’s so much institutional knowledge.”
Some of Ramirez-Rosa’s proudest accomplishments include launching Project Monarch, a milkweed-planting effort to support the insects during their migration; expanding the rec-leader-in-training program; increasing youth violence prevention efforts; and introducing a participatory budgeting process, something that was a signature initiative during his time as alderman.
“There have been a number of really great initiatives that we’ve gotten done during my brief two months here,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
One thing that’s surprised Ramirez-Rosa since taking the helm of the Park District? The power of Beyoncé.
“When Beyoncé comes into town and performs at Soldier Field, she generates a lot of money for the Park District,” Ramirez-Rosa said with a laugh.
Ramirez-Rosa said that the Park District’s budget comes largely from property taxes, but significant additional funding is generated through venues like Soldier Field, harbors, golf courses and concessions. The economic impact of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter shows at Soldier Field were large enough to support some of the Park District’s most important youth programs, he said.
“We’re really proud that as a district, our summer day camp fees overwhelmingly are lower than they were in 2019,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
Looking ahead, Ramirez-Rosa said his top priorities include a safe, fun summer; equitable capital investment; and robust community involvement in shaping the 2026 budget.
“We really want to make sure that we are inviting people to be part of the process in terms of what the future of the Park District looks like,” Ramirez-Rosa said.