Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejects bid to halt construction of Obama presidential library

Amy Coney Barrett turned down a request to stop construction of the Obama Presidential Center Chicago.
Save Our Parks brought the petition, as they disagree with Jackson Park's selection for the library site.

The federal review of plans for the Obama center took place over four years.

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Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected Friday's attempt to stop construction of the Barack Obama Presidential Center at Chicago's historic Jackson Park.

Protect Our Parks, a non-profit organization, requested that the Supreme Court temporarily stop construction of the library. This was despite having long opposed it being built.

Barrett was the subject of an emergency motion filed by opponents to the library. He is responsible for handling matters throughout much of the Midwest.

Barrett, who was appointed to court by Donald Trump in 2020, denied motion without comment.

The suit requested that a writ be issued to stop any further groundbreaking for the center and also prevent trees being cut in Jackson Park in order to build the facility.

According to the website, the organization supports an Obama Presidential Center in the city's South Side. This would be preferred in Washington Park west of Jackson Park. However, they stress that the site should not be considered a public park.

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The applicants claimed that the groundbreaking should be stopped as the trees in Jackson Park were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1871. They are vital for migratory birds and raise concerns about noise pollution.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Barrett will allow construction of the presidential centre to proceed as planned.

The Obama Presidential Center announced their plans to begin construction at the site in the spring after a four year federal review.

The Obama Foundation stated in a February release that the project "serves as a catalyst to long-overdue investments in and around historic Jackson Park creating new destinations to move visitors from action to hope, breathing new life into Jackson Park, and delivering amenities, economic benefits to the community where the Obamas lived."

Obama lived in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood during his time as a US Senator. He made a videotaped speech praising the progress of his library at that time.

He said, "Michelle and me want to thank for making this project an even better space for the community, created in partnership with the communities." We know that working together will unlock the South Side's potential and help to set up our country, our nation, and our world for better years yet to come.