Obama arrives in Chicago for Pullman designation

CHICAGO -- President Barack Obama arrived in Chicago Thursday to discuss the designation of the Pullman Historic District as a national monument.[br /][br /]He's s expected to deliver remarks in the afternoon at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy.[br /] [br /]The Pullman neighborhood on the city's South Side was built by industrialist George Pullman in the 19th century for workers at a factory to build luxurious railroad sleeping cars. The neighborhood was crucial in the African-American labor movement.[br /][photo ID="522624" /][br /] [br /]Designating part of the neighborhood a national monument makes it part of the National Park System.[br /] [br /]The president's visit falls days before the municipal election, where Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces re-election. Emanuel is a former White House chief of staff.[br /][br /]The president will also name the Browns Canyon region in Colorado a national monument. The 21,000 acre site is a popular whitewater rafting area on the Arkansas River.[br /][br /]The president is also expected to announce a former Japanese internment camp in Hawaii will become a national monument.[br /][br /]Obama will also reportedly announce in Chicago that fourth graders across the country will get in free to national parks next year.[br /][br /]According to [url HREF="[br /]http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/19/obama-free-national-park-admission/23640451/" TARGET="new" REL=""]USA Today[/url], President Obama will announce the "Every Kid in the Park" initiative Thursday in Chicago. Family admission to national parks usually costs $80 for an annual pass. However, starting in the fall, fourth graders and their families will get in free.[br /][br /]The funding for the initiative will come from the National Park Service's $20 million budget for youth engagement programs. Some schools will also receive money to pay for travel to national parks.[br /][br /]The National Parks Service celebrates its 100th anniversary next year.[br /][br /][i]The Associated Press contributed to this report.[/i] [br /]