Grantee Spotlight
Brookfield Shops
Grantee Spotlight
Brookfield Shops Ribbon Cutting
Grantee Spotlight: Art pieces and stage now part of Brookfield Shops
Updated August 2026.
This project is now completed. Visit the Brookfield Shops at 9202 Broadway Ave in Brookfield.
Brookfield Shops, a retail incubator that debuted in 2025, now features more art, and an array of renovations, thanks to a Cook County Arts Creative Placemaking grant.
The shops, located at Progress Park, 9202 Broadway Ave., in Brookfield, hosted an unveiling on June 12, 2026, with elected officials, artists, local businesses and program partners joining in the celebration.
A second round of art was revealed, following a first round that debuted in October 2025, as well as a renovated courtyard with pavers, sun shades, new signage, and more.
“We really wanted to create a space where people could come, they could connect, discover local art, experience different arts, and be accessible in a very meaningful way,” said Libby Popovic, community development director for the Village of Brookfield. “Thanks to the support of this Creative Placemaking grant, that vision has actually become a reality.”
A Second Round of Art
The themes for the new art, unveiled in June 2026, are “Art of Home” and “Stories from Brookfield,” celebrating what makes Brookfield feel like home and highlighting the people and places that make the community so special.
Vivian Piña, a local artist whose work was also featured in the October 2025 unveiling, created murals highlighting the four seasons. The springtime piece features flowers; the summer piece celebrates the local Little League; the fall piece features students returning to school; and the winter piece highlights the local holiday market.
“I am so honored and happy that Brookfield has shown its support for local artists,” said Piña, a mother of two. “I hope these pieces not only showcase memories that I have growing up in this town, but memories I want my children and everyone to have in the future.”
Building on Brookfield Shops’ first season
In October 2025, community members and local leaders gathered at Brookfield Shops at Progress Park to celebrate a community project supported by a Cook County Arts Creative Placemaking grant.
In its inaugural season in 2025, the Shops featured six entrepreneurs working out of small, cottage-like storefronts and quickly became a weekend destination for local shoppers. With support from Cook County Arts, the site now features new artist-made panels, upgraded landscaping and a small outdoor stage set to open for performances in spring 2026.
Organizers also plan to build a portable stage to be used for larger performances and street events.
“By activating the Brookfield Shops space through art, we’re not only adding beauty; we’re creating connection, an opportunity for artists to shine, and for residents to experience something vibrant and meaningful,” said Brookfield Village Manager Tim Wiberg.
One of the featured artists is Vivian Piña, an illustrator whose panel pays tribute to Kiwanis Park, a place she visited throughout her childhood in Brookfield. She created the artwork digitally before painting much of it sideways in her attic during her daughters’ nap times since it was too tall to paint vertically.
“I painted Kiwanis Park because it was my favorite place growing up,” Piña shared. “I want my daughters to have a public space where children are seen, respected, and able to play and learn together.”
Art, entrepreneurship, and community
Brookfield Shops features six entrepreneurs operating out of small storefronts from May to December, with the chance to grow their business and benefit from mentorship and workshops. Art is displayed on the storefronts, adding vibrancy.
The Brookfield Shops allow entrepreneurs to launch and grow their individual businesses in a supportive, collaborative community. Participants are selected by a community panel of residents, business owners, and local organization leaders.
Meghan Harte, senior executive director of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which is partnering with Cook County on the creative placemaking program, noted that the Brookfield Shops space “began as an idea” but “has become a place where art, culture, entrepreneurship and community come together.”
Popovic said the grant has made the community stronger and more unified.
“Over this past year, this investment has done more than just improve this physical space,” Popovic said. ”It strengthened our partnerships with Brookfield, with other local organizations, with artists, with businesses, both in Brookfield and outside of Brookfield, and most importantly, with community stakeholders.”
In sync with Cook County Arts’ mission, Brookfield Shops has become a vibrant, welcoming public space where people can gather, explore, and feel connected to their community.