Perk Park (formerly Chester Commons) has perhaps the greatest potential to truly revitalize a critical corner of downtown. Located at East 12th and Chester Avenue, the park is in the midst of the highest concentration of downtown residents. To begin the design process, an initial planning team meeting convened by ParkWorks was held in September of 2002 that included participants from the planning arm of the City of Cleveland's Department of Parks, Recreation & Properties, Downtown Cleveland Partnership, KSU Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative and the Historic Gateway Neighborhood.

Based on the high interest in the park, its potential to impact a huge audience and the inherent design challenges based on its present condition, ParkWorks put additional emphasis in carefully selecting the most qualified design team for the park. A Request for Proposals written in conjunction with the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC) was widely issued and resulted in eight highly qualified teams presenting excellent proposals. A ten-person Selection Committee comprised of City of Cleveland representatives, the Cleveland Theater District, Historic Gateway, Cleveland Public Art, CUDC, and residents reviewed proposals and unanimously selected nationally recognized landscape architect Thomas Balsley of Thomas Balsley Associates, working in partnership with local firm McKnight and Associates.

Presently, varying elevations in the park, concrete walls, a dormant water feature and a forest of significantly overgrown trees hinder visibility into the park resulting in very low usage by residents and corporate workers alike, as there are concerns regarding safety. Overwhelmingly, ParkWorks heard of the need to improve sight lines into and throughout the park and to create an inviting neighborhood-gathering place. The proposed design does just that, bringing up the elevation of the park, adding a sloping great lawn, providing a multitude of seating options, adding a retail kiosk at E. 12th and Chester Avenue, providing a water feature that can be turned off and a variety of enhanced plantings in and around the park.

In an article published October 28, 2003 in The Plain Dealer, architecture critic Steve Litt is effusive in his praise of the design and salutes ParkWorks for leading the effort and bringing such noted national talent to address such a critical public space, stating "Now - finally! - foundations and nonprofits organizations have realized that big buildings aren't enough; the city needs beautiful parks and greenspaces if it hopes to compete with its own suburbs for jobs and residents." Litt continued, "The best is yet to come. ParkWorks a nonprofit organization devoted to the betterment of public spaces in the city, has completed an excellent design for the renovation of Perk Plaza…The plan for the park is simple, logical and filled with potential to make one corner of downtown more desirable as a place to live and work."

Construction will begin early 2004.