Categories
Events & Announcements Green Council

Join Us for Our Summer Community Meeting + Potluck!

Thursday, June 19 | Time: 6–7:30 PM | Location: Warner Park & Gardens (1444 W Warner)

Join the Graceland West Community Association for an evening of updates, conversation, environmental inspiration, and a delicious summer solstice potluck. Let’s come together to celebrate what we’ve accomplished and look ahead to what’s next.

Meeting Agenda Highlights

Annual Environmental Program & ECO Updates
We’ll hear from:

  • Olivia Reda of Alliance for the Great Lakes on microplastics, health, and the actions we can take.
  • Kevin Serena of EXO Building Solutions will discuss green roof and water proofing solutions.
  • Our GWCA ECO Committee on our growing network of 14 native plant pollinator and stormwater absorption sites, including two new ones at Lake View High School planted by JROTC.
  • Updates on our Earth Week ’55 projects including our first ever Celebration of Cycling, the Pollinator sites at LVHS and the Warner Park Kid’s Pollinator site.

Garden Walk Planning
Calling all gardeners! Our 43rd Annual Garden Walk is coming up on Sunday, July 27. Want to help organize it, show your garden or just be part of the fun? Come learn more and sign up!

Council Election
Three of your neighbors—Bruce, Colin, and Janice—are running to serve on the GWCA Council. Interested in joining too? Let us know! (Eligible voting members must reside in the neighborhood and be current on dues.)

Community Thanks & Neighborhood Projects

  • Big thanks to volunteers helping with bioswales and traffic circles—your work helps reduce flooding and beautify the neighborhood.
  • We’re also fundraising to support continued planting at Lake View High School—every dollar helps create more green spaces.

Summer Solstice Potluck

Bring a dish to share, your own beverage + container, and reusable utensils. The pot luck will begin as soon as the meeting concludes. We’d love help setting up tables at 5:25 PM and putting them away at 7:30 PM. Volunteers are also needed to help run the potluck!

How You Can Get Involved

Reach out to info@gracelandwest.org to:

  • Help organize or participate in the Garden Walk
  • Volunteer for bioswale cleanups or potluck setup
  • Join the Council or serve as a Block Rep
  • Donate to support our native plant and stormwater projects

Let’s keep Graceland West beautiful, green and connected.
We can’t wait to see you on June 19 at Warner Park!

Categories
Events & Announcements

Join Us for the Kids Pollinator Project This Sunday!

We’re kicking off summer with a fun and educational event for kids this Sunday at 10:30 AM at Warner Park and Gardens — the Kids Pollinator Project!

Little gardeners will learn about the important role pollinators play in our environment and get hands-on planting pollinator-friendly flowers in the community garden. It’s a great way to dig in the dirt, learn something new, and help make our neighborhood greener and more beautiful.

Come ready to plant, play, and learn. Bring a hand shovel and gloves. If not, don’t worry, just bring your enthusiasm (and maybe a sun hat)!

When: Sunday June 1 at 10:30 AM
Where: Warner Park and Gardens
Who: All kids and families welcome!

We hope to see you there!

Categories
Events & Announcements Green Council

Join Us for the Celebration of Cycling – This Saturday!

Celebrate Earth Week with Us – Saturday, April 26!

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to dust off the pedals and join your neighbors for a morning of community and cycling. GWCA, in partnership with Lake View High School, Pedalheads, The Recyclery and Quantum LEEP Academy, invites you to our Celebration of Cycling on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Lake View High School’s parking lot (4015 N Ashland Ave).​

Event Schedule:

  • 10:00 – 11:00 AM: Bike Decoration Station
    Join students and staff from Quantum LEEP Academy to add some flair to your bike and get parade-ready!​
  • 10:00 – 11:30 AM: Kids’ Obstacle Course
    Guided by the Pedalheads team, young riders can build confidence and have fun navigating a safe and exciting course.​
  • 10:00 – 11:30 AM: Bike Donation & Swap
    The Recyclery will be accepting bikes and parts for donation. It’s a great opportunity to give unused items a new life or find something new-to-you.​
  • 11:00 – 11:30 AM: Bike Parade
    An all-ages neighborhood ride to showcase our bike infrastructure and celebrate cycling together. Safety volunteers will guide the route.​

Why Attend?

This event is a fantastic way to engage with the community, promote sustainable transportation, and enjoy a fun-filled morning with activities for all ages. Whether you’re looking to donate a bike, help your child gain confidence on two wheels, or simply enjoy a leisurely ride through the neighborhood, there’s something for everyone.​

Get Involved:

If you’re interested in assisting with setup, guiding the parade, or spreading the word, please reach out to us.​

Stay Connected:

For more details and updates, visit our event page.​

Let’s celebrate cycling, community, and Earth Week. See you there!

Categories
From the Alderman's Office

From the 47th Ward: Hutchinson/Greenview Water Main Project

We’re forwarding the following update from the 47th Ward Office for those who may not have received it directly.

The Department of Water Management is starting work replacing 1,300 of water main beneath Hutchinson (Greenview to Clark) and Greenview (Berteau to Cullom). The water main is the large pipe that runs along the street and brings water to each building’s individual service line. The existing water main dates back to the 1890s. This project will be an opportunity for DWM to replace the water main, replace any existing lead service lines connecting to it, and fully repave all three blocks once the project is complete. This project was identified over the years based on the age of the main and the history of breaks and leaks impacting it.

Start Date: Crews will start moving equipment to the area this week, with digging beginning next week.

Expected Duration of Project: 3 months (July completion), followed by asphalt and concrete restoration.

Parking impacts: 7am-3:30pm on weekdays – no access to or parking on the street. Parking will be available at all other times. Crews will work to accommodate special deliveries, disabled residents, etc.

Water Shutoffs: Crews will strive to provide 5 days’ notice ahead of any scheduled service interruptions. Some emergency repairs may take place (old pipes tend to crack as they are being worked on). These service interruptions are not expected to impacted buildings that are not on the directly impacted blocks.

Water Main Replacement Process: Two separate crews will trench to install a new water main a few feet from the old one. They will work:

  • On Hutchinson: Starting at Clark, working west.
  • On Greenview: Starting at Cullom, working south.

Throughout the whole project DWM will aim to be minimally invasive, using trenchless technology and working around existing trees wherever possible.

Best,

Joshua Mark
Chief of Staff

Categories
Events & Announcements

Celebration of Cycling – Looking for Volunteers

GWCA is hosting a Celebration of Cycling from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on Saturday, April 26 at Lake View High School, and we’d love your help! The event will feature a bike donation + swap, bike decorating, an obstacle course for kids, and a bike parade through the neighborhood—all aimed at dusting off the pedals and showcasing our bike infrastructure.

We’re looking for volunteers at the event. If you can help, reach out to info@gracelandwest.org. Even a little help goes a long way in making it a success!

Details & flyer here:
https://gracelandwest.org/calendar/celebration-of-cycling-bike-donation-swap-obstacle-course-bike-parade/

Categories
Events & Announcements

The Cubs win! Now let’s talk about parking

If you live in Graceland West, you should have received your 2025 LV2 sticker and guest pass in the mail. Remove last year’s sticker and place the new sticker on the passenger side of your windshield as soon as possible. For more information about LV2, please see the Alderman’s helpful Parking page.

Important Reminder: As of 2023, the LV2 zone expanded to include parking restrictions for all Cubs home games and Wrigley Field concerts. Through 2022 it did not apply to day game dates. This means that when there is a day game, don’t forget to have guests display your guest pass after the game, between 5 and 10 PM.

Our first 47th Ward Street Sweeping is scheduled for April 17 and 18. The 47th Ward section is Montrose to Irving from Ashland to the west side of Southport. This part of the neighborhood receives four street sweepings a year.

  • April 17th and 18th
  • June 13th and 16th
  • August 12th and 13th
  • October 8th and 9th 

The last sweeping is well before the final leaves will fall which is why we’ll be having our 13th annual volunteer street leaf cleanup in November.  More Street Sweeping info can be found here.

Our first 46th Ward Street Sweeping is scheduled for April 9th and 10th.  The 46th Ward section includes Warner to Irving from the east side of Southport to Clark.  This part of the neighborhood receives eight street sweepings.

  • April 9th and 10th
  • May 7th and 8th
  • June 5th and 6th
  • July 7th and 8th
  • Aug 4th and 5th
  • Sept 2nd and 3rd
  • Sept 30th and Oct 1st
  • Oct 29th and 30th

For the 46th Ward you can find more Street Sweeping information on here.

Categories
Events & Announcements

From the LVHS Principal – Playground Closures Next Week

On Tuesday April 8th and Thursday April 10th, our students will be engaged in high-stakes testing from roughly 8am until 1pm. While we’re generally glad to have children play in our playground during school hours, during those two time periods, we’d really appreciate quiet so that students can focus on their ACT and Pre-ACT testing.

We will be posting signs on the playground asking community members not to use the space during those two times.

Paul J. Karafiol, Ed.D.
Principal
Lake View High School

Categories
Events & Announcements

Bioswales in Graceland West: A Community Effort to Manage Stormwater

Heavy rains can leave behind standing water and puddles, creating inconvenience and potential hazards in our neighborhood. Fortunately, bioswales help mitigate these issues by capturing and filtering stormwater, reducing runoff, and preventing flooding. Here in Graceland West, we are fortunate to have several bioswales that play a crucial role in managing water flow and keeping our streets drier during rain events.

Bioswales function by using vegetation and soil to slow down and absorb rainwater, filtering out pollutants before the water reaches the sewer system or natural waterways. These green infrastructure elements are designed with a gentle slope and deep-rooted plants that help capture excess rainwater, reducing strain on storm drains and improving overall water quality.

However, bioswales don’t maintain themselves! These natural drainage solutions require ongoing care to remain effective, and that’s where community support comes in. Recently, a dedicated group of volunteers—Colin, Teddi, Linda, and Kim—came together to revitalize the bioswale at 4200 N Clark St (Clark and Berteau). Their efforts included clearing debris, which helps maintain proper water flow and prevents blockages, refreshing plant life, and ensuring the bioswale remains a functional and attractive part of our neighborhood.

The native plants are already sprouting and birds are finding earthworms there.

If you’d like to get involved in maintaining our bioswales, keep an eye out for future volunteer opportunities and review our Stormwater Solutions page! Small efforts from community members help keep our neighborhood beautiful and resilient.

Categories
Events & Announcements

Support Truman College: Clothing Drive & Blood Drive

We’re excited to support Truman College—where our former GWCA council member, Joanne Yonan, now works—through two meaningful initiatives this spring.

Business Attire Clothing Drive (March 22–31)
Joanne is collecting gently used business attire for Truman College students to wear to job interviews. If you have professional clothing you’re no longer using, this is a great way to give it a second life while helping students take a big step toward their careers. Students will present their Truman IDs to select clothing.

To donate, please contact Joanne Yonan directly at jsyonan@gmail.com to arrange drop-off.

Blood Drive at Truman College (April 23)
GWCA has partnered on blood drives before, and we’re proud to support this upcoming one at Truman College. It’s a simple way to make a life-saving difference in our community.

Location:
Harry S Truman College
1145 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

Let’s show our Graceland West spirit and support Joanne and the students of Truman College!

Categories
Events & Announcements

Meeting Tonight, Featuring Jensen Allen from Graceland Cemetery and 46th Alderwoman Clay

Join Us TONIGHT, March 13th for the GWCA Quarterly Meeting

We’re excited to invite all Graceland West neighbors to our GWCA Quarterly Meeting. Below is the full agenda for the evening:

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM Location: Quantum LEEP Academy, 1447 W Montrose Ave

Agenda:

  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. Neighborhood Updates and review of full GWCA 2025 calendar
  3. GWCA Budget Review and Council Election
  4. Virtual Guest: 46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay
  5. Guest: Seth Boustead, Executive Director of Access Contemporary Music
  6. Guest Speaker: Jensen Allen from Graceland Cemetery
  7. Open Forum and Other Community Announcements

We encourage all residents, whether in the 46th or 47th Ward, to attend this meeting. Your participation is vital in shaping the future of Graceland West. Come, engage, and be a part of the conversation that makes our community thrive.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, IL – Daniel Burnham’s Grave. Photo credit: Linda Oyama Bryan
Verified by MonsterInsights