Tag: green council

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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!

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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!

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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/

Earth Week Celebration of Cycling – Bike Donation/Swap, Obstacle Course, Bike Decorating & Bike Parade

April 26, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Celebrate Earth Week by giving bikes a second life! Join us for a community cycling event focused on sustainability and fun.

♻️ Bike & Bike Parts Swap & Donation – Give unused bikes and parts a new home with The Recyclery
🚴 Kids’ Obstacle Course – Hosted by Pedalheads to help young riders gain confidence
🎨 Bike Decoration Station – Mike your bike parade-ready. Join students and staff from Quantum LEEP Academy in giving your wheels a new look!
🎉 Bike Parade – A fun, all-ages ride through the neighborhood to celebrate cycling as a green way to get around

Whether you’re looking to donate, swap, or just ride, this event is a great way to support sustainability and connect with fellow cyclists. All ages welcome!

Colin McLeod

Lake View High School

4015 North Ashland Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60613 United States + Google Map
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Events & Announcements

Celebrating Our Environmental Committee’s 2024 Successes & Looking Ahead to Spring!

While winter holds us in its grip, let’s warm up with a look at the incredible work our GWCA Environmental Committee accomplished in 2024! From planting native shrubs to launching pollinator gardens, our dedicated volunteers have been working year-round to make Graceland West greener and more sustainable.

Growing Green Spaces

  • Earth Day 2024: Volunteers planted three native shrubs in key locations, bringing more biodiversity to our neighborhood.
  • Pollinator & Stormwater Sites: Three new native plant pollinator pathway and stormwater absorption sites were developed, increasing our total to 11 active locations. Native plants provide habitat for birds, bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. And each site absorbs over 2,000 gallons of stormwater annually via native plant root systems and by returning stormwater to the aquifer.
  • Kids Pollinator Garden: A new children’s garden at Warner Park & Gardens is in the works to engage young environmental stewards.

Advocacy & Community Engagement

  • Committee members continue working with elected officials and local groups on stormwater management solutions, including the possibility of green alleys for Graceland West.
  • At the Annual Environmental Meeting, guest speaker Judy Pollock of the Chicago Bird Alliance shared insights on bird-friendly gardening, followed by a community potluck.

Composting & Leaf Cleanup

  • Pumpkin Smash 2024: Thanks to collaboration with Lake View High School, their JROTC, the 47th Ward, other partners and your support, over 19,000 lbs. of pumpkins were composted – 40% of the total city-wide!
  • Annual Street Leaf Cleanup: Volunteers collected 216 bags of leaves to reduce flooding, improve pedestrian safety, and make winter shoveling easier.

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for another impactful year, we invite you to get involved! Whether it’s joining a planting day, attending an environmental meeting, or simply spreading the word, every effort helps make our neighborhood a greener place.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming initiatives, including our new pollinator garden sites and kids planting day, a celebration of cycling for Earth Week 2025, and the next Pumpkin Smash.

Want to help? Email us at info@gracelandwest.org to learn more.

2025 GWCA Kids Pollinator Project

June 1, 2025 @ 10:30 am – 11:00 am

Join us for the annual Kids Pollinator Project at Warner Park! This hands-on event teaches kids about the vital role of pollinators while engaging them in fun, educational activities. Explore the pollinator pathway, plant flowers, and help create a thriving habitat for bees, butterflies, and more. Perfect for families and kids of all ages!

Bring your enthusiasm and love for nature—we’ll provide the rest!

Linda Welsh

Lake View High School

4015 North Ashland Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60613 United States + Google Map

43rd Annual Graceland West Garden Walk

July 27, 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us for the 43rd annual Graceland West Garden Walk!

Sunday, July 27th, 2025
1-5pm
Potluck to follow at 6pm (Warner Park and Gardens)

Sign up to show your garden or volunteer by clicking here to fill out the participant form. Please fill out as much of the form as you are able to today; you can come back to the survey to add additional details through mid-June.

The Graceland West Garden Walk welcomes gardens of all stripes and sizes. Through June we will work to create an initial participant list. We will follow up over the course of spring and summer with additional details.

Please contact the following for additional questions on the Graceland West Garden Walk:

Chad Rathmann at chad.rathmann@gmail.com
Linda Brummer Welsh at LMBW5@comcast.net

Q2 2025 Community Meeting + Potluck

June 19, 2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

This season’s meeting includes:



Our Annual Environmental Program with guest speaker Olivia Reda from Alliance for the Great Lakes

A discussion on green roofing with Kevin Serena of EXO Building Solutions

Election of new GWCA Council members

Exciting updates on garden walk planning, pollinator projects, and Earth Week ‘55 successes

Then stick around for the potluck! Bring a dish to share, your own drink + container, and reusable utensils.

We need volunteers to help set up at 5:25 PM and clean up after the meeting.

This is a great chance to meet neighbors, get involved, and help shape our green, connected community.

GWCA

View Organizer Website

Lake View High School

4015 North Ashland Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60613 United States + Google Map
Categories
Events & Announcements

Final Reminder: Graceland West Halloween Party is This Saturday!

Halloween is almost here, and we’re so excited for our Graceland West Halloween Party happening this Saturday, October 26th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Warner Park!

Here’s what you can look forward to:

Costume Contest – Show off your Halloween costumes and compete for a fun prize!
Scavenger Hunt – Take part in our first-ever scavenger hunt and see how many spooky decorations you can find around the neighborhood.
Games & Activities – Mummy races, pumpkin decorating, spider maze, pinata, and more!
Create Your Own Candy Apples – Get creative and make a delicious treat!

We can’t wait to see you all on Saturday at Warner Park for a fantastic Halloween celebration. Bring your costumes, your scavenger hunt forms, and plenty of Halloween spirit!

Photo credit: Teddi Burgess Photography

Don’t Trash It, Smash It!

After the Halloween fun is over, don’t forget to save your pumpkins for the Pumpkin Smash happening on Saturday, November 9th from 10 AM to 2 PM at Lake View High School (4015 N Ashland Ave). This is a great way to green your Halloween by composting your pumpkins instead of throwing them in the trash.

How it works: Bring your pumpkins (with all candles, paint, and decorations removed), and they’ll be smashed and composted. It’s a fun, eco-friendly way to dispose of your pumpkins!

Let’s all help keep pumpkins out of landfills and do our part for the environment!

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