Neighborhood Cleanup, Quarterly Meeting and Pizza Party

August 25 @ 5:30 pm 6:30 pm

Neighborhood Cleanup Led by local high school student Jay Gillman, to tidy up key areas around the neighborhood including the LVHS field, playlot, parking lot, and adjacent parkways.

After the cleanup, we’ll walk over to Warner Park to relax, grab a slice of pizza and meet your neighbors AND we’ll include a 10 minute 3rd Quarter GWCA meeting for members to vote on two GWCA Council positions.

Brad Pierce

Belle Plane and Greenview

4100 N Greenview Ave
Chicago, IL 60613 United States
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Categories
Events & Announcements Green Council

Join Us for a Neighborhood Cleanup & Pizza Party!

Make a Difference in Our Neighborhood – Tuesday, August 25th!

Next week, we’re coming together for a neighborhood cleanup, and some well-deserved pizza.

Whether you have 15 minutes or can stay for the whole hour, your hands will help us make our neighborhood cleaner.

Details

  • When: Tuesday, August 25th | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  • Where to Meet: The Traffic Circle at Belle Plaine & Greenview (adjacent to Lake View High School)
  • What to Bring: Just yourself! (We’ll have everything you need.)
  • Schedule
    • 5:30 PM – Neighborhood Cleanup – Led by local high school student Jay Gillman, we’ll head out to tidy up key areas around the neighborhood including the LVHS field, playlot, parking lot, and adjacent parkways
    • 6:15 PM – Pizza in Warner Park -After we wrap up, walk over to Warner Park to relax, grab a slice of pizza and meet your neighbors AND we’ll include a 10 minute 3rd Quarter GWCA meeting for members to vote on two GWCA Council positions

Why Come? It’s a fantastic way to get outdoors, meet your neighbors, support local youth leadership, and help keep our community looking its best, plus, free pizza on us!

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Events & Announcements

Tomorrow: Yoga in the Park + LVHS Field Gets Brand-New Nets!

Yoga in the Park is Tomorrow Morning!

Just a quick reminder that Yoga in the Park kicks off tomorrow, Sunday, August 9, from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM in Warner Park and Gardens!

Join us and our instructor, Devyn Kerpan, for a refreshing morning flow in the fresh air. Don’t forget to grab your mat, a water bottle, and a towel to place under your mat. We can’t wait to see you on the grass!

Exciting News for the Lake View High School Field

New nets have replaced torn nets on LVHS field. Looks great and just in time for the ’26-’27 school year! Thank you to Alderman Martin for securing this safety funding. Hopefully the high-flying scooter was harvested from the old net and returned to the rightful owner!

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Events & Announcements

🎭 Inside the Uptown: A Night of Neighborhood History with Robert Loerzel

Don’t miss out on our conversation with Robert Loerzel about The Uptown Theatre, a topic that always sparks a lot of nostalgia and curiosity for Chicagoans.

This Tuesday, March 10th at 7:00 PM, join GWCA at Quantum LEEP Academy (1447 W. Montrose Ave). Robert will be sharing stories from his new book, The Uptown: Chicago’s Endangered Movie Palace, co-authored with James A. Pierce.


Looking Ahead: Celebrate Pi Day at Lake View High School

On Saturday, March 14 (Pi Day!) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Lake View High School opens its doors for STEM Day. It’s a wonderful opportunity to step inside our local high school and witness the incredible work being done by neighborhood students. From high-tech robotics to the mysteries of forensic science, come see the future of innovation right here in our backyard.

STEM Day at LVHS

March 14 @ 10:00 am 12:00 pm

Belle Plane and Greenview

4100 N Greenview Ave
Chicago, IL 60613 United States
+ Google Map
Categories
Events & Announcements

Don’t Trash It, Smash It! The Pumpkin Smash is Back at LVHS!

It’s time for one last celebration of the Halloween season—the annual Pumpkin Smash!

Thanks to the incredible community spirit and effort, everyone’s commitment has made the Lake View High School location the largest smash and compost event in the city! Last year, with the help of our partners like Lake View High School, their JROTC, and the 47th Ward, we composted over 19,000 pounds of pumpkins, keeping a huge amount of organic waste out of landfills.

This year, we’re challenging ourselves to reach a new milestone: Let’s double the tonnage! Join us in this fun, eco-friendly way to green your Halloween and support the environment.

Event Details

  • When: Saturday, November 8, 10 am – 2 pm
  • Where: Lake View High School parking lot, Greenview entrance from Irving Park

How to Participate

  1. Bring Your Pumpkins and Gourds: All decorative squashes are welcome.
  2. Prep Your Pumpkins: Please ensure you remove stickers and candles first!
  3. Show Your Spirit: Halloween celebrants are encouraged to wear their costumes one more time.
  4. Go Green on Transport: We love how many neighbors biked or brought their pumpkins in Radio Flyer or other wagons—it’s the best way to get them to the smash!

Let’s beat last year’s record and make an even bigger impact on our composting efforts!

Pumpkin Smash at LVHS

November 8, 2025 @ 10:00 am 2:00 pm

Everyone’s efforts have made this pumpkin smash location one of the largest smash and compost events in the city.  Let’s double the tonnage this year!  Saturday, November 8, 10 am – 2 pm at Lake View High School parking lot, Greenview entrance from Irving Park. Halloween celebrants are encouraged to wear their costumes one more time. Bring pumpkins and gourds.  Remove stickers and candles first.

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 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
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/

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