Get ready to experience some winter magic right here in the neighborhood!
We’re thrilled to announce a new neighborhood fixture: the Warner Park Winter Wonderland. Every evening from November 23rd until mid-January, the park will be lit up with beautiful displays from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
To celebrate the launch, we are planning a neighborhood gathering this Sunday, November 23rd!
The lights will turn on at 4:30 PM, but we encourage neighbors to stop by a little early—say, 4:25 PM—to gather and share the excitement.
GWCA will provide hot chocolate to make the evening extra cozy. Mark your calendars, bundle up, and bring the family out to enjoy the lights. We can’t wait to see you there!
The GWCA Annual Street Leaf Cleanup is nearing the finish line this weekend, so get those final bags of street leaves collected by Sunday, November 23rd!
Don’t forget our Q4 community meeting at ACM (4116 N Clark) this Thursday, November 13th at 7:00 PM, featuring Via Chicago, and our council member elections.
Then…
…It’s time to don your gloves and grab your rakes! GWCA is thrilled to announce the return of our Annual Street Leaf Cleanup, an essential community effort that helps keep our neighborhood clean, safe, and beautiful all winter long.
Kickoff Event & Celebration
The cleanup officially kicks off on Saturday, November 15th, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM! Meet at Greenview and Belle Plaine, Berteau or Cullom. Please bring a rake or a dustpan to scoop leaves into bags and 3 bags. We will have extra bags at Greenview and Belle Plaine.
Join your neighbors in raking leaves from our streets and crosswalks. This short, high-energy volunteer effort is a fun way to connect with the community and make a big impact.
The kickoff will culminate in a well-deserved celebration: Pizza in Warner Park! We’ll gather at the park around 11:30 AM to share a slice and celebrate our collective hard work.
The Full Cleanup Period
While the kickoff is a fun way to start, the GWCA Street Leaf Cleanup runs from November 15th through November 23rd. We encourage all residents to continue cleaning their streets and parkways throughout this period. Streets and sanitation will pick up bagged leaves on parkways after November 23rd.
Why Your Participation Matters
The Annual Street Leaf Cleanup is a crucial part of our neighborhood’s Eco, Gardens, and Green Space initiatives. By getting street leaves into bags, we accomplish several important goals:
Reduce Flooding: Loose leaves are the primary cause of clogged storm drains, leading to standing water and basement flooding. Clearing the sewer grates is our #1 priority!
Improve Safety: Piles of wet leaves can create slippery hazards for pedestrians and drivers, especially at crosswalks and intersections.
Prepare for Winter: Removing leaves makes winter snow shoveling significantly easier.
In previous years, our incredible volunteers have collected hundreds of bags of leaves, making a noticeable difference across the entire area (Montrose, Clark, Irving Park, and Ashland borders). Let’s make this year our biggest and best cleanup yet!
Graceland West Community Association Hosts YOGA IN THE PARK at Warner Park and Gardens (1444-46 Warner Ave).
Join us Saturday, September 6th, from 9:45 – 10:45 am for a yoga session in the beautiful Warner Park. The event is free and open to all Graceland West residents over 18 years old.
Bring your own mat or throw rug. Weather Permitting.
Graceland West Community Association Hosts YOGA IN THE PARK at Warner Park and Gardens (1444-46 Warner Ave).
Join us Saturday, August 23, from 9:35 – 10:45 am for a yoga session in the beautiful Warner Park. The event is free and open to all Graceland West residents over 18 years old.
Bring your own mat or throw rug. Weather Permitting.
Our neighborhood will be in full bloom, and this year’s walk offers a fantastic lineup of hands-on activities for all ages. Here’s what you can look forward to:
Creative & Sensory Fun at Quantum LEEP Academy (1447 W Montrose Ave, enter through the alley via Pensacola near Greenview) • Sensory Bin – Perfect for little ones—let curious hands explore, play, and discover delightful textures and surprises in our hands-on sensory bin! • Rock Painting Station – Choose from a collection of smooth, beautiful stones and transform them into mini masterpieces to keep or hide as a garden surprise. • Wooden Circle Painting – Unleash your imagination! Kids and adults alike can decorate smaller wood pieces with paints, markers, and more—take your creation home and remember your day in the gardens.
Be sure to swing by Warner Park & Gardens or Quantum LEEP to pick up your Garden Walk activity sheet! • Garden Walk Haiku – Pause for a creative break and compose a garden-inspired haiku. All ages and poetry levels welcome—just three lines, a little imagination, and your garden observations! • Bud & Seek: Scavenger Hunt – How many treasures can you spot as you wander the neighborhood? Mark off items on your Bud & Seek card as you explore! • Garden Walk Bingo – Fill your bingo card by spotting garden features, flora, and fauna while on your garden walk!
Event Details • When: Sunday, July 27 | 1–5PM • Start: Warner Park & Gardens (1444 W Warner Ave) • Boundaries: Montrose, Clark, Irving Park, Ashland • Cost: Free & open to all—neighbors, friends, and plant lovers welcome!
Bring family, invite friends, and make a day of it. The Graceland West Garden Walk has something to inspire every visitor
Don’t forget—our Graceland West Community Meeting is Tomorrow, Thursday, June 19 6:00–7:30 PM Warner Park & Gardens, 1444 W Warner
We’ll be covering important neighborhood updates, electing new council members, sharing exciting environmental wins—and wrapping it all up with a Summer Solstice Potluck!
Bring:
A dish to share
Your own beverage + container
Reusable utensils
A neighbor or two!
Come early at 5:25 PM if you’re able to help set up tables. Stay a few minutes after 7:30 PM to help pack them away.
This is a great opportunity to connect with neighbors, shape our community’s future, and enjoy a beautiful summer evening in the park.
Graceland West Community Association Hosts YOGA IN THE PARK at Warner Park and Gardens (1444-46 Warner Ave).
Join us Saturday, June 7, from 9:35 – 10:45 am for a yoga session in the beautiful Warner Park. The event is free and open to all Graceland West residents over 18 years old.
Bring your own mat or throw rug. Weather Permitting.
