32nd Ward Newsletter June 27, 2025

Dear Scott,

The north side hosts the annual Pride Parade this Sunday with a new route, better location finders, and more information on parking and parade crossing locations. Please see below for everything you need to know!

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is advising residents, spectators, and motorists to be aware of the street closures, traffic restrictions, and additional crowds in the area and to plan accordingly.

For all events this weekend, the City of Chicago will have citywide deployments to ensure the safety and security of the public. OEMC will monitor weekend events and weather conditions citywide, activating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate public safety resources with critical stakeholders. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on hand at select events citywide to direct flow and impacts from increased traffic.

Suspicious Activity: If You See Something, Say Something. The city reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. If you notice something suspicious, notify onsite security or call 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.

Also starting tonight is the Taco & Tequila Fest at Wrightwood Park! Join Wrightwood Neighbors at the park to help raise funds for the parks and enjoy some of the best tacos and tequila in the City! Click here for more info.

In a recent newsletter, we mentioned a Wellington Bikeway Community Engagement Meeting. The date and time released was not confirmed and had to be pushed back. The meeting will be held now on July 9th at 6pm in the Illinois Masonic auditorium. Entrance is off of 836 W. Wellington. We will send more information as we receive it. 

Have a nice weekend,

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Thank You Pedro!

In bittersweet news, our 32nd Ward Superintendent, Pedro Borrero, retired today after 22 years of working for the city. He has been with us here in the 32nd ward since my inauguration in 2007, and worked for the 1st Ward before that. If you've ever had an issue with trash pickup, street cleaning, snow removal, or any other sanitation issue, it's very likely Pedro was involved in addressing it. His presence around the office and the ward will be missed, but we wish him the very best in his future endeavors!

2025 Street Cleaning Calendar

Next week, street sweeping will occur in sections 15 and 16 (Bucktown). Click on the map above to see your section's schedule.

Please be on the lookout for signs and make sure to move your vehicle on your scheduled day (south and east sides of the street are normally done on the first day, north and west on the second; please watch for signs). Sweepers will do more than one pass on the block in their initial cleaning but will not come back to clean sections outside of their officially scheduled day.

Please take the time to help clear the curb in front of your property to keep the sewers flowing well. Any landscaping debris should be bagged and put in the alley by your trash cans. Please do not sweep landscaping debris into the street. Piles of leaves and heavy garbage also clog the sweepers and will cause significant delays. Other large objects like branches and metal will also damage the sweepers, so please remove them from curbs.

Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool. 

Public Safety Section

Lincoln Park Sewer Main Project #7158

Weekly Update

Project Status:

Landscaping activities—including hydroseeding, black dirt placement, and brickwork—will continue throughout this week along with general site cleanup.

Asphalt work has gone on this week. After paving, the major work will be road marking at intersections, which typically takes about two days.

Barry/Lincoln/Southport Alley Update

Here is an update concerning the CDOT Capital Program alley project located at Barry & Lincoln and Lincoln & Southport.

The Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC) has awarded a contract to Sumit Construction Company, Inc.

Here are the anticipated

site activities:

• Contractor Permitting & Mobilization: July 2025

• Alley Reconstruction: July 2025 to November 2025

• New Landscaping: November 2025

In accordance with the Chicago Municipal Code, the PBC is granting permission to the contractor to begin the workday at 6:00am and to end the workday at 7:00pm, Monday

through Friday; 8:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays (if needed); and 9:00am to 5:00pm on

Sundays (if needed) for the duration of the project.

BrightPath Bucktown Child Care Center Now Open!

BrightPath Bucktown opened this week! We're so excited to see them open at 2642 N. Jones St. Their mission is to deliver high quality childcare and exciting opportunities for learning that give every child a head start as they prepare for school. The space and teachers are wonderful and has been developed to encourage children to be independent thinkers and lead with curiosity!

They are offering a Founding Families discount where you could save up to $850! Be among the first to join the BrightPath Bucktown community and unlock exclusive savings through our Founding Families Discount! Eligible families can receive up to $850 in tuition credits during their first year, plus complimentary enrichment programs like “Read with Me”, and cooking classes. Availability is limited to the first group of enrolled families.

Learn more about this great new location here.

Opening in July - The Messi Experience

Also opening across the street from Bright Path in the old Windy City Fieldhouse is the new interactive Messi Experience. As Chicago and the rest of the United States gear up for the World Cup in 2026 (unfortunately without any matches in Chicago), check out this new experience featuring Lionel Messi.

Lake View Township Open for Appeals

Properties in the City of Chicago and south & west suburbs are not scheduled to be reassessed this year, but property owners still have an opportunity to file an appeal once a year with the Cook County Assessor's Office and right now, Lake View Township is now open for appeal until 7/9/2025.

To file an appeal online, click here.

To watch virtual workshops, click here.

West Lakeview Special Service Area (SSA) 27’s 15 year term ends 12/31/2025, and must go through a renewal process throughout 2025 in order for West Lakeview to keep crucial SSA services such as Litter Pickup, Landscaping, Holiday Decor, Outdoor Furniture Maintenance, Community Events (ex. Lakeview Tree Lighting Ceremony), Public Art, and more.

To keep West Lakeview safe, beautiful, and fun, SSA 27 will require signatures representing 20% of Property Index Numbers (PIN) within SSA 27 boundaries by August 1st. We are just under 50 signatures from our goal, and you can help. Spread the word, and reach out to help if you own or rent within the boundaries below:

• Southport: 3150 to 3880 (Byron to Belmont)
• Lincoln: 2800 to 3599 (Addison to Diversey)
• Ashland: 2800 to 3599 (Addison to Diversey)
• Belmont: 1200 to 1799 (Racine to Ravenswood)
• Any side-street intersecting the above-listed streets, up to the first alley or 100ft if no alley is present

Please reach out to SSA 27 Program Manager Robert Morvay at robert@lrvcc.org or (773) 472-7171 ext. 102 to receive your signature form.

For more info, please refer to lakeviewssa27.com/reconstitution 

Register for the Roscoe Village Garden Walk

Register now to be an exhibitor in the 2025 Roscoe Village Garden Walk on July 13th from 12pm-5pm. Deadline to register is July 7th.

Mobile City Hall Event

Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest

Get ready to spice up your summer—Taco and Tequila Fest is taking over Wrightwood Park tonight and Saturday!

How it Works- Purchase a ticket. Bring your family and friends for a day or evening (or both) of tasty food, drinks, and music (this event is for all ages). Children under 10 are allowed to enter for free. Speaking of drinks, be ready to grab yourself a margarita flight or Pacifico at the bar to enjoy with various Chicagoland taco restaurants. More on Wrightwood Neighbors' website.

Events in 32nd Ward parks (click flyer above for more info)-

Churchill Park (1825 N. Damen)

July 12- Movies in the Park- The Sandlot

August 18- Movies in the Park- Wicked

Park 567 (1801 N. Milwaukee)

July 23- Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz

Walsh Park (1722 N. Ashland)

July 26- Hirde with Alpha and the Princes of Futa

August 5- Movies in the Park- Wicked, sing a long version

August 16- La Cantera & Friends

Holstein Park (2200 N. Oakley)

August 1- Circus in the Parks

Wrightwood Park (2534 N. Greenview)

August 2- Movies in the Park- Twister

Hamlin Park (3035 N. Hoyne)

August 11- Movies in the Park- Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Pride Parade Sunday June 29, 11 a.m.

The Pride Parade has a new route and start time, stepping off at 11 a.m. at Sheridan and Broadway and will proceed south on Halsted; east on Belmont; south on Broadway and east on Diversey to Sheridan for disbanding. For complete details on the parade, street closures and more, visit PrideChicago.org.  

Everything you need to know about the parade - Street crossing locations: Addison at Halsted, Cornelia at Halsted, Buckingham at Halsted, Briar Place at Broadway, and Wellington at Broadway

Parking Restrictions:

Public transportation is highly recommended. Parking restrictions in the area, which will be in effect and strictly enforced, will begin at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning for the assembly area at Sheridan and Broadway and the parade route. Parking restrictions will be in effect throughout the area, so drivers are urged to read signage before parking. To locate a towed vehicle, call 3-1-1.

Pole Markers: Know Your Location. Get lost in the fun, not in the crowds. Temporary pole identifiers are visible from light poles throughout the parade route to mark the location. Lost? Injured? Witness criminal or suspicious activity? Don’t know your location in the crowd? Look up for the black signs with white lettering. Call 9-1-1 to give the letter-number combinations on the pole nearest to your location to help first responders locate you as quickly as possible. You can also use the identifiers to let friends and family know where you are if you become separated at the event.

Volunteer at Burger Fest with Your Business!

Roscoe Village Burger Fest will take place July 18-20 on Belmont in between Damen and Oakley. We need volunteers to work the beer tents. Grab a few of your business team members and sling some beers together! It's a great opportunity for a team-building activity with some great photo ops.  Submit your restaurant burger for one of the best of Chicago!

Please email TERESA@LRVCC.ORG for more info.

3D-Printing Event for Young Girls!

MakerGirl is an Illinois-based not-for-profit organization that educates girls 7-22 in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through hands-on workshops, 3D printing, and other cutting-edge technologies. They empower young girls to improve their digital skills by providing access to online CAD software & 3D printers, where they can be both technical and creative in one space.

More Summer Fun!

See Movies on a 40 Foot Screen in Millennium Park

Go to the movies for free this summer and see fan-favorite films on a 40-foot LED screen during the Millennium Park Summer Film Series at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

The Millennium Park Summer Film Series, presented by Pluto TV, will offer showings at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays from July 1 to Aug. 19, 2025, with seating available in the bowl or picnic-style on the Great Lawn. Gates open at 5 p.m.

This year’s lineup celebrates milestone anniversaries and iconic storytelling. Films on the schedule are The Sandlot, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (20th anniversary), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Love & Basketball (25th anniversary), The Grand Budapest Hotel, My Best Friend’s Wedding (a Chicago classic), and Wicked. Pride and Prejudice, commemorating both its 20th anniversary and the 250th birthday of Jane Austen, concludes the series.

Discover the complete lineup of free summer offerings at MillenniumPark.org. All guests attending Pritzker Pavilion events must enter through designated entrances on Randolph and Monroe streets. For updates, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE.

City News

• Hundreds Pack Funeral for Slain Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera: ‘She Gave Everything’
• 19 Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Pride Parade, Queer Book Fair, Cherry Harvest and More
• Chicago City Council Oks $32M for Security Upgrades at Wrigley Field
• City Council’s Surveillance Camera Ordinance Sparks Privacy Worries and Cost Debates
• Lincoln Yards Was Supposed to Transform the North Side. What Went Wrong?
• Not Your Grandparents' City Council
• Get Inked for a Good Cause at Chicago’s First-Ever ‘Tattoo Lady Fest’
• Eater: Where to Eat and Drink in North Center- a great list of local restaurants
• Chicago Pride Parade 2025: Here’s What You Need to Know
• Chicago Public Schools Budget Deficit Rises to $734 Million, Interim CEO Says