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• LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT •
May 31, 2023
Dear LCA Friends and Neighbors,
It is hard to put into words how wonderful it is to see the neighborhood come alive as the summer season kicks off. Whether you are catching a ball game at Oz Park, shopping at the farmer’s market, or dining al fresco at one of our neighborhood’s fine eateries, I think everyone can agree that Lincoln Park is a great place to be.
Over the past couple months, LCA volunteers have been hard at work in our community parks in preparation for all the summer fun that’s about to begin. A great example of the good times ahead includes the return of LCA’s Summer Socials. Starting with the first Summer Social planned for June 8th at Lincoln Central Park, the Lincoln Central Association is planning to host these less formal get together to celebrate a different park within our boundaries every month.
Another great event to look forward to is the annual Summer Block Party, hosted by Carnival Foods. Last year’s block party was such a great time, you will not want to miss this year’s party on July 15th.
There will be something for everyone, young and young at heart, to make the most of the summer in Lincoln Park, and I look forward to seeing you all out and about.
From the Heart,
Erik Heitman
President, Lincoln Central Association
P. S. Do not hesitate to contact me at any time at erik@heitmanarchitects.com or 816-668-6775 if you would like to learn more about LCA or have neighborhood concerns.
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Lincoln Central Association Summer & Fall Events | |
Lincoln Central Association is excited to release our 2023 summer and fall events schedule! Please join us for these fun, local neighborhood events!
Summer Socials – June 8, June 21 and August 3
We are happy to bring back our Lincoln Central Association Summer Socials! The weather has been beautiful, so we want to bring everyone together to meet their neighbors, socialize and enjoy our parks!
Our LCA Summer Socials are held in our local parks. The events will be a casual gathering of friends and neighbors to socialize and meet new people. Kids and dogs are welcome. We encourage you to bring the beverage of your choice, as well as snacks or a picnic. The events are free and open to all. Here are the dates and locations for our 2023 Summer Socials:
- June 8: Lincoln Central Park: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- June 21: Ella Jenkins Park: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- August 3: Ogden Mall: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Summer Block Party – July 15
Lincoln Central Association is excited to again partner with Carnival Grocery for the Summer Block Party on Saturday, July 15 from noon – 3 p.m. on Dickens Ave. This family friendly block party will offer fun, food and activities for families and adults. For kids, the event will feature a local fire truck, face painting, a balloon artist, games from Lakeshore Sports and Fitness, music and more. Adults can enjoy some complimentary food and drinks from Carnival Foods. The event is free and open to all.
Evening in the Garden – September 17
Evening in the Garden celebrates the close of summer, our garden volunteers and the garden harvest. This garden party is used to honor the heart put into many neighborhood achievements including retiring police officers and especially the volunteers who make our neighborhood parks such special gathering places. The event includes food, wine and beverages from neighborhood restaurants and businesses. The event is free and open to the public.
Howler at Bauler – October 28
Known as "The Haunt of the Neighborhood”, Howler at Bauler is held each year during Halloween weekend in Bauler Park. From the neighborhood firehouse bringing its truck, to the neighborhood fitness center staffing games, to our congressman, alderman and state representatives greeting the crowds, everyone puts their heart into making this a great neighborhood event. Howler at Bauler includes a bouncy house, costume parade, games, candy, a DJ to dance to and more to local neighborhood children and families.
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Spring has turned the corner here in Chicago and as we head into summer, below are some tips from the Chicago Police Department on how to stay safe at home and while driving. We will be sharing more topics in upcoming newsletters.
Personal Safety
Package Theft Tips
Car Jacking Tips
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How to Help Asylum Seekers in Lincoln Park | |
Thank You Friends of Ella Jenkins Park! | |
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Dear Friends of Ella Jenkins Park,
A huge heartfelt thanks to everyone who volunteered and donated in support of Earth Day at Ella Jenkins Park in April. More than 100 community members participated in support of the effort and volunteers worked over several days through chilly temperatures and even hail to completely transform a formerly bare plot into a beautifully landscaped space.
It was incredible to see the community rally behind this project. It truly was a labor of love that was only possible thanks to support from the business community including Davey Tree; the faith community with Church of the Three Crosses; the youth community with Boy Scout Troop 7; neighborhood organizations including Old Town Triangle Association and Lincoln Central Association; community members including you; and our local Ward 43 government partners. We all harnessed our resources towards a shared goal and the end result was transformational.
Thanks to each and every one of you for contributing your time, expertise, funds, supplies, digging, sweeping, hauling, painting, re-bricking, and dedication to kick-start a much needed refresh of the park.
You can view the photos from Earth Day here.
We’d love to keep the momentum going. So many of you expressed interest in exploring more enhancements and different ways to bring community together in the park; we’ve listed some below. Please let us know if you have any additional ideas or if you’re interested in participating going forward and we’ll match groups and resources to make various projects happen. Through our collective efforts, we can continue to transform the park into a space that honors Ella Jenkins’ legacy and makes us proud to use.
Park Wish List
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Watering: To give the Earth Day plantings a great start, we have a watering program set-up for the summer. If you can volunteer your time, reach out to Laura for the watering sign-up. (Reachable at LPBecker27@gmail.com)
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Weeding: Have time to stop by the park or nearby parks like Eugenie Triangle to weed for an hour? Gloves and tools will be provided.
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Ella Jenkins 99th Birthday Celebration: Ella’s birthday is August 6th and it’d be great to recognize and celebrate her. Have ideas for how to best do this or have interest in supporting the planning? Save this date on your calendar.
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Events: Many have referenced past uses of the park for concerts, celebrations and community gatherings. Do you have an idea for an event or know a performer that is looking for a performance space?
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Plantings: There are several more spots at the park that would benefit from plants and one spot that could use a retaining treatment. Have plants you’d like to donate or ideas for future enhancements? Have time you would like to donate
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Sculpture Signage: Are you an artist who could create a durable sign with the sculpture’s name, artist and year?
Thank you for your continued support of our neighborhood and Ella Jenkins Park.
Earth Day Core Planning Team: Leah, Laura, Sherry and Nada
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LCA is dedicated to inspiring people to join together for the social, cultural, and physical enrichment of our neighborhood, and our local businesses are a critical part of that! LCA is honored to work with local businesses to improve our neighborhood and promote their business.
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
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Bauler Park Summer Events | |
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June 3: 4-6PM Picnic in the Park at Bauler, free and open to all. Let’s start the summer off with a fun BYO Picnic, we’ll provide music, you bring food for your family or to share.
June 28: Bauler Movie Night featuring Top Gun: Maverick starting at ~8pm. Open to all and we’re going to kick-off our Bauler Fundraising efforts.
July 22: 12-2PM Music at Bauler with Windy Indy Band.
August 20: 3-5PM Music at Bauler with Fifth Star Band.
September 20: Bauler Movie Night featuring The Super Mario Brothers Movie. Sundown is earlier ~6:30PM, so hopefully younger kids can join, too. Open to all.
October 11: 3rd Annual Glow Stick Dance Party
October 28: Howler at Bauler (Lincoln Central Association Event)
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Oz Park is Getting a New Playground and You Can Buy a Custom Picket | A new playground is coming to Oz Park this fall, and you can show your support by purchasing a custom picket! To learn more and order, visit Picket Order Form - Oz Park Advisory Council. | |
Wine With Elected Officials | Representative Croke, along with State Senator Feigenholtz and Alderman Knudsen, are hosting a Wine Night on June 6 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Verve Wine. They invite you to stop in, grab a glass of wine, and mingle with your elected officials. | |
Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend | |
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Join the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4 for Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend!
This two-day event will offer free classes at Lincoln Common and Theater on the Lake; a Health & Wellness Showcase at Lincoln Common featuring a variety of local businesses specializing in health and wellness products and services; and a donation drive for Lincoln Park Community Services.
Saturday, June 3
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Common, 2335 N. Lincoln
Sunday, June 4
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Lakefront Green at Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore
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Lincoln Common Summer Events | |
Move for Kids
Why is Move for Kids Important to Lincoln Common?
As the site of the former Children's Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Common continues Lincoln Park's longstanding legacy of community innovation and partnership while supporting an invaluable asset in our city: our children. Over the past 4 years, the Lincoln Common Legacy Team has raised over $20k to support the annual Move for Kids event.
Move for Kids 3-Mile Walk
Sunday, June 11th
Soldier Field Stadium Green
11:00am
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Donate to the Lincoln Common Legacy Team HERE!
- Join the Lincoln Common Legacy Team HERE!
Summer on the Plaza – June Events
Outdoor Pilates on the Lincoln Common Plaza with Heat 3.0
Wednesdays starting in June at 6:30pm
Sign up and details are available here.
SAVE THE DATE: Summer Roll
Thursday, June 22nd
4-8pm
The Plaza
Let’s roll into summer with our first Summer Thursday on The Plaza! We are bringing back the roller-skating rink and our friends, The DJ Firm, with some live tunes! Roller skates will be available at no charge! More details to come, stay tuned!
Mr Dave Music
Thursday, June 29th
5pm
The Plaza
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More than 300 tulips popped in our front garden and parkway this spring. It was a joyous burst of color after a grey winter. The tulips were so many and so pretty that compliments came from neighbors, churchgoers, delivery people, pedestrians. We heard children learn their colors, saw “influencers” pose. An Uber driver asked, “Is that the address, the house with the beautiful tulips?”
The tulip fields are the work of Mary Gignilliat, owner of Gardens that Grow, begun in 2008. She uses “Single Early” tulips because they bloom the longest, from early April through May, depending on the weather. Tulips don’t like heat, she explains. They last longer in a cool spring.
Gignilliat studied horticulture and design at Chicago Botanic Garden. For six years, she worked in the perennial department at Gethsemane Garden Center, where she gained her expertise in urban gardening.
To me, her tulip groupings are like an art installation. They’re site specific and ephemeral. Bulbs are planted in fall, bloom in spring, and removed early summer. Blink, and they’re gone. (Bulbs are recycled.)
For city gardens, Gignilliat treats tulips like annuals, because in her experience they don’t flower reliably year two. Tulip leaves need lots of sun to generate the fuel to produce the next season’s flowers. There’s just not enough sun in the city, she says.
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Gignilliat employs two full-time and two part-time seasonal workers. She’s known for her lush urban landscapes, container gardens, and outdoor holiday decor.
“Designing the tulip displays in one of my favorite yearly tasks,” Gignilliat says. “I spend hours finding the right color combinations for each client. It’s like putting together a puzzle. I love it. I put as many as five colors in each mix, depending on my client’s taste.”
The key to each installation is quantity, she notes. (Picture the thick tulip beds on Michigan Avenue: each holds at least 1,000 bulbs.) The more you plant, she says, the greater the impact. Last fall, she planted more than 6,000 bulbs for 14 clients.
Gignilliat is picky about sourcing. She buys from a wholesaler in Connecticut and orders in August, when inventory is good. Bulbs arrive late October or early November and go straight into the ground. It’s a singular passion. “For a spring display, we exclusively plant tulips.”
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From the Heart is an award-winning newsletter published by Lincoln Central Association.
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