Love our Local Playgrounds

Also In This Issue

NLSD Web A pp

A FS St u den t Host s

Wolrd Ch ica go Exch a n ge

Host s

Lea rn A n cien t A rt

Sprin kler Ma n da t e

Opening Day at Oz Park!

NLSD MappingApplication

The North Lake Shore DriveProject Team has launched amapping application to allowy ou to prov ide ideas on howto improve North Lake ShoreDrive. This is a greatopportunity to highlightspecific issues y ou haveencountered while on LakeShore Drive. Click here to open the webapp and submit y our ideas toRedefine the Drive.

Dear Friends, Our local parks are a neighborhood treasure and arerenowned throughout the City of Chicago. We areblessed to have constituents who not only use theseparks for a variety of activities, but enthusiasticallycontribute to the improvements of these parks toensure their continued enjoyment for neighborhoodresidents. I am very pleased to announce that several of our localparks have recently undergone significantenhancements thanks to the team efforts ofneighborhood groups and the City.

Oz Park Baseball AssociationOz, Jonquil and Trebes Park Improvements

The Oz Park Baseball Association (OBPA), a parent-ledneighborhood organization that formed a developmentalbaseball league for local children to engage in organizedathletics while learning the virtues of sportsmanship andteamwork, recently completed significant improvements toTHREE Lincoln Park grounds - Oz Park (2021 N. BurlingStreet), Jonquil Park (1001 W. Wrightwood Avenue) andTrebes Park (2250 N. Clifton Street).

Over 1,000 children participate in the OBPA. Following itsphilosophy of giving back to the community, the OBPAcompleted renovations to the baseball fields, including thecomplete rebuilding of the infields, fencing and backstops atthese locations, with further improvements to the joggingpaths and community garden to be completed in the verynear future!

AFS High SchoolExchange Program

AFS is looking for families tohost high school exchangestudents for the 2014/15school y ear at Chicago areaschools. Click here to v iew the fly erand learn more about being ahost family !

Host an InternationalYouth this Sum m er

World Chicago is seekingvolunteer host families forinternational high schoolstudents coming to Chicagoon State Dept. exchangeprogram throughout thissummer. This is a unique and funopportunity to learn aboutcultures from around theworld, and to share a little ofy our own culture andhospitality . Click here tolearn more!

Learn an Ancient Art

The Lincoln Park BranchLibrary will host: The Art ofChinese Calligraphy withVirginia Lai on Saturday , May3, from 11 a.m. to noon.Learn about the history ofChinese calligraphy andpractice writing Chinesecharacters using ink andbrushes. Registration is required, andparticipants must be at least8 y ears old. Please call (312)7 44-1926 or v isit the branchto register.

Keep Fighting theSprinkler Mandate!

Opening Day at Oz Park at a newly renovated ball field

Ranch Triangle, Friends of Privet Park

and LG Construction For years, Privet Park has been a little gem at theintersection of Sheffield and Maud Streets, but it needssignificant renovation for future generations of childrenand local residents to enjoy. The RANCH TriangleCommunity Conservation Organization successfullyapplied for a "Chicago Plays" grant to replace the current,dilapidated playground equipment. However, our local residents want to go even further, andhave formed the "Friends of Privet Park" to make furtherenhancements. The park, bounded by an old retaining wall,is at risk of subsidence. The Friends of Privet Park and LG Construction, which isconstructing two homes adjacent to the playlot, areworking together to renovate the playlot. LG Constructionhas graciously agreed to contribute materials and labor toremove the old retaining wall and backfill the soil to thepark's original boundaries, which will serve to furtherenlarge the park. LG Construction has also agreed toreplace the old iron fencing and replace it with newermaterials. We truly appreciate the assistance provided by LGConstruction, and are deeply grateful for the continueddedication by area residents to improve this playlot. If you would like to contribute to the improvements to this

House Bill 4609, which wouldestablish a committee tostudy the patent issue, is stillunder consideration by theIllinois General Assembly . We MUST keep showing oursupport for this bill. If y ourcondo association has notalready done so, pleaseforward this email to y ourfellow condo owners and askthem to sign this petition. Please email or call me if y ouwould like me to attend ameeting at y ourcondominium association toexplain this threatenedmandate - and to talk aboutother ward issues.

43rd Ward Office2523 N. Halsted www.ward43.org

Office Hours:

Monday9a.m.-7 p.m.

Tuesday -Thursday9a.m.-6p.m.

Friday9a.m.-1 2p.m. & 2p.m.-6p.m.

Contact us:

phone7 7 3-348-9500

emaily ourv oice@ward43.org

park, please send donations to Jim and Maggie Snyder at1834 N. Maud Street and make the checks out to Friends ofPrivet Park.

The Alcott School Field of Dreams

Currently, a major effort is underway to raise severalhundred thousand dollars to turn the muddy, nearlyunusable vacant lot at the intersections of Schubert andClark Streets into an artificial turf soccer/baseball field. The"Field of Dreams" will benefit Alcott School, St. Clementsschool, and all the kids in our neighborhood. Phase One, alovely outdoor seating area, was completed last year. Please learn about the plans and consider making agenerous gift.

Trebes Park

The Friends of Oscar Meyer School and the Trebes ParkAdvisory Council are in the beginning phases of a plan toraise $900,000 to redesign and rebuild Trebes Park, whichis on Racine next to Oscar Meyer Magnet School. Watchfor future newsletters for more details about this project.

Goudy Square Playground

Construction is now underway to rebuild Goudy SquarePlayground in the Gold Coast. Thanks to many neighbors,led by Stephanie Harris, the Gold Coast Neighbors, theChicago Park District, and a significant contribution frommy Aldermanic Menu Fund, Goudy will be rebuilt withnew equipment, soft surfacing, and many other beautifulfeatures. Please watch for a future newsletter unveiling thefinished product this fall!

Sincerely,

Michele Smith43rd Ward Alderman

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Michele Smith | 43rd Ward Alderman | 2523 N. Halsted | Chicago | IL | 60614