Chicago’s Next Great Park

Attention Friends and Neighbors of Albany-Whipple Park:

The Chicago Park District is holding a third public meeting to: view, hear and discuss how your online and meeting feedback session were interpreted in the proposed site designs.

The newly created Albany-Whipple Park Advisory Council, The Trust for Public Land, Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail and The Logan Square Neighborhood Association would greatly appreciate your presence and input at this important meeting.                                                                

Please join us. Bring your questions and concerns! 

We hope to see you there!

Park 554 (aka Albany-Whipple Park) Advisory Park Council Created!

At the February 24^th meeting 4 council officers were elected to the Albany-Whipple Park Council.

The group in attendance unanimously decided to hold the intended elections. The group heard from the nominees and in the end four officer positions were filled.

The election of these council officers is an important and exciting step for the continued development and care of Albany-Whipple Park!

 Thank you!

We Want Your Feedback!

Dear Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail:

We want your feedback!

This past Tuesday, in the midst of the snowstorm, the Park District held a public meeting to present several designs for the Albany-Whipple Park (and future Bloomingdale Trail access point). A good group showed up to ask questions and offer their feedback. But we know there are many who could not make it on account of the weather. In order to gather more community input Michael Lange, the Park District's project manager for the park, offered to provide us with the images and encouraged us to solicit feedback among the Friends of the Trail.

Below you will find three images prepared by JJR, the landscape architecture firm hired to design the park. Please take a moment to look them over and email your comments, questions and concerns to ben@bloomingdaletrail.org. FBT will compile the responses and pass them along to the Park District.

Site Plan Idea A:

Site Plan Idea B: 

 Play Structures

In order to provide the landscape architects as much time as possible we ask that you send us your feedback no later than Tuesday, February 23rd.

If you are having trouble viewing the site plans, for a larger view, visit:

The first two images are of potential plans for the park (Option A and B). The third image is a collection of "Play Ideas." This includes an image of the interpretive play area for 2-5 year olds in Palmer Square as well as two examples of play structures designed for 5-12 year olds. You will see that the options presented include different combinations of an interpretive play area and a play structure. The options also differ in terms of the path placement, community garden, open lawn and earth berm. Both options include a drinking fountain.

(Note that on both Option A and B the connection point to the Bloomingdale Trail is left untouched. This is because the design process for the trail itself has yet to begin so this is unknown. These drawings also do not include the lot to the north east of the park, which is intended to be part of it, but the land has yet to be secured.)

Thank you for taking the time to consider these design. Let us know what you think! No question is too small and no idea is too crazy. Community input is one of the magic ingredients that will make the Bloomingdale Trail and all of its access points a unique and beautiful greenway.

Look Up! Its the Bloomingdale Trail.

Ben Helphand

Board President

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail

*Wednesday, February 24* Come to the second Albany-Whipple Park Council Meeting!

Meeting Agenda:

1. Discuss and compile ideas and reactions to CPD park designs

2. Nominate and vote on 3 official council members to the Albany-Whipple Park Board

Attention Friends and Neighbors of Albany-Whipple Park

Tonight's meeting, hosted by Chicago Park District has not been cancelled. We know the weather will make it difficult to attend, but if you can make it, we hope to see you there!

The Chicago Park District is holding a follow-up meeting for the public to view and discuss the proposed designs for Albany Whipple Park development. 

The meeting will be held

on Tuesday, February 9, 2010

at 6:00pm

Simons Park Field House, 1640 N. Drake

The Trust for Public Land, Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail and The Logan Square Neighborhood Association would greatly appreciate your presence and input at this important meeting. 

Please join us. Bring your questions and concerns!           

Become A Part of the Albany-Whipple Park Advisory Council

First Meeting: February 1, 2010

WHERE? Humboldt Park Library (North and Troy)

WHEN? 6:30-8:00 pm

For more info contact: laura.uhlir@tpl.org

Are you interested in helping to create and support a new park in your neighborhood? One, which will someday be an access point for the Bloomingdale Trail?

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, The Trust for Public Land and Logan Square Neighborhood Association are looking for enthusiastic residents to form an advisory council for Albany Whipple Park, where Logan Square and Humboldt Park meet.

What is an Advisory Council?

• Volunteers who are a voice for the community's goals and visions for its park,
• Work with the park supervisor and other Chicago Park District (CPD) staff, but are independent from CPD,
• Educate the community to take advantage of CPD's programs and facilities, and
• Assist in locating additional funding sources to enhance park facilities.
• Work w/ Friend of the Bloomingdale Trail to ensure that the park is integrated into the Bloomingdale Trail.

What is the Time Commitment?

• Meet at least once annually (many councils meet monthly or quarterly) and
• Sponsor fundraising and fun activities.

Recent Events at Albany-Whipple Park

• Chicago Police Department CAPS meeting and cook out, (14^th Precinct)
• Earth Day (clean up with Funston School)

• Pumpkin decorating at the 2nd annual Albany Whipple Park Service Day

  Annual Community Planting and Pumpkin carving (sponsored by FBT and TPL) 

What are the Benefits?

• You get to have a say in the future of your PARK! And connection to BT!!
• Events are featured on the CPD website
• Members are invited to the annual Advisory Council Appreciation Day.

If you are interested in joining, contact:

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail Place 2nd!

Second place for The Friends of The Bloomingdale Trail at the Patagonia "Voice Your Choice" campaign!

FBT was awarded with $1,500 of grant money from Patagonia for our strong turnout and support.

Openlands won first place with Active Alliance coming in at 3rd. We lost with a small margin of 15 votes to Openlands.

We would like to thank everyone who came out to vote and helped spread the word to others! A big thank you to the crew at Patagonia for including us this year and for supporting us and other green initiatives!

A special thank you also goes to Julia Kim, who took great initiative in getting FBT involved with this event and donated her time and presence to the campaign.

With your continued help and support, next year will get first place!