Chicago’s Next Great Park
Imagine a 3-mile-long elevated linear
park running through the heart of Chicago, connecting neighborhoods,
the river, and our great park system. Built from a former rail line,
the Bloomingdale Trail will make us healthier, get us to school and
work faster, and provide us with great chances to play and
mingle. Join Friends of the Bloomingdale
Trail today and help us realize this vision, for Chicago's Next
Great Park!
July 2010
New York Times highlights the Bloomingdale Trail
A new article in the New York Times highlights efforts around the nation at converting unused railroads into parks and greenspace, including our very own Bloomingdale Trail project right here in Chicago:
“There’s a nice healthy competition between big American cities,” said Ben Helphand, who is pushing to create a park on a defunct rail line in Chicago. “That this has been done in New York puts the onus on us to do it ourselves and to give it a Chicago stamp.”
Nifty photo, too, from atop the Bloomingdale rail line.
Make A Mark on Your Park!

You and your family are invited to participate in an exciting, fun and creative community art project at Albany Whipple Park, a future access point to the Bloomingdale Trail.
We are seeking volunteers to take part in a 2-hour-long workshop led by the Chicago Public Art Group. In each workshop volunteers will work with water-soluble clay and intricate molds that will become a permanent addition to the park.
July 10th, 2010
McCormick Tribune YMCA (1834 N Lawndale)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
OR
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Because space is limited please register for a workshop by emailing ben@bloomingdaletrail.org or Laura Uhlir, 312-750-9820 or laura.uhlir@tpl.org
Please download this PDF for more information.
June 2010
Community Art Workshop for Albany Whipple Park
RSVP Today to Make A Creative Mark on Your Park!

You and your family are invited to participate in an exciting, fun and creative community art project at Albany Whipple Park, a future access point to the Bloomingdale Trail.
We are seeking volunteers to take part in a 2-hour-long workshop led by the Chicago Public Art Group. In each workshop volunteers will work with water-soluble clay and intricate molds that will become a permanent addition to the park.
July 10th, 2010McCormick Tribune YMCA (1834 N Lawndale) 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM OR 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Because space is limited please register for a workshop by emailing ben@bloomingdaletrail.org or Laura Uhlir, 312-750-9820 or laura.uhlir@tpl.org
Please download this PDF for more information.
You and your family are invited to participate in an exciting, fun and creative community art project at Albany Whipple Park, a future access point to the Bloomingdale Trail.
We are seeking volunteers to take part in a 2-hour-long workshop led by the Chicago Public Art Group. In each workshop volunteers will work with water-soluble clay and intricate molds that will become a permanent addition to the park.
July 10th, 2010
McCormick Tribune YMCA (1834 N Lawndale)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
OR
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
HOLA
Usted y su familia están invitados a participar de una divertida actividad creative, en comunidad en el parque Albany Whipple, uno de los futuros puntos de acceso a la Senda de Bloomingdale.
Estamos buscando voluntarios para participar de un curso de dos horas a cargo de Chicago Public Art Group. En este curso, los participantes crearan esculturas de arcilla, utilizando unos moldes complejos, que pasaran a ser parte permanente del parque.
Los dos cursos serán el día 10 de Julio de 2010
en el YMCA de McCormick Tribune.
Uno de 10:00 AM a 12:00 PM y el otro de 1:00 PM a 3:00 PM
Debido a que el espacio es limitado, por favor, regístrese mandando un email a ben@bloomingdaletrail.org o llamando a Laura Uhlir 312-750-9820 laura.uhlir@tpl.org
Calling All Gardeners
This Wednesday, The Albany-Whipple Park Advisory Council is hosting a meeting to create the future Community Garden Club at Albany-Whipple Park.
If you love to garden or want to learn more come share your passion and talent!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 Albany-Whipple Park (1800 N. Albany) 7:00 PMHelp brighten Albany-Whipple Park.
We hope to see you there!
April 2010
The Trust for Public Land Benefit!

Join TPL and Kimpton Hotels for a cooking demo and cocktail party to benefit The Trust for Public Land
Date: 5 - 8 PM Thursday, April 29
Location: 312 Chicago, 136 N LaSalle Street, Chicago
Admission: $25 pre-registered by April 28; $35 at the door
Information and RSVP: laura.uhlir@tpl.org or 312-750-9820
Don't miss this exciting evenig of food and philanthropy!
*Join us for Kimpton's first-ever "farm-off", a special cooking demonstration where Kimpton's top chefs will team up with local farmers to remind us that the skys the limit when you stay fresh, local and seasonal.
*Sample the chefs' fare along with earth-friendly wines chosen by Master Sommelier Emily Wines.
*Bid on silent auction items including getaways at Kimpton hotels across the country and a behind the scene tour of Milennium Park.
All proceeds will benefit The Trust for Public Land (www.tpl.org/chicago)
March 2010
Visioning Workshop

Help Develop community-driven art, at Albany-Whipple Park
Take part in an interactive workshop to envision an art installation at the new neighborhood park and future Bloomingdale Trail access point
The Albany Whipple Park Advisory Council and the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail invite you to participate in this workshop facilitated by the Chicago Public Art Group.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
6:00 PM
Simons Field House 1640 N Drake
Please RSVP to Laura Uhlir, laura.uhlir@tpl.org, 312.750.9820
The Chicago Park District has facilitated 3 successful community meetings on the development of the park but this workshop is to develop an additional art component. Thanks to a generous grant from the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail will be providing funding for the installation. FBT is working with the new Albany-Whipple Park Advisory Council, Chicago Park District and The Trust for Public Land to make create this distinct art component.
The Chicago Public Art Group has created many innovative and beautiful works throughout the City. With your help, we can create a truly unique and innovative piece of art for Albany-Whipple Park.
Examples of CPAG Art Pieces



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