About “THE PRAIRIE”

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The Community Garden Committee meets virtually or in person (weather permitting) on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm.

Please join us if you are interested in volunteering In creating an Illinois native & pollinator garden and Monarch waystation at The Prairie Park. 

All skill levels are welcome. Many hands make light work. Many of us learned from great mentors who are certified as a Master Naturalist, Master Urban Farmer, and a member pursuing his graduate degree in Agroecology and Agroforestry. We also have members who have life experience in growing and conservation work.

All ages welcome. We had a 6 year old volunteer to water the garden. Because we do not have access to a water source, our group maintained weekly watering schedules organized by Garden chair, Dorothy Chandler, and we each took turns to help the garden thrive.  It paid off with the pops of color, bees enjoying the sunflowers, butterflies feeding on the Milkweed and swallowtail caterpillars munching on the parsley. We even saw hummingbirds visiting the garden. We grew herbs and vegetables donated by one of our members who has great knowledge and experience as a Horticulture Coordinator.

Guaranteed you will fall inlove with nature and the miracle of life and its little creatures that help keep us alive too. It’s very rewarding work and you can work at your own pace, but most importantly we have lots of fun and grow closer as a community. 

Please visit the iNaturalist link created by Master Naturalust and Garden co-chair, Danielle Jones, to see pictures of the native plants in the community garden, each identified with their scientific and common names, and to learn more about creating a native pollinator garden in your yard. 

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-prairie-previously-park-581

Please join us any time or stop by when you see us doing something in the garden or park, even if to say hello. We’d love to meet you. Volunteers are always welcomed. 

Garden Chair, Dorothy Chandler (2021-current)

Co-Chair, Danielle Jones (2023-current)

Former Co-Chair, Ivette Williams (2021-2023)

The PEP Committee meets monthly on Zoom to plan park events to host throughout the year. Please share your ideas if there is an activity you would like to see at the park.

We know our community is full of people who want to help in one way or another. We welcome your expertise, skills, and ways you can add your special touch to be a part of The Prairie Park.

It’s a park for all in our community.  Come join us to connect with new people and rekindle old friendships. We do have a lot of fun too!

Stay tuned for an upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony this spring to celebrate our official park naming to “THE PRAIRIE PARK”. We are no longer number 581. Yay!

The kite fly will return on April 6th and many other events are planned for 2024, including back by popular demand, The “Prairie Park Purge” community garage sale, which is scheduled for August 10th. 

All meetings and park event dates will be posted soon. 

We look forward to seeing you at The Prairie Park.

PEP Chair, Mary Dunneback;

Co-Chair, JoAnn Altenbach

The Prairie PAC conducted a community survey in March 2022, and received overwhelming support (85%+) in favor of The Prairie Park. 

We then filed an application with the Chicago Park District for the park name change on June 14, 2022 from Park No. 581 to “The Prairie Park”.

The Chicago Park District’s Budget Hearing was held on September 21, 2023 at Fosco Park where we advocated for our park name. Many of us attended, took signs, and fellow Ridge PAC supported us by standing with us as our PAC President gave a 2-minute speech.  

The Chicago Park District informed us in December 2023 that the 45-day public notice period had begun and would end on January 28, 2024. 

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PUBLIC NOTICE ABOUT THE PROPOSED NAMING:

“Park No. 581 is an 8.74-acre property in the Morgan Park Community Area of Chicago.

For many decades, there were few houses in the area, leading locals to refer to the space as "the prairie." Even though the space does not fit the technical definition of a prairie, a strong sense of community familiarity with "the prairie" remains, as many families have stayed in the neighborhood through successive generations. The land was originally owned by the Board of Education. When ownership was transferred to the Chicago Park District in 2016, the official number assigned was Park No. 581. However, many in the community continue to know this passive green space nestled in the neighborhood as The Prairie Park.”

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We are grateful for all the letters of support and assistance received in so many ways from:

19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea;

State Representative Justin Slaughter, 27th District;

Kennedy Park Supervisors, Jennifer Cronin (retired 6/2023) & Rebecca Medrano (current);

Mary Jo Viero, BAPA;

Ken Bergeron, SWMPCA;

Kim Leonard, St. Walter-St. Benedict School;

Patrick Doig, St. Barnabas Athletic Association;

Dennis Foley, Beverly Youth Lacrosse; 

Jose Colon, Beverly Girls’ Lacrosse;

Scott Brost, Morgan Park Sports Center; 

Maryann Drake & Julie Karstrand for chairing Park Naming Committee; 

The Prairie Park PAC & Membership; and 

and everyone else who has supported The Prairie Park and our PAC’s efforts to date. It means a lot to us. 

Many people were involved since we started the PAC in the park naming process and we could not have done this without community support. As a PAC and community, we should all feel very proud of this big accomplishment for our beloved park. It was always meant to be “The Prairie”. 

Although the park name process took a lot longer than we anticipated, we greatly appreciate the Chicago Park District for coming through for us. 

The Chicago Park District Board Hearing was held on February 14, 2024 and a Motion for our park name was finally approved.  

Once the Chicago Park District installs the park signs, we will schedule a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate this milestone at The Prairie Park. We hope you can all join us. 

Thank you all.

Maryann Drake, Chair & Julie Karstrand, Co-Chair

Picture: General Superintendent & CEO Rosa Escareño, Milton & Dorothy Chandler, Charles & Ivette Williams

We have five additional committees you are more than welcome to join as well.
You do not have to choose only one.

• Grant Writing Committee chaired by Jil Ross, Co-Chair Ivette Williams.
• Marketing, Fundraising & Community Outreach Committee chaired by Ivette Williams, Co-Chair Charmaine Sevier.
• Park Investment Committee chaired by Lorraine Linnerud; Co-Chair Ken Bergeron.
• Park Naming Committee chaired by Maryann Drake, Co-Chair, Julie Karstrand.
• Public Safety Committee (CAPS Meetings) chaired by Milton Chandler; Co-Chair Charles Williams.