August 2012
August 11, 2012
The equipment is installed, the soft surface is being poured and
smoothed, the sod is being laid down. The new Gompers Park
playground is not only underway, it is almost there! As we received ANY
offical word on when it will be ready, you will be the first to know!
A community celebration
will be planned to welcome all to our new dynamic gathering place for
this fall. A date will be set when we know the completion of the
playground is imminent. Are you, your business or group
interested in providing entertainment, refreshments, or helping out in
any other way? Please let us know at info@gompersparkplayground.org or
call Gretchen at 773 531 3585.
May 2012
Hurray! The New Gompers Playground Underway!
Construction
fences are up, and those “cool diggers” (as my son likes to say) are
making way for the great new playground we have all been wishing,
waiting, and working for these past few years.
MAY 12, 2012:  In
case you missed it, Gompers families and supporters marked the moment
at a rather rainy, but very special ground breaking ceremony on May
12. Braving the weather, Alderman Laurino and State
Representative D’Amico opened the ceremony with remarks about the
importance of working together to improve our communities and
parks. Everyone acknowledged the commitment of the Chicago Park
District,
in particular those attending including Denise Raymond, Gompers Park Supervisor; Matt Marino, Deputy Director of
 Community Recreation; Patrick Townsend, Region Manager (North Region); and Maya Solis, our new Area Manager (Area 4).
A reception followed with complimentary cheesecake from Eli’s and
coffee from Starbucks, as well as face painting provided by students
from Palmer School. You can see more photos on our website.
The best part was when we all got to dig in to the dirt (mud at that
point) and toss it to the side, symbolically setting aside the old to
make space for the new playground. Let’s watch it take shape and fulfill the vision of a dynamic new place for children to safely play and our diverse community to connect!
Thank you to everyone that contributed to making this a reality.
What to expect:
SUMMER 2012: We know a summer without your Gompers playground can be frustrating,
but thanks to earlier playground improvements, you can enjoy the
following recently renovated playgrounds not too far away: Eugene Field
Park, Mayfair Park, Sauganash Park, and Forest Glen Park. We also
have a nice shady playground tucked away right here in North Mayfair on
Kolmar and Carmen –maybe we will see you there!
FALL 2012: As
we get closer to completion, Grow with Gompers will be organizing a
community celebration for the grand opening of the playground with
entertainment, refreshments, and fun for all. We would be grateful for
your help, so let us know if you can work with us on it.
HELP PROTECT OUR PARK: The easiest way you can be part of
improving the park is to keep eye on it as you enjoy it! As always, if
you see anything suspicious in the park, call 911 immediately. Don’t be
shy – we need to ensure our park is safe. If there are repairs
needed, please call the Denise, our park supervisor at 773 685 3270. If
you would like more information about the playground renovation, contact Grow with Gompers – we would love to hear from you! Like Grow with Gompers on Facebook - another easy way to stay current on playground progress!
April 2012
Break Ground on the New Playground on Saturday, May 12!
Gompers Park Playground Renovation a Reality in Summer 2012
The Grow with Gompers Committee; Alderman Margaret Laurino, 39th Ward;
and State Representative John D'Amico, 15th District invite the
community to celebrate construction beginning on the new playground at
Gompers Park. The groundbreaking will take place at the existing - soon
to be renovated - Gompers Park playground at 4222 West Foster Avenue on
Saturday, May 12, at 10:00am. Children can enjoy light
refreshments and face painting. The committee chairperson,
Gretchen Tate, stated, “Beyond the new slides and swings - which will
be lots of fun, of course - building the playground is about building
our community. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen.
Soon, we will see our vision take shape and realized in the new
playground at our park. So this is your moment - enjoy it and
join us on May 12!”
Since 2008, the Grow with Gompers committee of the North Mayfair
Improvement Association, has actively worked towards building a new
playground in partnership with the Chicago Park District and with the
support of our elected officials, area families and businesses.
Now, in 2012, the playground is fully funded and the Chicago Park
District is ready to begin construction. The long – awaited new
playground is made possible through a significant financial
contribution from the community through Grow with Gompers fundraising;
with a majority of the project’s budget fulfilled through substantial
funding from three public sources: the Chicago Park District, the state
of Illinois through State Representative John D’Amico; and the city of
Chicago through Alderman Margaret Laurino.
The Grow with Gompers committee and North Mayfair Improvement
Association organized numerous fundraising events and programs
throughout the past four years, including the popular Gomp-toberfest,
Romp@Gomps, Circus in the Parks, and the Make Your Mark on Gompers Park
engraved brick sale. Comments and questions about the playground
renovation are welcome. Find out more and contact the Grow with Gompers
Committee through email at info@gompersparkplayground.org; their
website, www.gompersparkplayground .org; or call 773 685 3270 and leave
a message at the Gompers Park Field House.
February 2012
Ashland – Addison Florist Co. donates 10% of YOUR purchase to the playground renovation!
Just mention Grow with Gompers when you place your order by phone at
312 432 1800 or enter the promotional code GWGD when you order online
at www.ashaddflorist.com
This ongoing fundraiser lets you choose the date, choose the occasion,
and choose the gift! Keep this option in mind as you consider
gifts this Valentine’s Day, and throughout the year! Ashland - Addison
also hand delivers to over 150 suburbs and around the world!
Planning an event? Our playground is over 93% funded – help
find the final 7% needed to break ground! Would your business like to
benefit the Gompers Park playground fund? Share your LOVEthis
Valentine’s Daywith flowers – and share with the Gompers Park
playground renovation!
GIFT AN ENGRAVED BRICK IN NEW GOMPERS PARK PLAYGROUND
Purchase your engraved, personalized brick and all the proceeds go
towards the playground renovation! Your elegant, engraved,
charcoal gray brick paver will be installed as part of a pleasant,
pergola shaded patio where families will gather to share snacks, share
stories, and appreciate your generosity! The design is complete -
and less than 7% of the funding is still needed to break ground.
Consider this unique opportunity to give a great gift and help build
the new playground, available for a limited time!
Thanks to our 2012 Romp Partners:
Chicken Works and
Salad Company
The
Puppet Place
Acting
Out Chicago
DeMaira
Dance Studios
Starbucks Coffee Mayfair Plaza
H&R
Block 5240 N. Pulaski
January 2012
Thanks
to everyone who joined us for Romp@Gomps! What a fun afternoon at
the field house! Be sure to thank our 2012 Romp Partners
who made this family event possible - listing on our Donors page!
December 2011
Thanks to all who participated in our Delicious, Nutritious Adventures
workshop on Nov 9 and to Swedish Covenant Hospital and Purple Asparagus
for providing such a great family hands on cooking experience!
Playground funding update:
Thank you to everyone who has supported our efforts and events!
October was a very busy month - Gomp-toberfest, Whole Foods Market
Sauganash Community 5% Day, Carsons Community Days, Family Cooking
Class with Swedish Covenant Hospital, and more helped bring up our
fundraising totals!
The playground is now currently over 93% funded. Less than
$30,000 is still needed complete the budget of $450,000. Our new
playground will be an awesome asset to the neighborhood, providing a
dynamic place for children to safely play and our diverse community to
connect. That has been the vision statement for over 3 years now,
developed during early community meetings and surveys. We must work
together to ensure our playground is realized in 2012, now that the
2011 construction season has past. Moving forward, let’s reach out and
find ways to fund the fun, and build our new playground for everyone to
enjoy! We would be thrilled to welcome new friends to the
committee, so please give us a call or send an email to let us know how
you might like to be part of the team – with all time commitments
valued!
Have you bought your brick?
Make Your Mark on Gompers Park is still offering elegant engraved
bricks for purchase. Personalize your paver, which will be installed in
a lovely pergola shaded patio in the new Gompers Park playground.
What a great gift idea for the upcoming holiday season! Find out more
on our website or contact Jennifer@gompersparkplayground.org.
Romp@Gomps – Family Fun at the Field House – is back on Saturday, January 21, 2012! This
afternoon of mini workshops and featured performances in the arts and
more will help all ages beat the post winter break blues.
Sponsorship opportunities are available, giving you and your
organization a great opportunity to reach out to community
families. Contact Gretchen soon to find out how you could
be part of the fun!
To Tony from the Grow with Gompers Committee: A quick note to
thank you for your tremendous contributions to NMIA and the community
through your 10 years as editor - in - chief of the
Improver. As you are continuing to be active in the neighborhood for a
long time yet in other important capacities, we will continue to
appreciate your sincere affection for and dedication to North Mayfair
and Gompers Park.
**Thanks to all who shopped at Whole
Foods Market Sauganash on October 21 for our Community 5% Day! Whole
Foods donated over $3900 ot the playground renovation - thank you
Whole Foods Market Sauganash!!!
October 2011
Thank
you to all for a great night out in the North Mayfair neighborhood,
when we partied for the playground at Gomp-toberfest 2011! Photos
and a full recap of the night’s activities are coming soon
online. The Grow with Gompers committee sincerely
appreciates the community’s support for all our efforts and events, as
we all endeavor to build the much needed new playground at Gompers
Park. This playground is going to be an awesome asset to the
neighborhood - a dynamic new place for our children to safely
play and diverse community to connect. That has been the vision
statement for over 3 years now, developed during early community
meetings and surveys. We hope to see it realized in 2012, now that the
2011construction season has past. Moving forward, with your help, the
Grow with Gompers committee will continue to reach out and find ways to
fund the fun, and build our new playground for everyone to enjoy!
We would be thrilled to welcome new friends to the committee, so please
give us a call or send an email to let us know how you might like to be
part of the team – with all time commitments valued!
In addition…
Make
Your Mark on Gompers Park is still offering elegant engraved bricks for
purchase. What a great gift idea for the upcoming holiday season! Find
out more online or contact
Jennifer@gompersparkplayground.org. Romp@Gomps
– Family Fun at the Field House – is back in January 2012! This
afternoon of mini workshops and featured performances in the arts and
more will help all ages beat the post winter break blues.
Sponsorship opportunities are available, giving you and your
organization a great opportunity to reach out to community
families. Contact us soon to be included in all marketing
materials. Family Workshop at the Gompers Field House Benefits Playground Renovation – Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6:30-7:30pm!
“Delicious
Nutritious Adventures: Thanksgiving!” Join Grow with Gompers and
Swedish Covenant Hospital for an interactive workshop where families
can have fun preparing three simple, healthy dishes with the experts
from Purple Asparagus, a nonprofit organization that educates children,
families, and the community about eating food that’s good for the body
and planet. The workshop is geared towards children 5 and up to join in
the fun with a parent, grandparent, or other favorite caregiver.
Two children and one adult are included in the cost for the workshop,
and proceeds benefit the playground renovation. Register and find out
more at
http://swedishcovenant.org/events-classes/delicious-nutritious-adventures-thanksgiving.
Limited space - register now! $25 in advance, and $35 at the door.
To
Tony from the Grow with Gompers Committee: A quick note to thank
you for your tremendous contributions to NMIA and the community through
your 10 years as editor - in - chief of the Improver. As
you are continuing to be active in the neighborhood for a long time yet
in other important capacities, we will continue to appreciate your
sincere affection for and dedication to North Mayfair and Gompers Park.
August 28, 2011
Grow with Gompers Committee 2011 Capital
Campaign Update
Wow! What a whirlwind
summer of working hard to fund the fun and build a new playground for
everyone! Whether talking to shoppers at
the Jewel-Osco in 100 degree heat or typing late into the night to potential
sponsors after kids go to bed– our committee members show their dedication to
ensuring the new playground is built for all to enjoy. As of
August 1st, we are proud to announce the Grow with Gompers Committee
has raised over $51,000 to contribute towards the playground renovation!
Renovations should begin soon - any
time now - but the pressure is on to
find the final $49K! Why not show your support by helping us out
with your time or a donation? Fund
the Fun offers great incentives and ample recognition for donors – packages to
fit every giving plan! Contact
Heather Davern, our Fund the Fun chairperson, at heather@gompersparkplayground.org or773-415-8477 to discuss the best way for you
or your organization to be part of building a new playground, building new
community connections, at Gompers Park. *Coming up this fall
watch for our 5% Community Day at Whole
Foods Market Sauganash. On our chosen day, 5% of the profits of ALL sales
that day will go to Grow With Gompers! Stay tuned for the final date of
this great shopping event to benefit the playground renovation! August 27, 2011
MAKE YOUR MARK IN GOMPERS PARK! BUY A BRICK,
BUILD A PLAYGROUND
Submitted by Jennifer Myers, sales coordinator, Jennifer@gompersparkplayground.org, 773-286-0623 www.gompersparkplayground.org/buyabrick.html
Sale extended! Purchase your engraved, personalized brick
today. All the proceeds go towards the playground renovation - helping us
"fund the fun" and build a much needed new playground for
everyone! Your elegant, engraved, charcoal gray brick paver will be
installed as part of a pleasant, shaded patio under pergolas where families
will gather to share snacks, share stories, and appreciate your
generosity! Why buy a brick? Memories, legacies...Imagine how your
family will feel as they see their names in the park, knowing they were part of
building this beautiful new playground for their community! Perhaps you
can commemorate an anniversary or birthday. An engraved brick is also a
touching way to remember someone special who is no longer with us. Promote at the park! Engrave a
brick with the name of your business organization, or group! What a great
promotional opportunity! Think of the year round advertising, and how everyone
will know you how much you care about your community. Want more? You may also like to
consider one of our Fund the Fun donor packages which include engraved bricks
as well as other great incentives offering ample recognition for your generous
contribution. What are the options? You can choose from 3 sizes and prices. 4x8:
$150 - Max of 3 lines, 13 characters per line.
8x8: $250 - Max of 6 lines, 13 characters per line. 12x12 Brick: $500 - Max of 9 lines, 18
characters per line. How do I order an engraved brick? Order online and purchase through PayPal. Download an order form and mail it in with a check. Forms are also available at the
Gompers Park field house. We encourage you
to please read the instructions on the order form carefully to ensure a
successful order and a lovely brick for you to enjoy for years to
come! Please contact me at the above email and phone with any questions or
to request a form. *Thank you to all who
ordered bricks during our summer sale period.
We have been offered additional time to sell bricks – and hope you will
help spread the word about this unique opportunity!
July 21, 2011
Buy your brick today - - orders due July 25th!!!! Find out more.
My Experience at the Fund the Fun Table at Jewel -Osco
By Catherine Ward
(a life - long North Mayfair resident, college student, and Grow with Gompers volunteer)
This
past weekend (Saturday, July 16th and Sunday the 17th), Grow with
Gompers took to the community - right down the street from the
playground its fundraising will renovate. At the Jewel-Osco location at
4042 West Foster Avenue, local volunteers reached out to shoppers with
information about the new playground and an opportunity to purchase
engraved bricks.
Despite the heavy heat, shoppers of all
demographics stopped to hear about Grow with Gompers. Some took brick
order forms for family and friends, and others bought bricks or donated
money on the spot. Some just contributed a smile and a friendly ear,
making the sale fun and interesting. (One shopper shared that she lived
in the neighborhood when the only playground was the mud in Little
Gomps!) Whether shoppers already knew about the sale from fliers at
local businesses or were just hearing of the renovation, they showed
enthusiasm for this final push for funding.
The
Jewel-Osco brick sale was a successful step toward our fundraising
goal. Between brick sales and money donations, we raised a total of
$2,825 from the two-day effort. The interest we raised is less
quantifiable, but just as important. Many parents who came through with
their children were unaware that the new Gompers playground is so close
to becoming reality. The awareness and excitement spread through the
weekend at Jewel Osco means pushing to break ground is a real community
drive!
A sincere "Thank you" goes to Jewel Osco's store
director Mike Gleeson for supporting the brick sale. We were lucky to
station our sales effort at such a popular site in the local community.
We had a dynamic group of shoppers at this busy northwest Chicago store!
(As
a 19-year-old who has lived in the neighborhood her whole life, I'm
completely jealous of the kids who will get to play at the new Gompers
playground. I look forward to sitting in the shade and checking out my
family's brick. How about you? )
June 22, 2011
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - HELP SELL BRICKS AND FUND THE FUN!
Hello!
Please help with our big fundraising push this summer. Please
email me at heather@gompersparkplayground.org to let us know your
availability and schedule your volunteer time.
Volunteers are needed to help sell bricks at the following events:
1.
GPAA ( Gompers Park Athletic Association) Picnic, Sunday, June
26. 8:30am start time through the afternoon. Sign up for an
hour, 2 hours, or all day!
2. NMIA North Mayfair 4th of July Parade, Monday, July 4th, 8:30-1pm.
Sign up for an hour or the whole event!
3.
Jewel Fund the Fun Days!!! Sat/Sun. July 16 & 17.
We will need all hands on deck this weekend. Tell us when
you can sit at our Fund the Fun table at our local Jewel - Osco! Thank
you to Jewel-Osco for this great opportunity.
Out-going,
responsible teens are welcome to volunteer and official service hours
are available. We are also looking for volunteers to help
approach 3-5 businesses each this summer. We have a list of
businesses to call. Email me to get your assignments!
Submitted by Heather, Fund the Fun chairperson, heather@gompersparkplayground.org
Fund the Fun and Find Something for Everyone at the NMIA North Mayfair Garage Sales!
June 25 and 26, 9am to 3pm. Lots of great buys for all ages, all interests.
A
special Fund the Fun Garage Sale at 4923 North Tripp Avenue will donate
all proceeds to the the playground renovation. Engraved
bricks will be available for purchase, too!
We need your
stuff! Your donations of gently used items to the Fund the Fun Garage
Sale would be greatly appreciated - and 100% of the proceeds will go to
the playground renovation! Drop off your items at 4923 North
Tripp between 9am and 7pm - tomorrow, Thursday, June 23. You can
also email Greg to arrange a time. All unsold items will be
donated to a nonprofit, charitable organization, and will not be marked
for return to you, the donor. We already have some great items -
household, adult clothing, children's clothing, baby swing, bouncy
seat, exersaucer, lots of great baby toys, but we need more! If
you are too busy to have your own garage sale, why not make sure your
items help build the new Gompers Park playground? Drop off or contact
us now to donate your items.
See you at the sales - this is a big one with lots of participating families!
Plan ahead for the annual North Mayfair Fourth of July Parade!
Meet
at the Gompers Park tennis courts at 9am. Parade will march
promptly at 9:30am. Decorate your bikes, strollers, scooters, and
yourselves to celebrate Independence Day! Enjoy treats, a raffle, and a
good time with your neighbors at the end of the parade -where you can
also purchase bricks for the playground!
Can't walk or ride
in the parade? Watch for us outside your door if you are on the
route. More info at www.northmayfair.org.
Sponsored by the North Mayfair Improvement Association.
June 11, 2011
NOW AVAILABLE - ENGRAVED BRICKS - LIMITED TIME ONLY!
Make your mark on Gompers Park - Purchase an engraved, personalized brick that will provide memories for your family or a promotional opportunity for your business for years to come!
3 sizes and prices available for your to choose from. Please read instructions carefully when ordering.
Order your brick online! View and download an order form and mail it in to us!
Questions? Please email our bricks coordinator.
Interested in helping out with brick sales or other Fund the Fun activities - find out how!
*The charcoal gray pavers will be installed in a patio next to the pergolas at the new playground. Find out more about the playground design.
June 6, 2011
Flash
fundraising continues - can you cover your block? Throughout June and
July neighbors like youw ill go door to door - read more below
and contact us to help.
June 3, 2011
Be spontaneous.Be proactive. FLASH FUNDRAISING!
June
4th and 5th! This Saturday and Sunday, at 1pm, join members
of the Grow with Gompers committee as we go with the latest craze
-flash fundraising!
Teams will meet at 1pm each day to recieve Fund the Fun kits, instructions, and a healthy dose of positive energy. Bring water!
Spare
an hour or two of your time this weekend to be part of a spur of the
moment event to inspire our Gompers area residents to contribute to the
playground renovation. Teams will go door to door, talking about
the playground renovation and finding out how each neighbor can help
us.Our primary goal this weekend - promote awareness of the exciting
plans for the playground, and the urgent need to raise the remaining
funding - now under $65,000! Let's inspire our neighbors to
contribute to the renovation of the playground -through either
direct donations - or by connecting us with donors, volunteering their
time or talent, or assisting in other ways.
All levels of time commitment are welcome for this event.
High
school students can receive official service hours, and will be paired
with an adult for this door to door event. An outgoing attitude
and willingness to meet new people is recommended.
Please RSVP by email to let us know...
What is your name?
Are you over 18? If not, will you need service hour documentation?
Will you be part of the team Saturday 6/4 , Sunday 6/5, or both?
How many hours (1-3) are you willing to help?
We
will send you the location of where to meet when we receive your
email. An RSVP by today, Friday before11pm is helpful - but
not required. Need more information: email Heather at
heather@gompersparkplayground.org.
April 22, 2011
Plans for the playground renovation are resuming and moving forward with the Chicago Park District!
This is an amazing development, allowing us time to raise the
remaining funds without completely stalling progress on this much
needed improvement to the park. Since Fall of 2008, the Grow with
Gompers committee has worked hard with our community to raise
over $33,500.00, and we are grateful for the opportunity to
continue our efforts to find the remaining $66,500.00 for the project
as the work progresses on the playground renovation. The Gompers Park
community is still facing a significant portion of the funds to raise,
but we are ready to meet the challenge, seek and work on all possible
sources of funding, and build a new playground! We are on the
home stretch.
We thank our Alderman Laurino, State
Representative D’Amico, and Congressman Quigely for their continued
support for the playground renovation at Gompers - and at all our area
parks - and the Chicago Park District for their dedication to the
ongoing partnership with our community. It is a tough situation.
Everyone would like a safe new playground for the children, but funding
is hard to come by for a big project like this one. So, as Grow
with Gompers keeps up with the fund raising, we are grateful that
all our partners in government are working in collaboration with us in
the community to figure out a way to make it happen.
Our
community has enjoyed a positive and productive planning process, and
we look forward to viewing the final design in the near future as our
project moves forward. The design and planning process for our
playground renovation began in summer of 2010, but had been put on hold
due to funding concerns. We appreciate the creative and
cost-effective ways the Park District figured out to incorpoate the
features most requested by the community. As a note -During the community meeting about
this proposal in December, there were several changes suggested by
community members, such as not opening the playground directly onto
busy Foster Ave and maintaining the current entrances through the park
areas. See the news from December 2010 below for more.
The
recent March 2011 contribution of $50,000.00 from discretionary
funds from Alderman Laurino was a very exciting development that really
takes us to the next step. Two thirds of the funding has
been committed by the state and park district. In 2009, State
Representative D’Amico contributed a state grant of $150,000.00 from HB
313. One third of the budget, $150,000.00, has been generously
committed by the Chicago Park District through a partnership with our
community. Grow with Gompers is ready to write a $33,500.00 check
( as of April 17th, 2011) thanks to fundraisers and individual
contributions. With the $50,000.00 from Alderman Laurino, the
community is left with $66,500.00 to raise and the pressure is on!
We
ask all to help us meet the challenge and work together to make this
critical community improvement a reality. Grow with Gompers is
desperately in need of everyone’s contribution to close the funding gap
and reach our funding goal. Our vision for the new playground has
always gone beyond new slides and swings. By renovating the
Gompers Park playground, our neighborhood will benefit from a dynamic
new place for the children to safely play and our wonderfully diverse
community families to connect.
In a nutshell, where do we stand with funding?
• A total of $450,000.00 is required to build the new playground.
•
We have $383,500.00 committed from our partners and through our own
fundraising.
• As of April 17th, 2011, the playground fund still needs $66,500.00.
The
Grow with Gompers committee has worked with the park and neighborhood
to hold many innovative, community centered fundraisers over the past 3
years - Romp@Gomps, Circus in the Parks, Spa Night, Gomptoberfest,
Community Yoga, and more. We look forward to launching a great
new donor incentive program this May. We will also be
planning for fund raising events such as our third annual
Gomp-toberfest to be held this fall. All are invited join
in our ongoing Community Yoga classes on Tuesdays at 7pm at the field
house, from which the class fee of $5 per class goes entirely to the
playground fund.
Please contact us to get involved at
info@gompersparkplayground.org. A reminder that Grow with Gompers is
part of NMIA, a 501c3 non profit organization, and donations are
tax deductible. Donations can be made through PayPal on our homepage, and checks sent to NMIA/Grow with Gompers at P.O Box 30119 Chicago, IL 60630.
April 16th, 2011
From the May 2011 NMIA Improver:
Playground Funding Deadline Developments:
On April 1, Grow with Gompers was alerted that April 15, 2011
would be the deadline for us to complete the funding for the
playground, or our playground plans would be on hold until funding was
secured, at least for another year. Many of you received an email
about this situation that asked for all our neighbors to please
contribute whatever you can and help our community make its best effort
to raise the funding by the deadline in order to have a chance to build
our new playground this year. As of April 15, the playground
renovation is still $66,800.00 short of our goal of $450,000.00 need to
complete the project. Thank you so much to all who sent in
what they could through PayPal, and offered encouraging words of
support. A this point, we are not sure what will happen next.
However, we have the utmost confidence that all our elected officials
and partners at the Chicago Park District are working hard in
collaboration with us in the community, and we are sincerely grateful
for their dedication and commitment! We all want a new playground
for Gompers Park – a dynamic new place for our children to safely play
and our diverse community to connect!
Since new
developments in the playground renovation could happen any day now, you
might want to also contact us and visit our website for more
information. Our May and June meetings will be posted as well,
and we would love for you to join us as we continue to move forward
with fundraising and planning for the playground renovation.
Interested in donating? It’s tax deductible! Click on the PayPal
button on our website, or send in your check to NMIA/Grow with Gompers,
P.O Box 30119, Chicago, Illinois 60630. Thank you!
GOMP-TOBERFEST 2011:
While this fun, festive event will not be hosted until fall, the real
fun - organizing for GOMP-TOBERFEST - starts this
month. If you are interested in being part of the
GOMPTOBERFEST team, please contact us! Get to know your neighbors
as you plan a party for the park!
Wellness Workshop at Gompers Park:
Thank you to the Chicago Park District, Swedish Covenant Hospital, and
Galter Life Center for partnering with Grow with Gompers to host the
first ever Wellness Workshop at Gompers Park. Maki Uechi, our
coach for the workshop from Galter, really inspired us to visualize our
best selves and gave us strategies to set and achieve our wellness
goals. Lisa Robertson, as part of our ongoing Community Yoga
classes benefitting the playground, led another well – paced,
centering yoga session - skillfully accommodating for all levels
of experience. Joining us were community members representing different
ages, cultures, and fitness backgrounds. All appreciated the
donation of assorted teas from our neighborhood Starbucks at Lawrence
and Pulaski, and fruit from Mayfair Market. We look forward to
the next Wellness Workshop with our partners at Swedish Covenant
Hospital and Galter Life Center. If you have ideas for topics you
would enjoy for the next one, please contact us.
March 2011
Just in from Alderman Laurino! We are closer than ever!
At
the upcoming NMIA meeting on April 6th, at 7pm, Alderman Laurino
will join us to announce her decision to contribute $50,000.00 from
39th ward discretionary funds to the playground renovation at Gompers
Park. Thank you, Alderman Laurino, for your continued
commitment to building our community the new playground we desperately
need, and for which so many have worked so hard towards since
2008. With your partnership, let’s reach our funding goals and
build the dynamic new place for children to safely play and our diverse
families to connect!
Where we are with funding right now:
A
total of $450,000.00 is required to build the new playground. The
recent $50,000.00 contribution from Alderman Laurino, added to the
state’s $150,000.00 from Representative D’Amico, $150,000.00 from the
Chicago Park District, and $30,000.00 check that Grow with Gompers is
ready to write, will bring us within $70,000.00 of the total needed to
break ground. The way the process works, in order to have a CHANCE at a
new playground this year, we MUST have the missing money within the
next month, maybe two for the project to be out to bid and break
ground.
Where we are with building the playground right now:
A
community meeting will be scheduled soon to look at the final
design. Planning is almost complete, and ready for the
excavators, back-hoes, and all the other cool construction equipment to
come in and make it happen. What fun our children will have observing
the entire process; to see what it takes to create a shiny, brand new,
and unique playground that is right here in their own beautiful
backyard, Gompers Park! No more driving to newer, nicer, safer
playgrounds. It can be our turn, as soon as this
summer! Neighbors, we MUST work together to seek and secure those
large donations today to ensure our new playground tomorrow! We
were happy to see community concerns about shade and seating addressed.
Existing canopy trees are strategically located in the layout, new
shade trees planned, and a shade structure constructed over tables and
benches will help keep visitors of all ages and abilities more
comfortable. The running path, grass-covered and soft surface berms( or
hills) will provide unique opportunities for free play. A suggestion
was made to provide laminated cards in a pocket on the fence with ideas
for games children and families could play on the path. Some voiced
interest in adding some more landscape features to the grassy area
around the running path over time to beautify the area. Musical sensory
panels were proposed for the 2-5 year old structure, and approved by
all present. For the Evos 5-12 year old climbing structure, a different
type of feature was suggested instead of the glider currently at the
Sauganash playground. It is parallel bars that can be used in many
creative ways, and does not resemble a slide. In response to a proposed
additional entrance gate to the playground directly off of the street,
everyone chose to not add this entrance gate due to our fear of opening
the play area directly on to Foster Avenue. The water cage feature is
encircled by stools that can be used during the non-water feature moths
as an obstacle course, for seating, for activities in the round such as
storytelling or drum circles, and are composed of reused materials.
While we understand that the water feature is not currently included in
the budget for this first phase of building, due to the economical
nature of the materials the seating circle can be installed as part of
the first phase. A bioswale was added. This natural area would help
funnel some of the waste water from the water feature into a depressed
area in the grass. More information is coming on how this would work
and what kind of maintenance it might require. Concerns were voiced
about the ground already becoming very saturated each time it rains,
and that this might create a muddy area. Everyone agreed that the
design needed one more small scale piece of play equipment. Suggestions
included a 4 seat see-saw like at Welles Park or seat spinners like at
Disney II School.
Fall 2010: Circus In
The Parks Amazed All!
GOMPTOBEREFST 2010
THANK
YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ROCKED THE FIELD HOUSE AT DESPITE THE
FREEZING RAIN! CHECK OUT THE PICS!
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The Grow with Gompers Committee is part of the North Mayfair
Improvement Association, working to improve the neighborhood since
1929. Since 2008, the Grow with Gompers mission has been to redesign
and rebuild the more than two decades old, unsafe, outdated playground
at Gompers Park in order to realize the community’s vision of a dynamic
new place for children to safely play and our diverse community to
connect.
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