News 2011
Various Park Improvements Seen
Spring 2011
Keeper of the Fire Garden
Cleanup of the Keepers of the Fire Garden started in April with the help of council members. The small bulbs were blooming as a nice reminder that spring has arrived. The new wooden picket fence, shown on the left, was installed in June.
In July, the tennis courts were resurfaced much to the delight of the neighborhood tennis players. We do ask that the tennis courts be used for tennis only to preserve the surface.
The Advisory Council was awarded an Open Lands grant to develop the East Enclosure on the north side of the park as a Bird Sanctuary.
In July, the tennis courts were resurfaced much to the delight of the neighborhood tennis players. We do ask that the tennis courts be used for tennis only to preserve the surface.
The Advisory Council was awarded an Open Lands grant to develop the East Enclosure on the north side of the park as a Bird Sanctuary.
If you haven't visited the park recently, you haven't seen the entrance garden planted by the Park District. It looks like Chicago has been moved to Arizona with a mix of cacti and succulents. We wish to thank the Park District horticulturists for designing an extremely interesting and comment-producing attraction.
Bird Sanctuary Cleanup Day
August 27, 2011
The clearing of the East Enclosure in preparation for the creation of a bird sanctuary was begun by a large number of volunteers led by Michael Oster, IBPAC board member. With the help of chainsaw-wielding and IBPAC board member, Frank Glapa, the trees (not the good kind!) were toppling like toothpicks. Volunteers from the community and the Tree Keeper's organization were picking up the cuttings and stacking them for pick up by the Park District. The clearing of the trees and shrubs revealed the pond and swan houses left from the days that swans from the zoo were over-wintered in the park. In addition to clearing the East Enclosure, another group of community volunteers were mulching trees in the park.
Independence Day Parade
July 4, 2011
On a perfect morning, an exuberant group of neighborhood families celebrated the 4th of July with a do-it-yourself parade led by a local band, Banda de Guerra de Cuidad Hidalgo Michoacan Mexico, and a variety of decorated "floats". The parade set the tone for a very Happy Birthday celebration for our country.
Park Open House
May 22, 2011
A park Open House was held to educate the community about our park's history and show the beauty of the park and the historic field house. The event included a mime show, tours of the park and facilities and a presentation on the history of the park.
Refreshments were provided by the Advisory Council and the park manager, Phil Martini.
A Day Camp scholarship certificate was presented to a Boone School representative to be awarded to one of their students. The scholarship was provided by the Advisory Council as a community service.
Refreshments were provided by the Advisory Council and the park manager, Phil Martini.
A Day Camp scholarship certificate was presented to a Boone School representative to be awarded to one of their students. The scholarship was provided by the Advisory Council as a community service.
Spring Plant Sale
May 14, 2011
Michael Oster with tomato plants
On a cold, blustery day, a fund-raising plant sale sponsored by the Indian Boundary Park Advisory Council and the Northtown Garden Society was held at Warren Park. In spite of the weather, the sale was a success and the proceeds were used by the sponsoring organizations to support the gardens of Indian Boundary and Warren Parks.
Many weeks of effort were expended by a dedicated group of volunteers to grow tomatoes from seed, dig up and repot donated perennials, organize pre-orders of flats and baskets of annuals, unload and organize pre-ordered plants and assist customers on the day of the sale.
We particularly appreciated the help of Rev. John Hoekwater, manager of the Gale School greenhouse, for providing space to grow the tomatoes; Pat Grunde, principal of the Bethesda Lutheran School, for providing space to store plants; and Diana Schilz, Warren Park manager, for providing space and support for the sale. To show our appreciation for the use of the greenhouse at Gale School, we participated in the planting of pansies along Howard Street.
Many weeks of effort were expended by a dedicated group of volunteers to grow tomatoes from seed, dig up and repot donated perennials, organize pre-orders of flats and baskets of annuals, unload and organize pre-ordered plants and assist customers on the day of the sale.
We particularly appreciated the help of Rev. John Hoekwater, manager of the Gale School greenhouse, for providing space to grow the tomatoes; Pat Grunde, principal of the Bethesda Lutheran School, for providing space to store plants; and Diana Schilz, Warren Park manager, for providing space and support for the sale. To show our appreciation for the use of the greenhouse at Gale School, we participated in the planting of pansies along Howard Street.
Spring Bird Walk
May 1, 2011
Joe Lill, of the Chicago Audubon Society, once again led a group of community members on an informative bird walk in the park. Everyone was thrilled to see a nesting pair of wood ducks at the lagoon. This was the first sighting of these colorful ducks in the park.
Earth Day
April 16, 2011
A group of Advisory Council and community members along with a group of students and their teachers from Boone Elementary School worked for a morning cleaning up the park and mulching the trees.
Park Advocacy Conference
March 19, 2011
IBPAC board members, Ann Glapa and Michael Oster, gave a presentation, Planting the 1st Seed - Gardening in Your Park, at the 2011 Park Advocacy Conference sponsored by the Chicago Park District and the Friends of the Parks. The well-attended presentation generated a lot of interest by community members who have been trying to start community gardens around Chicago with varying degrees of success. An impressive display of photos of the park and gardens provoked "oohs and aahs" among the attendees.
Park Historical Tour
August 30, 2011
On a pleasant evening, the Rogers Park Garden Group and the West Ridge Historical Society sponsored a historical tour of the park. Speaking at the event were Julia Bachrach, Chicago Park District historian; Chris Gent, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and landscape architect; Phil Martini, IBP Park Manager; Michael Oster, IBPAC board member and Ginny Davis, Northtown Garden Society representative.
After a tour of the park and the gardens led by Mr. Oster and Ms. Davis, an active discussion of the history of the park and field house was led by Ms. Bachrach and Mr. Martini.
Proceeds from this event will be contributed to the restoration of the Garfield Park Greenhouse, the Northtown Garden Society, and the IBPAC.
After a tour of the park and the gardens led by Mr. Oster and Ms. Davis, an active discussion of the history of the park and field house was led by Ms. Bachrach and Mr. Martini.
Proceeds from this event will be contributed to the restoration of the Garfield Park Greenhouse, the Northtown Garden Society, and the IBPAC.