Springtime in Chicago. When it comes to the weather, we all know that you never know what you are going to get. Case in point: it snowed a bit in Chicago this morning!
One thing you can count on is Chicago’s Citywide Clean & Green Volunteer Clean-Up taking place around Earth Day each year. For more than two decades Chicagoans have teamed up with community groups and the City of Chicago to help beautify our communities.
Last Saturday, April 18, members of Neighbors of West Loop (NoWL) would not miss the chance to be a part of the effort. Many organizations chipped in by putting a little elbow grease into cleaning up our beautiful parks and streets.
Bob Aiken, Vice President of Neighbors of West Loop, with volunteers from NoWL and Neighbors of River West on Saturday, April 18.
Bob Aiken, Vice President of Neighbors of West Loop, spearheaded a portion of the efforts with Neighbors of River West. Bob’s group had over 30 people show up and pitch in! Participants came from all over the neighborhood, along with students and teachers from Coyne College.
Their group cleaned up the lots around the intersection of Kinzie and Green, and after that cleaned up westward along Hubbard and Grand, ending up at May and Ogden. Afterwards, Mahoney’s Pub & Grille supplied appetizers, and Neighbors of River West picked up the well-earned drink tab!
Similar efforts were taking place at Skinner Park between 9am and 2pm on Saturday as well. May Toy, President of the Skinner Park Advisory Council (SPAC) and Co-Chair of the NoWL Green Space & Parks Committee, coordinated volunteer efforts to improve Skinner Park to celebrate Earth Day.
May Toy, Co-Chair of NoWL’s Green Space & Parks Committee, with volunteers from Whitney Young’s Boys Cross Country team and Brian Ferber with NoWL.
Many West Loop residents came out to lend a hand, and many local organizations provided volunteers, including:
- H & M
- Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
- Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps
- The Francis Xavier Warde School (Old St. Pat’s)
- Whitney Young Boys Cross Country Team
Breakfast and lunch was provided by SPAC to over 70 volunteers that came out, and the City provided all of the brooms, rakes, shovels and pitchforks needed to get the job done!
Thanks to all who came out to help make our neighborhoods beautiful! Happy Earth Day!