Chicago Parks Foundation

Chicago Parks Foundation was proud to bring our largest team yet to the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon! Over 275 runners joined our Team ChiParks charity team this year, raising more than $446,000 so far. Since our start in 2013, Team ChiParks has raised nearly $2 million total for our parks, making the marathon the largest annual fundraiser for the CPF. These unrestricted funds help to expand our reach with our community partners, park clean-up programming, and improvement projects. Each of our athletes has an incredible personal story and goal. We are fortunate to be part of their journey. There is nothing like the feeling of the Chicago Marathon, and we wish all of our runners congratulations on their achievement! Special thanks to our volunteers for their support, and to our amazing partners: ATI Physical Therapy, Boxed Water Is Better, Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), Chicago Park District, Chicago Event Management, Fleet Feet Training x Chicago Endurance Sports, Clocktower Runners, Illinois Brewery Running Series, Goose Island Beer Company, and Move-Tastic. And we're already onto the next! Interested in running with us or supporting in 2025? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eAm-b3J

Chicago Parks Foundation is proud to present our 2nd Annual Run for the Parks 5K: Run, Walk or Roll coming right up next month! On Sunday, September 15th, get outside with us in beautiful Burnham Park at 31st Street Beach. Participants will choose either a timed Lakefront Trail 5K or a guided 1-Mile Burnham Wildlife Corridor Nature Walk. Then enjoy our post-race gathering with pancakes, drinks, and community fun - all right in the park. We are honored to have the support of Banner Wholesale Grocer returning for the second year as our Presenting Sponsor. Special thanks to our partners Goose Island Beer Company, ATI Physical Therapy, Fleet Feet Chicago, Move-Tastic, and Boxed Water Is Better. This will be an wonderful morning bringing community together in support of our parks. Family-friendly. All ages welcome. Accessibility guides welcome. We'd love to see you there! Registration prices will increase on 9/1 so don't wait to sign up: https://lnkd.in/g3m4c-gu

Meet the Green Team! JLL joined us for a Green Teams clean-up on June 28th at Jackson Park, returning for their 4th annual volunteer event with Chicago Parks Foundation! "'Community' is one of the core values of JLL and giving back to our communities through the yearly park clean-up is a highlight for our team." Read more from JLL in our latest Seeing Green Blog. And learn more about how to make your team a Green Team by hosting a Chicago Parks Foundation park clean-up event. https://lnkd.in/gyVGgTeJ

One week ago, we celebrated the official reopening of Dorothy's Playground at Oz Park after a major three-month renovation, the first since the original opening in 1988. As the 501c3 partner of the Chicago parks, Chicago Parks Foundation is honored to have helped facilitate this park project with wonderful community support - a true private-public partnership. Together we can work to bring community ideas to action at parks all across our city! Special thanks to everyone who made Dorothy's Playground possible: Ishbia Family Foundation State Representative Margaret Croke 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen Donald R. Wilson Jr. Family Foundation Oz Park Advisory Council Stephanie Munger & Family Jack L. Ringer Family Foundation The Wong Family Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Chicago Park District Leathers & Associates and all Oz Park neighbors

Chicago Parks Foundation is honored to be part of the transformation happening at Oz Park! Justin, who is overseeing this construction project with Leathers & Associates, Inc., shared some insights on the design process and his experience on this innovative build. Justin has been traveling the world to build playgrounds for 20 years, but there’s no place like Oz Park! The Oz Park Playground renovation is intentionally staying true to the beloved look and feel of the original park. Swapping the old wood for new recycled material will give 50+ years of longevity. Many of the traditional structures now have increased size for better accessibility, plus additions of a therapeutic swing, mommy-and-me swing and low-set rings, offering accessible options not just to children but parents and caretakers. Oz-themed elements make the space unique, like the face-wall mural by a local artist, Kansas farmhouse, Emerald City area, and Witch’s Castle. “It’s very reminiscent of the park people grew up playing on when they were children, or their children or grandchildren played on, and they can get a very similar experience in this park without the flashy, fancy modern manufacturing.” Justin shared that the community has been incredibly excited and positive during construction. Families stop by with homemade cupcakes and give their compliments on how great it’s looking as they watch the progress. “It’s really our bread and butter to involve the community as much as possible. Almost on a daily basis, somebody has stopped on the sidewalk to tell us how excited they are that the park is being rebuilt, and in a similar style to what was here. So it’s been a pleasure to work here. The whole neighborhood’s been great and we feel like we’re part of the community.” Oz Park Playground will reopen later this summer! Chicago Parks Foundation is proud to help facilitate this park project. Special thanks to Leathers & Associates, Inc., Oz Park Advisory Council, State Representative Margaret Croke, 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen, Chicago Park District, Ishbia Family Foundation, Stephanie Munger, Jacob Ringer, Don Wilson, the Wong Family, and all the Oz Park neighbors.

Meet our Green Teams! CFGI joined us for a Green Teams clean-up on June 7th at Garfield Park. “We’re a community-first corporation. That’s why, internally and externally, we’re always looking for ways to bring individuals together to support community causes.” Read CFGI's story here: https://lnkd.in/g5DpYNTe Thanks to the generous support of our Green Teams, the Chicago Parks Foundation equips thousands of volunteers with free supplies for our Pitch In for the Parks citywide program.?Schedule an event for your corporate team with us today!

We are two weeks out from our Play for the Parks Golf Invitational on July 11th, and we'd love to have you join us! Foursomes and individual spots are still available. Chicago Parks Foundation is pleased to have Matt McIntee serving as this year's Golf Chair. Matt is the Senior Vice President of Troon Golf Administration, L.L.C. and Regional Director of Chicago Park District Golf. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the historic Jackson Park Golf Course. On July 11th, enjoy 18 holes of golf plus lunch, dinner, open bar, giveaways, raffle, prizes, and networking. Caddies will be provided to all foursomes compliments of Troon Golf and Jackson Park Golf Association. Learn more and join us today at https://lnkd.in/gGRwNVXa

The Chicago Parks Foundation is proud to introduce our newest Board Member, Matthew X. Roling! Matt came to us by way of participating in one of our Green Teams corporate park clean-up events. His passion for sustainability will be a welcome addition to our board, and we look forward to his first meeting as member tomorrow! Meet Matt: "I grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin, in the vicinity of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. It served as a natural classroom for my mother to teach my sisters and me about botany, zoology, and climate. During my teenage years, I developed my endurance and chased endorphins running along the forest's trails. "Now as an adult, I cannot imagine living or vacationing far from a park. My connection with parks and nature aligns perfectly with CPF's mission. CPF has successfully fostered collaborative relationships, implemented innovative programming, and supported amazing story telling to enhance Chicago’s remarkable park system. I am grateful and honored to contribute to CPF's mission as a new board member, and look forward to bring my expertise as a decarbonization strategy consultant to the team. "My partner Judy, our dog Kevin, and I currently reside in Evanston, alongside South Boulevard Beach and Garden Park. In addition to my involvement with CPF, I have recently been appointed to serve on the City of Evanston's Utility Commission. My educational background includes accounting degrees from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. Outside of sustainability and parks, I enjoy cooking, tennis, and traveling!"

Chicago Parks Foundation was proud to honor our 2024 Connecting Communities Award recipients last week at our annual celebration for Park Advisory Councils! Congratulations to our three $1,000 grant recipients: Loyola PAC - The Teen/Tween Library Art Program Armstrong PAC - Bronzeville’s Juneteenth Invitational Baseball Tournament Bessemer PAC - The Breast Cancer Walk We welcomed guest speaker Josh Harris, Vice President of Public Engagement with the Obama Foundation. Our event is hosted at the historic South Shore Cultural Center, and this was an excellent opportunity to hear about how the neighboring Obama Presidential Center is prioritizing community connection. Thank you to the 30+ PACs who applied and to every one of our Park Advisory Councils for the vital work that you do to support our parks!

Thank you Obama Foundation for celebrating Earth Day at Jackson Park! On April 20th, over 200 Obama Foundation team members, friends and family volunteered their time to pick up trash and mulch trees in the beloved park that will neighbor the future Obama Presidential Center.? ? Thanks to Jackson Park Conservancy for leading the volunteer group in a history tour of this treasured parkland, including the Garden of the Phoenix. Chicago Parks Foundation appreciates this community connection and was pleased to support the event. ? ? Photo Credit: The Obama Foundation