Pitch In At The Parks Jackson Park – Chicago, IL

A team led by James Fifer, Milhouse Charities Board Member & VP of Program Management helped create a safer, cleaner space for Jackson Park and our city. Letter of Gratitude from Vera (Jackson Park Advisory Council) Team, we have cleared the historic asphalt road that leads to the Community Garden from Stony Island to Richard’s. This was a pathway the community was afraid to travel. This overgrown road has been the site of multiple crimes and criminal activity. We cleared all of the invasive bushes and trees blocking the path, the overgrown bush-covered benches, and the Community Garden’s picket fence, where garbage and invasives have steadily damaged its integrity. Immediately, as soon as we cleared it, we had runners, bikers, walkers, and even a Tibetan mom with two children just exploring. Opening this last dangerous place up for the community to use has been my goal for the past year. We just did it. Our Pitch In for the Park team from Milhouse Charities, the awesome Disc Golf Team, led by Tommy Inglis, and our Saturday JPC Pitch In Volunteers worked together and cleaned and opened up this remaining Jackson Park dangerous space-making it safe for kids and families and community members to use and enjoy. Section by Section, we have now made our entire park safe for our community to use. This is what a PAC does for a community! Celebrate another victory for our community. Garden of the Phoenix Docents have seen a steady increase to 800 visitors yesterday and again today. Visitors from all over the world and visiting family members from around the country. It gives us the chance to tell folks how we turned a Nike Base into an amazing Bobolink Meadow, Nature Trail, and rejuvenated Wooded Island. We have 4 new yellow Koi Fish! Everyone left praising our garden and vowing to return again. Just think what we can do with all that parkland liberated by closing Cornell! Thank You All for your TEAMWORK in achieving this latest success!

Pitch In For The Parks — Chicago Parks Foundation