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Next
NPAC meeting August 12 (usually 2nd Thursdays) -Nichols
Park Fieldhouse.
Meadow workdays Sunday July 11, 21, August 8, 22
4-6 pm. Gloves,
tools provided. Weeding, cleanup, some planting. Carol Schneider,
684-2619. Next 3-5 pm. Jazz
night Aug. 13, Movie Shrek II Aug. 20.
Park
Supervisor Heather Kelly, in the fieldhouse at north end, 1355
E. 53rd St., 312 747-2307.
This
website has no connection with permits, special events, or reservations
and is not an official website of the park district or the advisory
council. Call Park Services at 312 742-5369, or the fieldhouse
(below) or for info go to http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
and click permits. All are handled through downtown and rules
have changed.
In this page: (To links to the other
NP pages)
To
sub pages
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This
page is brought to you by Hyde
Park-Kenwood Community Conference Parks Committee and HPKCC's website,
www.hydepark.org, with cooperation from the Nichols Park Advisory
Council. Join
the Conference!
Contact our Committee chair.
Nichols gym: schedules
(sample only here)
available at the facility.
(door is on the west side)
Park Supervisor Heather Kelly,
312 747-2703. 1355
E. 53rd Street.
Hours:
School year:
MWF 1-9, Tu,Th 10:30-9,
Saturday 8-4
Summer:
M-F 7:30 am-9 varies, Weekends closed. |
4th
on 53rd Parade and Picnic 2005, including, right, Hyde Park Garden Fair
Committee's float. (GF volunteers help in the Meadow and are responsible
for aspects of the Formal Gardens.) Pics Mary Rose Shaughnessy. And a
great time was had by all!
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The 2005 4th
on 53rd was one of the best ever. More watchers lined the route than
usual. The games, assigned to specific businesses etc. were highly
popular, as was Zendu the Magician (helped by a brief shower outside.)
The event made a little surplus, thanks to more major sponsors including
the UC Community Affairs and Hospitals. |
Watch
for it again in 2007.
L.
V. Banks and ensemble perform at the Sunday Afternoon Concert Series.
2005
Sponsors: 4th Ward Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie,
Carolan Apartments, Century 21 Kennedy Ryan Monigal, Hyde Park Bank,
Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, Hyde Park Shopping Center, Marian Realty,
State Sen. Kwame Raoul, South East Chicago Commission, Toys Et Cetera,
University of Chicago Office of Community Affairs, University of Chicago
Hospitals, University National Bank.
Park
special events, new and exciting
Memorial
trees, bench dedicated by Hyde Park Garden Fair (a sister committee
of HPKCC) summer 2008.
GARDEN
FAIR DEDICATES MEMORIAL TREES
By Bam
Postell
One of
the signs of an aging organization is the need to memorialize members
who have died, and in the case of the Garden Fair Committee, beloved
children of members who have passed away all too soon. Naturally, we
wanted to remember our friends by means of living trees, and in centrally
located Nichols Park. These trees were dedicated on Sunday, June 1.
The children’s tree, a Kousa dogwood, is located in a stone-framed
plot facing 55th Street, near Kimbark, and the adults’ tree, an
American yellowwood, is located behind it on the far side of the pool.
At the
same time we honored the installation of the Mary Milner memorial bench,
which is located just north of the Neighborhood Club facing the baseball
diamond. This was financed by the Mary’s life companion, Eugenia
Fawcett, and the Committee.
A third
memorial was the relocation of a group of roses in honor of Ruth Billingsley
to the bed fronting the new Park District Field House at the north end
of the park.
Those present,
Garden Fair members and some family members, toasted the memorials in
lemonade as they walked from one to another, reading the names of the
children at the Kousa dogwood:
Diana Van Valen
David Scheunemann
Norman Nakama
Darcy Black
Reed Schug
Lily Klinger
And the
names of the adult members at the yellowwood:
Sophie Rudin, Richard Kersting, Mollie Salmon, Betty Wagner, Janet Shepherd,
Miyo Schug, Maxine Brown, Mary Milner,
Sue Cullen, Tamara Mendis, Cherry Nakama, Kit Klinger, Cynthia Pittman,
Ruth Billingsley, Jim Lichon, Larayne Black
We were
pleased to find that the Park District, which governs the planting of
memorial trees in parks, has broadened its list of choices to include
some beautiful and lesser known trees. Cornus kousa, the Kousa Dogwood,
is related to our American dogwood, Cornus florida, but is native to
Japan, Korea, and China. We chose this tree for its many fine features:
smaller size (20 to 30 feet), strong horizontal branching pattern, and
bloom time 2 or 3 weeks later than the local dogwood. Kousa’s
“flowers” are 4 white, pointed bracts around a green center
and when they cover the tree make a starry effect. The bracts often
turn pink as they age. Raspberry-like fruits follow in August to October,
1 inch in diameter, very decorative and edible. In addition, the tree
turns maroon to scarlet in the fall, and the bark, as the tree ages,
exfoliates neatly into patterns of grey, tan, warm brown, and pale green.
Cladastris
lutea, American yellowwood, is a member of the pea family which will
grow 2 to 3 feet per year into an open-arching, dome-shaped tree, to
50 feet or larger, with a spread almost as wide. It casts a dense shade.
The foliage is dark green and dense, and turns clear yellow in autumn.
In June, it bears long (to 15”) panicles of fragrant white flowers,
followed by flat, thin pods. It has smooth gray bark which is seen best
in winter, accenting the dramatic framework of the branches.
Each of
these trees is the only example of its kind in the park, and will grow
in size and beauty with the years.
Getting
there:
From
south-bound Lake Shore Drive Exit at 53rd and west about a mile. The meadow
is south from 53rd on your left, between Kimbark and Kenwood.
Parking is available on 53rd, 55th, Kenwood, and
Kimbark. Public transportation: CTA route 55 (not 55X) stops on the south
side of the park. Other routes require a walk of 2-5 blocks:
#2 & 15 along 51st (15 from Lake Park until June 20, then nearest
is 51st/Lake Park), #6 express from downtown- from 51st and Lake Park
or 55th/Hyde Park, # 28 express from
downtown- from 53rd or 55th (at Lake Park after June 20), #4 Cottage Grove.
Metra--currently closest stop is at 51st or 55th; 53rd should reopen July
2004. There is no in-park parking but is street parking. For
additional information, call (773) 955-3622.
Who's
in charge here?
Heather
Kelly is the Park Supervisor. 312
747-2703.
At South Region, now dispersed but with main hq at Tarkington Park. Region
Manager Liz Millan. Region phone remains 312 747-7661. Area Manager A.J.
Jackson. Marketing and Communications: Yeama Vincent-Neal. Park Operations
Dominick Whitfield. Security east of Ashland Leroy Grant (Kevin Ryan districtwide).
Did
You Know? Nichols has the second largest in program sign up and attendance
in the whole South Region, next only to South Shore Cultural Center. And
there has been no drop off in its popularity, full to the brim.
Top
Nichols
Park Advisory Council: Call
Stephanie Franklin, President,
773 955-3622, with comments and questions or e-mail
Nichols Park Council. Dues $10 per
year, but all are welcome at the monthly meetings, 2nd Thursdays, 7 pm,
Nichols Park Fieldhouse, 1355 E. 53rd St.
Second contact Van Bistrow, 773
667-1808. We can use your due/contributions- just $10, although voting
depends on attending a minimum number of meetings a year, not paying dues.
Nichols
Park Advisory Council, the recognized advisory body under the Chicago
Park District,
is a self-sustaining program committee of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community
Conference. This page is maintained by HPKCC as one of the many services
we provide to one of the city's most active park advisory councils,
serving the needs and residents of the "central park"
of Hyde Park, at the center of the neighborhood.
Officers
elected 2010:
President
Stephanie Franklin, Vice President Van Bistrow, Secretary Mark Granfors,
Treasurer Mimi Asbury, At-large Gary Ossewaarde.
Nichols
Park Advisory Council meets on the 2nd
Thursday of
the month, 7 pm, at the Nichols Park Fieldhouse c. 1355 E. 53rd St. (Use
door on west side)
Next
regular meeting is on Thursday, August 12, 7 pm, Nichols Park field house,
1355 E. 53rd St.
Regular
members can expect e-mailed minutes, advisories and requests for their
views between meetings, generally from Mark
Granfors. Call Stephanie or Van if you wish to be put on a snail
or e-mail list. 773 955-3622
Monthly
meetings discuss park programing, upkeep, repairs and improvements with
the park supervisor.
A
very productive meeting was held with Park District facilities head
Pat Levar and assistants Februry 11.
4th
on 53rd St. Parade and Picnic was on the 4th, 11 am.
Through August at least- Sunday Afternoon pops concerts (jazz, blues,
bluegrass...) 4-6 pm. In progress.
August
13, Friday- evening jazz concert. Zachs Preacher
August
20, Friday- movie Shrek II will be shown in the park.
September
7, Tuesday, 6 pm. Area 3 park district budget hearing. South Shore Cultural
Center, 7059 South Shore Drive.
Online
Park Program Registration Utilizes
PayPal
CPD is now using the PayPal online payment system. Before you register
online for one of our fall classes, we encourage you to review the new
screens and review our Q&A about the new system. You can
do this by copying and pasting the web address below into your web browser:
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/programs.home.cfm
You
can view park district program offerings online from mid April.
To do this, copy and paste the
web address below into your web browser:
http://programs.chicagoparkdistrict.com/programBrowser/
Newest addition:
Mary Milner Memorial Bench and several memorial trees, donated by Hyde
Park Garden Fair.
1st picture
by George Rumsey c. February, 2003, rest Gary Ossewaarde, summer, 2003.
The cinder block wall and tyvek was followed by brick.
See
North
end (Murray addition) Planning; North
Addition views, design, controversy; East
Addition views including murals
Top
Volunteer
days- see below
Jumpstart's event
at Nichols, part of nationwide program that had parents reading to kids
"The Little Engine That Could" was a huge success.
Hot
Topics
The council
remains somewhat concerned about proposed revised and mandatory guidelines
for advisory councils, despite adjustments. Contact Stephanie Franklin
about this.
Communication!
Proper
maintenance and landscaping
Doing something
about the south fountain areas.
The
trash and trash can problems never seem to end
Keeping
on top of the watering systems.
Security
issues continue; possible solutions are illusive.
Top
Hyde
Park Garden Fair Committee, with the PD designated contractor and the
CPD reconfigured and replanted the Formal Garden at the north fountain.
Work is still in progress. Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee did the
work in the 9 beds adjacent to the fountain, at its cost, for a dozen
years as
part of an unwritten arrangement with the district, in order to get the
formal gardens in the park extension a dozen years ago. The Garden Fair's
recent and as-negotiated proposal, in response to outsourcing, includes
assuming responsibility for additional beds closer to the new fieldhouse.
A committee of the Council, Garden Fair, and Park District was charged
by Alderman Preckwinkle with working out a formalized shared arrangement
for design and care of the garden, which she was submitted to the District.
The Garden Fair proposal, as worked out with the Park District and the
contractor, is that the GF will handle selection, purchase, and planting
and the District maintenance. The GF submitted its complete design to
the District. This agreement is of general importance for the
future of community volunteer groups in park gardens. The GF
and the contractor are said to be working well together. Not that the
contractor has only a set number of hours it is paid for, so any "heavy-work"
add on subtracts from maintenance. Top
See
above re: volunteering for the committee and watch for volunteer workdays
starting in May (usually Sundays but Saturdays may be added).
Next Meadow workdays: 2010 spring
Sundays, 3-5 or 4-6 pm.
Clean up, weed removal, some planting. 54th at 1322 E. at the meadow.
Gloves and Tools provided. Carol Schneider, 684-2619.
U
of C Service Center students helped in the replanting-transformation of
the Formal Garden Saturday, September 23, 2006.See
pics.
Volunteers
needed: Green, Brown, or No Thumb!
HELP
WEED THE NICHOLS PARK MEADOW
From The
Conference Reporter, Spring, 2004
The
Garden Fair Committee operates under the Conference umbrella; its
profits go to beautify the neighborhood through public gardens and
to support the Conference.
We
have been involved for years in establishing and caring for the
gardens at 53rd & Lake Park, 54& Blackstone (Spruce Park),
and both the formal garden and the wildflower meadow in Nichols
Park. This year the GFC is assuming, in cooperation with the Chicago
Park District, more responsibility for the Formal Garden, and we
seek local gardeners to join us in planning, shopping for and planting
and transplanting large areas this spring and early summer. If interested,
call Bam at (773) 288-7054.
In
the smaller parks we will be planting plants from the Fair and providing
ongoing care through the summer. If you live near and have come
to love either, please call: for Spruce Park, Norah at (773) 752-8072;
and for 53rd & Lake Park, Lesley at (773) 947-8313.
The
wildflower meadow in Nichols is special in many ways. Occasional
"meadow burns" keep down weeds and promote the growth
of the wild prairies plants (the Park District handles the burn).
Volunteers are needed for planting and weeding, and later deadheading.
It's a fascinating place to watch the natural growth and succession
of blooms and the slow appearance of wildlife. To volunteer, often
on Sunday afternoons), call Carol
at (773) 684-2619.
Top |
See
complete
original Garden Fair
proposal with view.
Trash
overflowing
|
Trash:
Nichols asks,
"What will it take to get this problem fixed?" Just
replacing Waste Management with Flood was not enough! See the Trash
Change page.
"where
are the cans going?"
Southeast
Region office, 312/747-7661. Be sure also to call Van Bistrow of
the Trash Committee, 773 667-1808. |
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Top
Nichols
Park Field house and park Programs
Visit the
Full Schedules with more
about the gym and fieldhouse. Get up to date schedules from the field
house or online. Sign up on-line at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Summer registration has passed. www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/content.home.cfm.
Online
Program Registration Utilizes
PayPal
The Park District is are now using the PayPal online payment
system. Before you register online for one of our fall classes, we encourage
you to review the new screens and review our Q&A about the new system.
You can
do this by copying and pasting the web address below into your web browser:
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/programs.home.cfm
You
can view program offerings online now. To do this, copy and paste the
web address below into your web browser:
http://programs.chicagoparkdistrict.com/programBrowser/
Summer
2009
Basketball ages 13-17. Fri 6-8. June 23-July 31. $2 per session, co-rec,
open to all
Bitty Basketball ages 6-7. Mon, Wed 6-7. $25, co-rec, open to all
Day Camp ages 6-12. Mon-Fri 10-4. $195, co-rec, open to all
Extended camp ages 6-12. Mon-Fri 8-6. June 23-July 31. $?, co-rec,open
to all.
Hip Hop ages 13-17. Friday 6-8. $20.
Softball ages 10-12. Tu and Th 6-7. June 23-July 31. $10, co-rec, open
to all
Sports Camp ages 8-12. Mon-Fri 8-6. Aug 3-7, aug 10-14. $75, co-rec,
open to all
Announcements
and Activities
Park
Work Days:
Nichols
Park Meadow cleanups underway certain Sundays. 54th/Kenwood. Carol
Schneider, 773 684-2619. Workday
in the Nichols Park and Meadow. Clean up, weed removal, grass
and wildflower seeding. 54th at 1322 E. at the meadow. Tools provided.
Carol Schneider, 684-2619. June
27, July 11, 21, August 8, 22, 4-6
pm.
The
volunteers of the Council and Hyde Park Garden Fair save the Park District
probably thousands of dollars a year in the Formal Garden and Meadow,
especially important in these times of stretched budgets and overstretched
staff. See volunteer appeal, above.
The
council encourages those interested in Nichols Park to
also attend
the CAPS beat meeting (3rd Thursdays, 7 pm, Neighborhood Club) and the
TIF Advisory Council meetings (1st Monday, odd no. months, 7 pm,
Neighborhood Club).
Movie in
the Park- at least one a year, south end, hill.
4th
on 53rd St. Parade and Picnic was on the 4th, 11 am.
Through August at least- Sunday Afternoon pops concerts (jazz, blues,
bluegrass...) 4-6 pm. In progress.
August
13, Friday- evening jazz concert. Zachs Preacher
August
20, Friday- movie Shrek II will be shown in the park.
Dark
Nights/Dark Skies. Star
parties. One or two times yearly, star-viewing is held in the
park (not under direct sponsorship of the Council).is April 29. To learn
more about the Dark Skies/Dark Nights programs see stargazing
or contact Clare Butterfield at Center
for Neighborhood Technology. None has been held for a while.
Top
Watch for a more permanent labyrinth at 54th St.
later in 2010.
4th
on 53rd Street Parade and Picnic-look for it again in 2011
Sunday
Afternoon Concerts in the Park- in progress through at least August, 4-6
pm. Styles range from various jazz to blues, bluegrass, soft rock, and
pop/country.
Every summer,
Nichols Park Advisory Council helps sponsor the 4th on 53rd Parade
and Picnic.
The parade
route is Lake Park, 55th, S. Hyde Park Blvd., and 53rd to Nichols Park
at Kenwood.
The park
program includes the Children's stage in the fieldhouse (three different
shows!), two bands, speeches, kids and lawn games, and two refreshment
centers. Lasts until 5 pm. Top |
Nichols
Park Advisory Council page and Nichols Park record, 53rd to 55th, Kenwood
to Kimbark
