The United Blocks of West Humboldt Park is glad to be back online with our blog page. Due to some technical difficulties, the page disappeared and it has taken some time to locate and recover it. Hopefully, this was a one-time problem and we can get back to the business of keeping our friends and neighbors informed of local news and happenings!
Thanks for your support,
The TUBWHP Board
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Earth Day Event a BIG Success!!!
PHOTOS: Top - TUBWHP member Rich Karwowski straps on his waders to clean up the ponds .
Middle: The Roeser's Bakery Family gathers around a tree planted in memory of John's father.
Bottem: The TUBWHP crew poses in front of the Stable after a successful clean-up.
Approximately 25 friends and neighbors showed up to help The United Blocks of West Humboldt Park perform their annual pond clean-up during the 2009 Earth Day Event at Humboldt Park. The weather was great, and the pond wasn't nearly as full of debris as in past years(hopefully a sign of more good things to come). However, a large pile of hypodermic needles was discovered in the area. One possible bi-product of the nearby clinics and needle exchange programs in the area.
After the clean-up, the crew headed over to the Boathouse to rest and have lunch in the sunshine. Over 500 people attended, and spread out over the entire park to clean up litter and mulch trees for the upcoming season. About 20 volunteers from the nation-wide volunteer group, "One Brick" were also on hand to beautify our park - thanks One Brick!!!
Also, the Tree Keepers organization was on hand to tend to some trees, educate some new naturists, and plant a couple of trees. Two of these trees were in memory of folks who have passed away that were very interested in Humboldt Park.
The United Blocks of West Humboldt Park also partnered with Growing Pride (the garden club of Humboldt Park) to have a table for kids activities during the afternoon. The kids were taught how to replant flowers into an individual container to be brought home. The flowers can then be planted at home, or given to mom for Mother's Day.
All in all, it was a great turnout, great weather, and the park now looks........ GREAT!!!
As a reminder, April 25th is Mayor Daley's annual "clean 'n green" day. So any folks that want to clean up their alleys or streets can contact Streets and Sanitation to get brooms, shovels, etc.
Simply call 311 and tell them you want to participate, and they will get you set up. Or just use your own brooms and shovels. Either way, lets make our neighborhood beautiful!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Humboldt Park Advisory Council Meeting Re-Cap
Each park in Chicago has the right to have an "Advisory Council" to help guide decisions by the Park District in regards to that particular park. The Humboldt Park Advisory Council (HPAC) meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM at the Fieldhouse. Anyone can become a member, but must attend 6 of the previous 12 meetings in order to vote during the annual board elections.
Here is a re-cap of the Humboldt Park Advisory Council (HPAC) meeting from April 16th 2009:
The HPAC currently has zero dollars. In order to open a bank account, HPAC would either have to spend the money to become a 501c3 non-profit, or go under the Parkways Foundation Charter and use their status. Also, in order to open a bank account, there needs to be a minimum of $100. Questions arose about going to the aldermen for a donation to reach the $100 minimum: Manny Flores would be willing to pitch in. However Billy Ocasio, Rey Colon, would not be able to at this time.
There will be a committee started for fundraising, and one of the first events to raise money would be a banquet on the veranda of the fieldhouse.
There have been over 300 children registered to play little league baseball at the new "Little Cubs Field" (registration is almost filled, $100 per child). The field is almost complete, but because of the added cost to make it handicapped accessible, there is no money to improve the washrooms(which are in a nearby almost 100 year old building). The field is also available for rentals, at $65 per 2 hour slot. This is meant primarily for other little leagues, because the filed is too small to accommodate adult leagues. There is an opportunity for concessions to be sold there, and the HPAC is putting in a bid to sell concessions as a way to fund raise. The field is set to open on Saturday May 16th.
HPAC will be contacting senior citizens to see if there is something that the park should be doing for them, such as different activities and classes.
Apparently the fieldhouse has a roof that leaks, and has leaked for some time. It was the general consensus that HPAC should NOT have to raise funds for the repair, and that the Park District itself should repair the roof. HPAC President Lucy Roman has sent a letter to the Superintendent asking for the repairs. No word back yet.
This brought up the general discussion of the budget for Humboldt Park. Park supervisor Nereida Aviles stated that Humboldt Park is the 3rd highest income producing park in the central region, primarily because of all of the baseball and softball leagues. However, Humboldt Park is not getting proportional monies back from the Park District for its' budget. The board will try to get a Representative from "Friends of the Park" to come and explain exactly what the revenue and budget is for Humboldt Park. Nereida also stated that she doesn't even know how much money is taken in from all of the festivals being held in the park.
A question was raise about recording the HPAC meetings. A member suggested that these meetings should be conducted under the rules from the "Open Meetings Act of Illinois" and therefore attendees should be able to record the proceedings. The board will look into this.
Finally, there was presentation concerning the "Sundays Parkways" events held twice in 2008. This was a day when the boulevards were shut down for 4 hours on a Sunday so bikes and pedestrians could roam from Logan Square to Little Village without the threat of cars . Approximately 10,000 people attended each day. This year the organizers are looking to hold the event on one day instead of two, and have it on a Saturday instead of Sunday. Several people spoke up questioning the move. We'll see what happens.
The next HPAC meeting will be in Thursday May 21st at 6:30Pm at the Fieldhouse, 1402 N. Humboldt Blvd. See listing on calendar for google map.
Here is a re-cap of the Humboldt Park Advisory Council (HPAC) meeting from April 16th 2009:
The HPAC currently has zero dollars. In order to open a bank account, HPAC would either have to spend the money to become a 501c3 non-profit, or go under the Parkways Foundation Charter and use their status. Also, in order to open a bank account, there needs to be a minimum of $100. Questions arose about going to the aldermen for a donation to reach the $100 minimum: Manny Flores would be willing to pitch in. However Billy Ocasio, Rey Colon, would not be able to at this time.
There will be a committee started for fundraising, and one of the first events to raise money would be a banquet on the veranda of the fieldhouse.
There have been over 300 children registered to play little league baseball at the new "Little Cubs Field" (registration is almost filled, $100 per child). The field is almost complete, but because of the added cost to make it handicapped accessible, there is no money to improve the washrooms(which are in a nearby almost 100 year old building). The field is also available for rentals, at $65 per 2 hour slot. This is meant primarily for other little leagues, because the filed is too small to accommodate adult leagues. There is an opportunity for concessions to be sold there, and the HPAC is putting in a bid to sell concessions as a way to fund raise. The field is set to open on Saturday May 16th.
HPAC will be contacting senior citizens to see if there is something that the park should be doing for them, such as different activities and classes.
Apparently the fieldhouse has a roof that leaks, and has leaked for some time. It was the general consensus that HPAC should NOT have to raise funds for the repair, and that the Park District itself should repair the roof. HPAC President Lucy Roman has sent a letter to the Superintendent asking for the repairs. No word back yet.
This brought up the general discussion of the budget for Humboldt Park. Park supervisor Nereida Aviles stated that Humboldt Park is the 3rd highest income producing park in the central region, primarily because of all of the baseball and softball leagues. However, Humboldt Park is not getting proportional monies back from the Park District for its' budget. The board will try to get a Representative from "Friends of the Park" to come and explain exactly what the revenue and budget is for Humboldt Park. Nereida also stated that she doesn't even know how much money is taken in from all of the festivals being held in the park.
A question was raise about recording the HPAC meetings. A member suggested that these meetings should be conducted under the rules from the "Open Meetings Act of Illinois" and therefore attendees should be able to record the proceedings. The board will look into this.
Finally, there was presentation concerning the "Sundays Parkways" events held twice in 2008. This was a day when the boulevards were shut down for 4 hours on a Sunday so bikes and pedestrians could roam from Logan Square to Little Village without the threat of cars . Approximately 10,000 people attended each day. This year the organizers are looking to hold the event on one day instead of two, and have it on a Saturday instead of Sunday. Several people spoke up questioning the move. We'll see what happens.
The next HPAC meeting will be in Thursday May 21st at 6:30Pm at the Fieldhouse, 1402 N. Humboldt Blvd. See listing on calendar for google map.
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