2020 Neighborhood Enhancement Grant
CHICAGO, IL. (July 2020) – The Neighborhood Enhancement Grant program is an initiative administered by the South East Chicago Commission (SECC) in partnership with the Elizabeth Louise Smith Fund, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Hyde Park Kenwood Community Conference (HPKCC). The SECC awards grants to neighborhood organizations that support beautification projects to enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods and allow us to work together as community partners to enhance the physical attractiveness of Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Woodlawn, and Washington Park communities. Since 1999, SECC has collectively granted more than $1,000,000 in beautification funds.
For 2020, in partnership with the CDPH and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC), two special projects were selected to activate areas located within a ½ mile of the Greenline CTA stations at 51st Street, Garfield Boulevard or Cottage Grove Avenue. The SECC announced that the Washington Park Chamber of Commerce 58th St. Playlot Revival and the YWCA Y Women Grow Urban Farm have been selected for the special project award for 2020.
The SECC and our partners are committed to improving the quality of life in the southeast lakefront neighborhoods through impactful beautification projects and we could not be more pleased with the response from the community and proposals submitted this year.
– Diane Burnham, Executive Director for South East Chicago Commission
The grant selection committee, comprised of community members from the five footprint neighborhoods, selected the following community groups for the strength of their proposals and the breadth of potential impact:
- Bringing Hyde Park Neighborhood Club’s Front Yard to Life – HPNC will work to create space to safely play, socialize, and enjoy being outside at 5480 South Kenwood. They will trim, remove, and repurpose select trees and add a tree carving sculpture by Gary Keenan, a nature play area, a butterfly garden, and seating. (Hyde Park)
- Kenwood Pointe Beautification Project – KPBC will beautify the 6400-6600 corners of S. Kenwood with custom designed flowers, plants, and bushes designed by master gardener, Bill Hill. (Woodlawn)
- Midway Hillside Beautification 2020 – MPAC will build on their past efforts by planting an additional 2,000 bulbs on the east & west hillsides that abut the train tracks, 100 bulbs near the boulevard signs on the east and west ends of the Midway, and wildflower seeds on the hillsides. (Woodlawn / Hyde Park)
- Prairie Land – The Prairie Land project, headed by Charla Henry, will clean up vacant lots at 61st & Vernon and 61st and King Dr. and install walking paths and indigenous plants, flowers, and shrubs. (Woodlawn)
- Quad Communities Development Corporation Beautification Project – The QCDC will complete landscaping and large-scale tree and shrubbery maintenance at their 4210 South Berkeley Avenue building. (Oakland)
- The Revival Public Mural – The Revival will partner with South Side artist Rahmaan Statik to paint a timely mural on the west-facing wall of their theater on 55th Street with themes of social justice and empowerment. (Hyde Park)
Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago Grant Selections:
- Washington Park Chamber of Commerce 58th Playlot Revival – WPCC will clean up a formerly deteriorated playlot at 58th and Indiana, make safety improvements, and return it to useful status when playlots are approved for use again in Chicago. (Washington Park)
- YWCA Y Women Grown Urban Farm – With this project, the YWCA will install picnic tables with benches, large herb planters, a raised flower bed, signage, and the equipment necessary for installation. The farm rests at the corner of E Marquette and S Langley Ave. (Woodlawn)
For more information, visit our Neighborhood Enhancement Grant page.