Of 523 playgrounds located within the Chicago Park District, 300 have been identified as more than 15 years old and in need of replacement.  In a partnership with the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Parks is launching a community application to select 35 parks in 2013 to be replaced with brand new equipment! For more information please visit the Friends of the Parks website or CLICK HERE to download the application.

Our office has been working with the CTA on finding out what the new Ventra fare card system is about. There will be no difference in terms of transit use however paying in cash for a single-use card will have an added cost of 50¢, bringing the fare with transfer to $3.00. Single payment on a reusable Ventra card or direct debit will remain $2.25 + 25¢ transfer and single-use day passes will not have the additional fee. If you receive a discounted fare now, you can continue to receive this same discount.

From what we understand, the fees that have come into question are only associated with the use of a Ventra cards as a pre-paid debit card, just as you would have with any debit card. Some of the initially proposed fees were adjusted or removed. Remember that using the Ventra Card as a debit card is an option and is not mandatory. In fact, many customers will be able to sign up to use their own debit cards issued by their banks if it has the right technology built in and will not use the Ventra card itself. There are some good FAQs on the CTA Ventra website. We are keeping a close eye on all of this and we will work to make sure 47th Ward residents are informed with accurate information.

Applications for plots in the Chase Park Community Garden are now open, and more information can be found here. The deadline is April 5th, applicants will be notified by April 11th whether they have been awarded a plot. In an effort to avoid people paying for a plot before they are actually approved for one this year, the process has been separated. Anyone interested in applying can enroll in the "Community Garden Plot Application," and approved applicants will be emailed so that they can continue on with the "Plot Reservation". At that point they will sign a liability waiver and submit a $25 plot fee. Beginning this year, garden participants will be allowed to return for two years and then will be returned to the lotterly system to allow new people to have the opportunity to garden. Chase Park has one of the most popular community gardens within the park district, and the wait list each year is very long. Contact Kristin LeBourveau with questions or to request a paper application.

Students! Do you know the federal government has more than $150 billion dollars available to students for who have a financial need in order to attend college, and there are also billions of dollars in scholarships and grants that are available to students. The Student Financial Assistance Outreach Center (SFAOC) is an organization that helps economically disadvantage students find free financial aid for post-secondary education. Helping students directing in learning how to research for financial resources, SFAOC also assists high schools in making presentation on FAFSA information to their students and parents, and participates in college fairs and conferences held for high school students. For more information, see www.sfaoc.net. Contact: 773.847.7992 or moneyforschool@sfaoc.net.

Sulzer needs your old games.  Thanks to our neighbors who have donated games for the Sulzer's Game Night!  If you have games that your family no longer uses, please bring them to the 47th Ward Office or to Sulzer Library. Their ever-popular "Game Night" could use a few more board games like Sorry, Chess, Life, Uno, Jenga, Rummy Cube, etc.  

Spring may be slow to get started in Chicago, but it's already in full swing inside the Garfield Park Conservatory. See a collection of Azaleas, camellias, and hydrangeas. More info here.

Daily, 9am - 5pm, 300 N. Central Park Ave.

Check out the infrastructure map on our webpage!

Water Main for Hermitage

City Crews from the Dept. of Water Management will begin replacing the 1890 water main under Hermitage from Irving Park to Montrose.  Work will begin near Berteau and Hermitage tomorrow.  This work will will be completed by June of 2013. To see the residents' notice, please click here. Please Note: Parking Restrictions ONLY enforced M-F.

Water Main for Marshfield  

City Crews from the Dept. of Water Management are replacing the 1906 water main under Marshfield from Irving Park to Byron.  Work will be completed by late April 2013.   To see the residents' notice, please click here. 

Water Main for Leavitt 

City contractor has replaced the 1895 water main under Leavitt St. from Irving Park to Montrose.  Crews have restored the concrete base course.  Asphalt resurfacing will come in the spring.  To see the residents' notice, please click here. 

Sewer Mains for Wolcott and Ravenswood

City crews have finished installing sewer pipes on Wolcott (Addison to Bradley) and Ravenswood (Belmont to Roscoe). Curbline to curbline asphalt resurfacing will take place in the Spring once temperatures allow.  To see the residents' notice, please click here.

Metra Traffic Closures and Detours 

• Leland detours and bridge closure will be up until June 28, 2013.
• Ravenswood from Lawrence to Leland will have parking restrictions until June 28, 2013.  There is also an ongoing FULL CLOSURE for this duration on the west side of Ravenswood.  Sidewalks will remain open.   
• Irving Park 
• Westbound CLOSURE for drilling April 1 - 6, 2013
• Eastbound CLOSURE March 23, 25 - 30, 2013

For more information, visit the infrastructure section of our website or contact Bill Higgins at bill@chicago47.org or 773-549-2745.