During our 2022 Parks as Democracy? Luncheon and Conference, we celebrated individuals and groups who do so much for Chicago's parks and park users. Click here to return to the full list of VIP (Volunteers-in-Parks) Awardees.
Isolation Inspiration
Supervisor Shauneia McPhearson and staff of Franklin Park
Franklin Park is in the North Lawndale community and provides 9.31 acres of green space. Park-goers come to play basketball, baseball and swim at the facility. After school programs are offered throughout the school year, and in the summer, a six-week day camp. In addition to programs, Franklin Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the whole family, such as gym showcases, holiday parties and Back to School community gatherings.
Supervisor Shauneia McPhearson and staff work with a wide-ranging group of partners to ensure youth and their families have a variety of activities to participate in. These partnerships include Boxing Out Negativity, the local CAPS office, Windy City Hoops, Inner City Hoops and UCAN. The park also has some very unique programs such as piano classes with Ravinia, serve as an exhibition site for “Lawndale A Living History” presented by the Lawndale Pop Up Spot, as well as a site for a Little Library in partnership with the Neighbor to Neighbor Literacy Project—a Friends of the Parks Seed grant awardee--and have hosted Equiticity as part of the Friday Night Ride Series.
Through careful use of the fieldhouse and outdoor area, the staff were able to follow COVID safety guidelines even as they found themselves serving double the number of children during the stay-at-home. The dedication to keeping their partnerships intact has helped the park continue to serve safety to so many additional families as guidelines have been eased. For being a beacon in their neighborhood, we recognize Supervisor Shaunia McPherson and her staff at Franklin Park.
Supervisor Shauneia McPhearson and staff of Franklin Park
Franklin Park is in the North Lawndale community and provides 9.31 acres of green space. Park-goers come to play basketball, baseball and swim at the facility. After school programs are offered throughout the school year, and in the summer, a six-week day camp. In addition to programs, Franklin Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the whole family, such as gym showcases, holiday parties and Back to School community gatherings.
Supervisor Shauneia McPhearson and staff work with a wide-ranging group of partners to ensure youth and their families have a variety of activities to participate in. These partnerships include Boxing Out Negativity, the local CAPS office, Windy City Hoops, Inner City Hoops and UCAN. The park also has some very unique programs such as piano classes with Ravinia, serve as an exhibition site for “Lawndale A Living History” presented by the Lawndale Pop Up Spot, as well as a site for a Little Library in partnership with the Neighbor to Neighbor Literacy Project—a Friends of the Parks Seed grant awardee--and have hosted Equiticity as part of the Friday Night Ride Series.
Through careful use of the fieldhouse and outdoor area, the staff were able to follow COVID safety guidelines even as they found themselves serving double the number of children during the stay-at-home. The dedication to keeping their partnerships intact has helped the park continue to serve safety to so many additional families as guidelines have been eased. For being a beacon in their neighborhood, we recognize Supervisor Shaunia McPherson and her staff at Franklin Park.
