An Ode to Lucy Flower Park
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Any day now, construction crews will descend upon Lucy Flower Park and begin demolition activities in preparation for unveiling a brand-new playground for West Bucktown next year. We've worked so hard for this renovation and are thrilled with the many improvements in store for the new park. But at the same time, it can be bittersweet to say goodbye to a playground that holds so many wonderful memories for our community.
So in the spirit of honoring the past as we look forward to the future, we've put together this short "tribute video" to capture just a small slice of the love Lucy Flower has shown us over the years. |
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Thank you, little Lucy Flower Park, for serving as such a wonderful urban oasis for our children, a gathering place for our families, and an ongoing source of pride for our community. We can't wait to see how you continue to blossom and grow!
We Did It!Thanks to persistent lobbying efforts of the Maplewood & Lucy Flower Park Advisory Council, West Bucktown's own Lucy Flower playlot has been approved for a makeover!
The Chicago Park District is footing the bill for for the lion's share of the estimated $425,000 it will take to upgrade the park’s aging playground equipment and add a small water feature. Another $140,000 will come from 1st Ward Alderman Joe Moreno, who has generously allocated a portion of his infrastructure menu funds over the next three years. "I'm incredibly happy to help the neighbors around Lucy Flower Park, who have been relentless allies in our never-ending efforts to improve the community,” said Moreno. The West Bucktown community is responsible for kicking in $70,000 -- a goal that was met this summer after several years of aggressive fundraising efforts. The construction project will be bid out in August, and if all goes well, we hope to break ground before year-end. This means that, with a little cooperation from Mother Nature, we could be enjoying our new park as early as next summer!
WEst bucktown's hidden gemMuch smaller in size and with none of the Chicago Park District programs of its big sister, Maplewood Park, Lucy Flower has long been considered the “hidden gem” of West Bucktown. That’s because what it lacks in square footage and organized activity, it more than makes up for with mature trees, plenty of summertime shade, and an intimate setting that makes it particularly attractive to families with small children.
Over the last several years, Lucy Flower received grant money to install raised beds and planter boxes, upgrade the water supply, and beautify the park with plants and flowers. The Lucy Flower Garden Club was formed, several "community clean-up days" were organized, and a free Children’s Garden Club was held at the park every other Saturday during the summer months. And now, with the scheduled renovation of the park in the Fall of 2013, Lucy Flower will get a much-needed makeover of its aging and unsafe playground equipment.The Park District recently unveiled final design plans for the project (see below) that include a soft play surface, modern playground equipment with age-appropriate features, two new benches, three picnic tables, and a small water feature. The designs also retain the existing sandbox and raised flower beds. We are excited about the transformation our little park is about to undertake, and we are grateful to the Park District for working so closely with us to make it happen! 
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Lucy Flower photo GalleryJust look at all the beautiful things that can happen when a community comes together to help a little park blossom and grow!
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